Melanie returned to the table to find Jim and Sofia laughing over somebody named Greg. Apparently he had done something funny at Sofia's crime scene that day and she was telling Jim about it. They were still smiling when she sat down; their obvious enjoyment of each other's company lighting their eyes.

"So, what's the worst case you've ever worked?" Melanie continued with her questioning.

The mood shifted and the two detectives became somber. Melanie noticed a look that Jim shot to Sofia, almost a warning. Sofia nodded as the two quietly communicated and Melanie realized there was a case that neither wanted to talk about. Finally Jim spoke up. "Well, it would be hard to name just one…but I think, for me it was the kidnappings."

Sofia nodded in understanding as Jim continued. "First it was Nick and then Catherine's daughter, and then Sara. All of them took a piece of me."

Melanie looked at Jim, waiting for further explanation. "Nick is one of the CSIs. He was under me when I was over there. All around good guy. Catherine is also a CSI…well, so is Sara for that matter. But Catherine's father was one of the casino kings and had rumored ties to the mob, although I never believed it. Sam Braun didn't need the mob. Lindsey's kidnapping was a ploy to get at him. That was a tough one. And Sara….she almost died out in that desert. Yeah, those three hit the closest to home for me."

Sofia looked at him quietly, nodding as she remembered each case. Then she looked at Melanie. "Well for me, it wasn't even one that I worked. It was the one when Jim got shot. We almost lost him. We were all walking on eggshells, afraid to breathe. Every time the phone rang I nearly jumped out of my skin. But we still had to keep working the other cases…." She looked across at him, tears threatening in the corners of her eyes. Jim looked back at her, his eyebrow slightly raised. "Sofie…I never knew…." he said softly.

Melanie had the sense of being on the outside looking in. She was witnessing what should have been a very private moment between them and for once she had the sense to keep her mouth shut. These two were finally discovering just how deep their feelings went.

Finally Sofia became aware of their surroundings and looked at Melanie, embarrassment in her eyes. "ah…so why did you pick Vegas, Melanie?"

"The casinos," she replied.

"Yeah, and why me?" joined in Jim.

Melanie looked at him for a moment and then launched into a story of her own. "About twenty five years ago, a young detective was called to a crime scene…a domestic violence/double homicide case. When he arrived at the house, he found two dead bodies and three children; the oldest was a daughter, 14. The dead bodies were the parents." Melanie paused to see how Jim reacted but he was looking at her blandly.

"After his initial inspection of the scene he began interviewing the children, beginning with the oldest. She was scared out of her mind and barely responsive but he was very gentle and patient with her. She explained how the father had come home drunk and gotten angry with the mother. In his anger, he began beating her; not the first time, explained the daughter. The children had retreated to their rooms as the mother went about cleaning up the mess made by her beating. The father sulked for awhile."

Melanie paused again when she saw a slight flicker play across Jim's face.

The 14 year old was in her room when the father came in. The girl shared her room with her younger sister, who was nine. The little sister was ready for bed and reading a book. The father walked to the bed. The older girl had thought he'd come for her but she realized that this time the father was there for the younger girl. She began screaming at him and he turned, slapping her across the room. The door opened as the eldest daughter hit the floor. The mother entered, a gun in her hand. Everyone in the room knew that the mother had finally had enough and she was going to end it right there. But she hesitated just long enough and the father lunged for her, knocking her to the floor and the gun went spinning across the floor into the hall."

"Then the father began beating the mother, rage pouring out of him. The older girl carefully collected the younger one and they fled the room, running into their 12 year old brother in the hall. The three stood, listening to the beating, understanding that this would be the last night that their father beat their mother. The son saw the gun on the floor and picked it up. It was heavy and it took two hands to hold it. Slowly he walked to the door of the bedroom and raised it. Pointing it at his father, he fired twice. One shot went into the wall but the second one hit the man dead center in his chest. He fell to the floor, dead before he got there. The mother looked up at her children and smiled as she breathed her last breath."

"A neighbor heard the shots and called the police. A black and white was the first to arrive, the officer sickened by what he found. The young detective was the next one to talk to the children." She paused again, looking Jim's way.

