I don't own "The Rockford Files" or "Emergency"; I'm just borrowing the characters. I'm not making any money from this story. I do own the story and the character of Lt. Shawna Williams. Any characters not mentioned on either show are pulled from thin air and belong solely to me. I would love feedback and crave it, so I know whether to keep working on this story.

Thanks, Karen

It was after midnight when Jim arrived back at his trailer. He unlocked the door, walked over to the refrigerator, poured himself a glass of milk and started to get some Oreo's out of the cookie jar when he noticed Shawna asleep on his couch. He walked over, sat on the coffee table and gently shook Shawna. She moaned a little but never woke up.

"Shawna, wake up." She moaned again. "Shawna, honey, wake up," he shook her again and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Um, what time is it?"

"It's after midnight. What are doing here?" he asked as she slowly stretched trying not to hurt her ribs, "You should be in the hospital."

"I heard about the fight."

"Oh," he said as she slowly sat up and took his hand in hers. "I need to call the police and get them to cancel the APB on you." He then turned and went to the kitchen to call the department and to fix them something to eat. "Do you want some scrambled eggs?" She shook her head yes, knowing he was trying to avoid any confrontation about the possible love triangle.

"You put an APB out on me?"

"Well, when you left the hospital, we were all worried. Then your friends told me what could happen if you punctured a lung, so I called Dennis and asked him to put out an APB on you."

"Jim, I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn't realize Johnny still had feelings for me until I heard about the fight," she said trying to blink back the tears she knew would come.

"Shawna, do you still love him?" he asked as he began to scramble the eggs hoping she wouldn't say 'Yes'.

"Yes." she said as she wiped the tear from her cheek. "I haven't seen Johnny in eight months and I haven't thought about him since I started seeing you."

"Shawna, you can't be in love with both of us. It's either him or me."

"I know Jim, I know. Don't you think I know how much this hurts you?" she said as she wiped another tear from her cheek hoping Jim didn't notice.

"Here, eat these," he told her as he set the plate of scrambled eggs in front of her, "I know you probably haven't eaten all day." It was then he noticed the tear streaks on her cheeks.

"Thanks," she said as she just moved the eggs around the plate.

"Eat," he said as he sat next to her on the couch. "Look, you eat and then you can take the bed tonight."

"I'm not taking your bed."

"Yes you are. You're in no condition to sleep on this couch all night. You've already been here for twelve hours. You can sleep in the bedroom and then in the morning we can discuss you, me and Johnny." He noticed she was still pushing the eggs around her plate. "I know I'm not as good of a cook as you are but you can at least pretend to like my eggs." He said and then winked when she looked at him.

"I'm sorry. I guess I just have a lot on my mind." They sat and ate in silence. Once they were done, Jim took the plates, put them in the sink and then followed Shawna to his bedroom. He went to his closet and pulled out a dress shirt for her to sleep in.

"Here, I don't think you'll be uncomfortable in this," he said as he handed her the shirt and turned to leave.

"Jim, I'm really sorry," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I know. Someone from your past comes back and wants you back. Suddenly your heart is being pulled in two different directions and you don't want to hurt either one of us. But you know deep down inside, one of us will get hurt."

"And it scares me. I honestly thought I was over Johnny," she said as the tears started to roll down her cheeks. Jim gently cupped her face in his hands, wiped her tears with his thumbs, leaned down and gently kissed her. He was just a little shocked when she began to return the kiss. He was the one to break the kiss because he knew deep down they couldn't go any further until Shawna had decided who she wanted to stay with. Shawna looked at Jim for a moment and knew why he broke their kiss.

"Try to get some sleep. I'll be on the couch if you need me," he said leaning down to kiss her forehead and then walking out of the room.

"Good night Jim."

"Good night Shawna." Once Jim left the room, Shawna changed into his dress shirt; it must have been recently worn because she could still smell a hint of English Leather on the collar. Shawna crawled under the covers and as much as her body wanted to rest, her mind wouldn't let her.

Jim could hear Shawna tossing and turning in the bedroom, he knew she was struggling with her feelings about Johnny and himself. It was then he heard what he hoped to never hear, Shawna sobbing softly. He just wanted to go to her, pull her close to him and let her know she wasn't alone in all of this but he didn't want her to think he was pushing her.

"Aw hell," Jim said to himself as he got up and headed to the bedroom. "Shawna are you ok?" he asked softly.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said as she sniffed.

"No you're not," he said as he walked over to the bed and sat down. "I know you're tearing yourself up inside and blaming yourself because of what happened between Johnny and me. But none of this is your fault," he told her as he laid his hand on her shoulder and could feel her trembling. He felt her move over and he lay down beside her. Shawna turned, rolling into Jim's arms and he just held her as she cried herself to sleep. "Shhh," he soothed as he held her. It was a little while before he finally felt her stop crying but he was afraid to move because he didn't want to wake her, so he just held her all night.

The sunlight woke Jim up and he didn't want to move because he didn't want to wake Shawna. She never moved the whole night and he liked the feeling of waking up with her in his arms. He planned on telling her this when she woke up. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Shawna stirred from a restful sleep.

"I'll get it," Jim said as he kissed her gently on the lips and grabbed his robe. When he opened the door, Dennis Becker was standing there and he didn't look to happy.

"Hello, Jimbo."

"Hello Dennis. What brings you by so early?" Jim said as he stepped back to let Dennis step inside.

"The watch commander said you called in last night cancelling the APB on Shawna. Why would you do something that crazy? We don't even know where she is."

"She is right here," he heard a female voice speak and he turned to see Shawna standing in the doorway with Jim's dress shirt on over her jeans.

"Shawna, have you been here the whole time?"

"Yes, Dennis, I have. When I left the hospital I came by here to get my car. I knew where Jim kept the key to get in so I let myself in but I didn't see my keys laying on the desk. I didn't want to snoop so I laid down expecting him to be home soon. It was after midnight when Jim got home and he wouldn't let me leave. Coffee?" she asked as she took three cups from the cabinet.

"Thanks. Why didn't you call the station and let us know where you were?"

"I didn't know he had you put out an APB until he woke me late last night." She handed the two men a cup of coffee and then picked hers up. "I was surprised when he said you put the APB out for me. Now if he will give me my keys, I can go home, take a shower and get some rest."

"I have a better idea," Jim said as he walked over to her side.

"And what would that be?"

"We go to breakfast, then I can take you home, then later Rocky and I will bring your car home. I really don't think you need to be driving right now."

"Jim," she started to protest when Dennis stepped in.

"I agree with Jim. You shouldn't be driving right now especially with cracked ribs."

"Great so now you both are ganging up on me," she said with a smile.

"Yes, we are." Jim said as he leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Dennis would you like to join us for breakfast?"

"Yes Dennis why don't you join us," Shawna said with a smile.

"OK, you twisted my arm," he told her with a wink. Jim went to change clothes and then they all three left. Dennis followed them to a 24-hour diner Shawna knew about. After eating a hearty breakfast, Jim drove Shawna to her beach house. He walked her to the door and kissed her again.

"Call me if you need anything. Rocky and I will bring your car by later this afternoon."

"Thanks Jim for everything. Especially being there for me last night."

"You're welcome and I will always be here for you." He left hoping he would see her again. Shawna's doorbell rang about thirty minutes later and she really wasn't surprised to see Johnny standing at her door.