It was a beautiful spring day and Jim was enjoying watching his little family as Sofia pushed their son, Jeb, in the swing. The park was full of children and parents, all with the same idea. He smiled as Sofia stopped the swing and unhitched Jeb, setting the little guy down on his feet. Jeb wobbled for an instant and then gleefully took off in a toddler style sprint towards Jim. His feet got tangled up and he tripped just as he got to his father, but strong loving hands reached out and caught him before he hit the ground. Scooping his son up Jim laughed, as did Jeb.

His babyish features were actually beginning to show a blend of his parents. He had Jim's expressive blue eyes but thankfully Jim thought, he'd inherited his mother's nose. His light brown hair had Jim's texture but again, thankfully in Jim's view, he had more of it. Sofia said that when he giggled, as he often did, he looked just like his father.

She was watching her two "men" as they laughed, her heart full…happy beyond belief. Jeb had brought renewal to Jim and rather than getting older with each passing day, time seemed to be turning backwards for him. The worry lines in his forehead weren't as deep and the haunted look of despair had disappeared from his eyes. Only on the worst days at work did the darkness return to his blue eyes. Most of the time they shone a bright blue, but her favorite shade was still the smoky blue tint that she saw so often when he looked at her. Life was perfect….too perfect, she thought as a chill ran through her spine.

They loaded Jeb and their picnic supplies into the car and headed home. As they approached the market near their house, Sofia suggested that they pick up some ice cream for later. Jim pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine. Sofia glanced back and saw that Jeb had fallen asleep in his car seat. "Honey, let's not wake him. One of us can run in for ice cream…."

Jim smiled. He knew who would get to do the "running." Unfastening his seatbelt, he stepped out of the car. Once inside the market, he made his way to the frozen aisle and located the ice cream. He studied the flavors and finally decided on Rocky Road, one of Sofia's favorites. It was then that he heard the shouting at the front of the store.

As he listened, he realized that a robbery was in progress. "Damn, he thought…no badge, no gun…nothing."

He peeked around the corner and saw two perps. One was standing next to the clerk and the other stood by the door. Both had guns. "Best to let it happen," he thought." If they get what they want, maybe they'll leave." He watched for signs that things would go bad but so far the clerk was cooperating. Jim beginning to breathe a little easier….maybe it would be okay.

Suddenly the door flew open as another customer walked into the store. The guy next to the clerk panicked and fired a shot. Jim edged his way around the end of the shelves, trying to get closer without being spotted. The shooter was losing it. He was in full panic mode and was waving his gun all around. Yelling, he told demanded that everyone lie down on the floor. A cell phone rang, startling the perp by the door, who grabbed a woman standing close by and put a gun to her head.

It was then that the one by the clerk spotted him. Jim was partially behind a shelf and only a few feet away. As the perp raised his gun to fire, Jim lunged. They both hit the floor hard and the gun slid across the floor as the robber landed. Jim was stunned momentarily but recovered enough to pin the guy to the floor.

Looking around, he checked for the other gunman. He'd lost sight of the perp. He realized why when he heard a sound behind him. Turning to face the assailant, the first blow caught him across his jaw, knocking him on his back on the floor. The other guy rolled and was on top of Jim, flailing and punching. .Jim managed to get in a few blows, managing to get enough leverage to push the guy off. .The other perp slammed his clasped hands down on the back of Jim's neck, stunning him and then the two began to beat him.

Outside, Sofia had heard the gunshot. Calling 911, she had summoned help. Glancing back at Jeb, her impulses were split. Jim was inside and defenseless, but she was afraid to leave Jeb. What if the violence spilled outside….who would be there for their son? She knew what Jim's reaction would be if she left Jeb alone, so she forced herself to stay put. After a few minutes, however, her patience ran out. To her, it seemed as if an eternity had passed; not knowing about Jim was crushing her. Just as she decided to get out of the car, she heard sirens. Sighing in relief, she stayed with Jeb until the units pulled in.

A short shootout ensued and the two would be robbers lay dead in the doorway. Sofia charged through the swarm of cops and paramedics to find Jim. Her heart plummeted as she saw him; bile rose in her throat. A paramedic was stooped over him, frantically working to stabilize him. His blood was everywhere, his face full of cuts and gashes. One eye was already swollen shut and the other was just a slit. Somehow he was still conscious and as he saw her, his hand reached out.

Moving to his side, she wrapped his fingers in hers. Tears flowed down her face as she watched his one eye. He struggled to speak and somehow managed "okay", in spite of his broken jaw. She wanted to touch his face, soothe him, but was afraid of causing more pain. Somewhere in all of the mayhem, the call had gone out over the network; Captain Jim Brass was down.

Nick Stokes was finishing a scene three blocks away. He picked up the call and hurried to the market. Finding Sofia next to Jim, he asked about Jeb. "In the car," was all Sofia could manage. She turned, looking towards the parking lot trying to decide where she was needed.

"Its okay, Sofia. I'll see to him. You stay with Jim." Nick walked out to the car to find Jeb awake and crying. Opening the door, he unbuckled the toddler and held him closely. "It's okay Jeb, Uncle Nick's got ya." Pulling out his cell phone, he called Grissom and then Catherine. Grissom said he'd meet Jim at the hospital. Catherine told Nick to bring Jeb to her house. Lindsey could watch him while they all gathered at the ER.

The paramedics wheeled Jim out to a waiting ambulance and Sofia followed. Nick nodded at her and told her to go. Climbing into the ambulance with Jim, she turned and mouthed a thank you to their friend. The doors were slammed shut and the ambulance raced away as Nick and Jeb stood and watched.

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SO, how am I doing? Is this the kind of turn you were looking for? The litle button is down there somewhere...