"Oh my god," he said. "Melanie…you were the older one. Myra…that was your sister. And your brother, he was Mark."

Sofia looked from Melanie to Jim, a frown forming on her forehead. "You were the detective," she stated.

"Yeah," he answered, stunned.

"He was more than a detective that night. He kept us together, understanding that we needed each other. And he took care of us. Although he did have to ask questions, he was very gentle….kind. And he gave us time to cry and deal with it all. When he realized that they were about to take my parents out on the stretchers, he hustled us to the kitchen so we wouldn't see. The paramedics came to check us out and he stood over us, making sure no one upset us further. Child Services came and he chewed out the woman because she threatened to separate us. His supervisor showed up and wanted him to arrest my brother but Jim wouldn't do it. He told the supervisor that if Mark was arrested, he's make sure that every newspaper for 100 miles heard about how the boy was being arrested for saving his sister's lives. And he'd make sure that the papers knew who ordered the arrest."

"That sounds like Jim," commented Sofia.

"The next day Mark was arrested and charged through the juvenile system. Jim came to his hearing and testified. We all think it was Jim's testimony that kept Mark out of jail…or juvenile detention. And for a full year after, Jim checked in on us at our foster home to be sure we were okay; that we were being treated well and getting the counseling we needed." Melanie paused, fighting back tears. "We were in foster care because none of our family wanted us; not our grandparents, aunts or uncles. For long time Jim was the only one that seemed to care about us. Then our foster parents decided to adopt us and we moved to upstate New York."

"It could have gone so differently if another cop had shown up that night. But it was Jim. And because of him, we all managed to become reasonably stable adults. I'm a writer and making good money at it. Mark is a cop in Virginia. And Myra is happy as a wife and mother, back in Jersey. She named her son after Jim. Mark has a family too. He says he became a cop because he wanted to honor Jim; to make a difference like Jim had."

"It took me years to track him down. And I am writing this character in my next book as a way of honoring him myself. But there is another reason I came, Jim. To thank you; to tell you what a difference you've made in my life; to tell you that your life matters."

Jim sat, looking totally embarrassed. Sofia was looking at him with tears in her eyes. Melanie could tell she wanted to reach for him, touch him; but he wouldn't have been able to handle it just then. Sofia understood that and held off.

"And after spending the day with you, I know one other thing I want to do. I am arranging a vacation for you, Jim. I'll have the information sent to you at your office and let you decide when to use it. I'm thinking Aruba, but if there is someplace else you'd rather go?"

Still in shock, Jim shook his head negatively. "No…Aruba sounds nice. But …"

"No arguments. And one other thing….Sofia is going with you."

It was Sofia's turn to be shocked. "What? Me? Why?"

Melanie looked from Jim to Sofia. "Because it's obvious that you two need to spend some time together, alone. You need the time and the place to discover what it is you truly feel about one another. Aruba should be far enough away from Vegas to do that."

Jim looked up at her and then at Sofia. "Really Melanie, you don't need to do this. I was just doing my job. And….Sofie might not want to go, with me I mean." His expression was changing from one of embarrassment to shyness.

Sofia looked at him and smiled. "Sofie hasn't had a vacation in a long time. And Aruba sounds like fun, especially if it is in the company of a hero."

Later that week an envelope sat on Jim Brass's desk. He opened it and found all the arrangements for his vacation in Aruba; his and Sofia's. Everything was covered, from plane tickets to hotels to meals and sightseeing. It was several months before they were able to use the tickets, but Jim and Sofia eventually did. They got on the plane as friends and came back a couple.

About a year after Melanie's visit, another package appeared on his desk. Opening it he found her latest novel. He leafed through the book and settled at the dedication page. It read:

There are so many heroes out there wearing badges. This book is dedicated to one in particular. Thank you, Jim, for the difference you made in my life and the difference you continue to make everyday in the lives of others.

She had signed it underneath the dedication.

To my hero,

Melanie

Jim smiled. Turning to the first page, he sat down as he began to read.

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This story started out with the intention to go in a very different direction. But your comments made me rethink it. But then I had trouble figuring out the ending. I hope you like the results:-) As always, your thoughts are desired.