My sincere apologies for the delay in getting this next chapter out to you. RL has been kicking my butt lately. I lost a very good friend and coworker two weeks ago today, and that loss has overshadowed everything else. Then, probably because of the stress and lack of sleep since then, I got the flu. I'm still recovering from that, but at least I finally feel up to typing! This chapter is short, and I apologize for that, too, but I wanted to post something so you don't think I have lost interest in writing the remainder of this story. Thanks again to my loyal readers! You are all awesome, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful reviews!

This chapter has no spoilers.

Blair could feel Jim's eyes on him, even without looking. He kept his gaze down, pretending to concentrate on something fascinating on the floor. Maybe if he didn't acknowledge him, Jim would drop it. Yeah, right. And pigs really do fly.

"You do realize how stupid that was, don't you?"

Blair had been so busy trying to ignore his partner that he jumped at the intrusion in the uneasy silence that had filled the truck. He chanced a quick glance up at Jim, dropping his eyes quickly at the look on his face. "I'm sorry. I know it was stupid, but he was getting away!"

"Chief. . ." Jim scrubbed a hand roughly across his face, taking a deep breath. "Chief, you just came about as close as I hope you'll ever come to dying. If I hadn't been right behind you, you would have been a hood ornament! You passed out in the middle of the street! Do you realize how serious this is?"

Blair sagged against the seat, glancing out the side window morosely. "Yes. I'm really sorry I scared you, man. I just saw him getting away, and you didn't have your phone. I just wanted to help. I wasn't really thinking, I guess."

Jim sighed and started the engine. "I know. Let's get you back to the loft so you can get some rest. I can't wait until this ablation is over with."

*****

"Hey, Jim." Simon stepped into the loft, gaze locked on the sleeping anthropologist on the sofa. He chuckled. "Well, at least he looks comfortable."

Blair was sprawled on his side, one arm under his head, the other dangling limply off the sofa. His hair covered half of his face, and his mouth was slightly open.

Jim grinned. "He better not drool on my couch. He's been sleeping for a couple of hours. I'll probably wake him up soon, so he doesn't stay up all night tonight. Tomorrow's a big day!"

Simon nodded, sobering. "I'm sure he'll be glad to get that over with. I know how much he hates not being able to keep up with you."

"Yeah. Well that's all going to be behind him. I have a good feeling about this procedure. " He studied his partner for a moment, then visibly shook himself. "Did you want some dinner? A drink? I was planning to wake him up for something to eat soon, but he was so tired after his adventure this afternoon that I'd rather let him sleep."

Simon chuckled. "An adventure. That's a good way to put it. I about had a heart attack myself when he called me and told me he was pursuing our suspect . . . on foot! Sometimes I think he's got more guts than half the cops on the force."

Jim nodded, smiling wryly. "Yeah, and about half as much self preservation. Kinda scares me to think what he could do if he actually was a cop."

Simon laughed out loud at that. "God forbid we ever find out!" He shook his head. "About dinner, thanks for the offer, but I need to get home. I promised Darryl I would help him with a report for school. I just wanted to stop in to see how our hero was doing. And besides, I think Sleeping Beauty over there needs to get some rest for tomorrow. I'll take a rain check."

Jim nodded, following his boss to the door. "Well, thanks for stopping by, sir. I'll let you know how things go tomorrow. "

Simon grinned. "You do that, Jim. But if you ever tell him I was worried about him, I'll deny it!"

"Not a word, sir. Have a good night." Ellison watched as Simon walked to the elevator. Once the elevator doors had closed behind him, he closed and locked the door, looking at this partner on the sofa. "I won't have to say a word."

Sandburg grinned, sitting up. "Aw, man. I can't ever pull anything over on you. How long have you known I was awake?"

Jim headed for the kitchen, shaking his head. "I figured it out right before I said you'd better not drool on the couch. I figured we woke you up talking."

Sandburg got to his feet, wobbling a little. "Simon's worried about me, huh? Good to know."

"Sit down!" Ellison barked the order, coming around the island from the kitchen. "Did you not learn anything from this afternoon? You are going to take it easy tonight, and you are going to bed early. Then in the morning we will take care of this whole situation. Got it?"

Sandburg eased back down onto the sofa sheepishly. "Got it."

*****

"So . . . are you ready for this?" Ellison glanced over at Blair, who was huddled up on the front seat of the truck, trying to keep warm.

Blair shivered miserably. It was only 5AM, and the darkness was punctuated by a cold spring rain. What a horrible morning to have to get up so early. And he couldn't even have any coffee. Life was not fair! His instructions had not only included the chest X-ray and blood tests he had submitted to earlier in the week, but he had not been allowed to have anything to eat or drink after midnight.

He rubbed blearily at his eyes. "I guess. I just want it over with."

Jim squeezed his arm gently. "Hang in there, Chief. You're almost there. "

The headlights cut through the heavy rain as Jim pulled the truck up to the Emergency entrance at Cascade General. Jim watched patiently as Blair slowly climbed out of the truck and headed through the pouring rain toward the doors, which hissed open as he approached. Blair glanced back at his partner as Jim once again left him to park the truck.

Blair's instructions had requested that he enter the hospital through the Emergency Room entrance, since the main entrance of the hospital would not be available this early in the morning. Then he was to follow the signs for the cardiology wing. Once he checked in with the receptionist, they would take it from there. He briefly debated on waiting for Jim, but he really didn't want to stay on his feet any longer than he had to; he was exhausted this morning.

The Emergency Room was full, even this early in the morning, and Blair gladly walked past all of the waiting patients to the hallway leading to the cardiology wing. He was walking slowly, trying not to tire himself out too much, so Jim had caught up to him by the time he reached the receptionist's desk. Fortunately there was no line here, and the receptionist looked up with a smile.

"Good morning. Can I help you?" She brushed her blonde hair behind one ear as she smiled up at the young patient.

Blair forced a weary smile. "Blair Sandburg. I have a 6:30 appointment?"

He watched the receptionist as she typed efficiently on her keyboard. She was altogether too alert and professional for this early in the morning. He leaned heavily up against the desk, resting his elbow on the counter, and propping his head up. He could go back to sleep standing here. In fact, that wasn't such a bad idea. . .

"Chief?" Jim shook him gently. "Wait until we get you settled in, okay?"

Blair made a visible effort to shake off the lethargy that crept through him and straightened up to his full height. The receptionist was watching him sympathetically. Confused, he spotted his driver's license and insurance card on the counter top. Jim was holding his backpack in the hand that wasn't currently resting on Blair's shoulder.

"Mr. Sandburg, I just need your signature here. Your friend took care of everything else." The young woman held out a pen to the shaky anthropologist.

Blair took the pen and scribbled his name on the forms, trusting Jim to have taken care of everything else. Signing the form seemed to be the final step needed, because as soon as he did, another woman came out from behind the desk and led them into a small room.

"Okay, Mr. Sandburg. I need you to take everything off and put this gown on. Make sure you're not wearing any jewelry. You might want to use the bathroom before they come to get you. Someone will be in shortly."

Blair nodded, blushing. He took the proffered gown and slipped into the small attached bathroom. Once he was changed and had verified that he hadn't missed removing any jewelry, he headed back into the room, glancing at Jim wearily. Ellison had already pulled the covers back on the bed and was waiting quietly for him in the lone chair in the room.

Blair climbed into the bed and rested back against the pillows, too nervous now to sleep. Jim smiled wryly.

"Now you can rest."

Blair snorted. "Yeah, right."

A tap at the door interrupted whatever Jim had been about to say. Two orderlies stepped into the room. "Blair Sandburg?" At Blair's nod, the two men stepped over to the bed. "We're going to take you up to the lab now. "

Jim stood up, watching impassively as the two men unlocked the wheels on the bed and rolled it toward the door. Blair kept his eyes locked on his partner as he was moved out into the hallway.

"Hey, I'll see you later. Don't worry about a thing. Everything's going to be fine, and you'll be good as new soon."

Blair nodded, heart pounding in earnest now. This was it, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it. "Yeah, I'll see you later."

As his bed was rolled down the hall toward the banks of elevators, the last thing he saw was Jim, standing in the middle of the hallway, looking back at Blair with an encouraging smile. And then they were in the elevator, and even that encouraging sight was gone.

TBC . . .

I have already started working on chapter 12, and I hope to have it up this weekend. I have discovered that Sundays are the best days to write! Thanks again for reading. Please review and let me know what you think.