Grateful Hero Chapter Three

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger,

Fully knowing the hazards of my

Chosen profession

( Ranger's Code )

()()()()()

"You know what this means?" Blair was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Jim took a swallow of coffee. "You babbled all last night, Chief." He rolled his eyes.

Instead of having his spirits dampened Blair only seemed to be energized. He crossed back over to the kitchen table. "Sentinel traits could be hereditary!"

"Yeah, Chief," Jim shoved a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. He glanced meaningfully at his wristwatch.

"You never mentioned your grandfather as having Sentinel abilities," Blair paused. "Oh yeah, Chuck said that your grandfather never made it back home from World War Two." Blair took a thoughtful swallow of his green algae shake. "Maybe I could talk to your father."

Jim slammed down his coffee cup on the table. "No. You're not talking to my father about my Sentinel abilities. It's out of the question." He glared at Blair. "Leave my father alone."

"All right, Jim," Blair studied Jim's hardened expression. "Gee, Jim, you know that I wouldn't do anything to upset your father."

Jim stood up picking up his empty plate. "Look, talk to Chuck. Just leave my dad alone. He's had a rough past couple of months. Between losing Sally and the prostrate surgery," Jim sighed. He set his dish in the sink. Running a hand through his thinning short-cropped hair Jim said, "Steve and I have been talking about our dad. I've been thinking of spending a couple nights a week with dad so that he wouldn't be alone at night."

"Oh man, I'm not a very observant anthropologist." Blair shook his head. "At Sally's funeral your father didn't let on that Sally was any more to him then a housekeeper. Why didn't you tell me that your father needed some help? You know I would do anything to help."

A sad smile tugged over Jim's handsome features. "Sally started out as 'just' a housekeeper. When my mother left," Jim sucked in a breath. "Sally sort of filled in. Steve used to wish that she'd marry dad. Of course she was married and went home to her own family every night."

Blair gave Jim's arm a reassuring squeeze. "She moved in with your dad a couple of years ago," he pointed out.

"Only after her husband died," Jim admitted. "My dad and Sally were just two old people who'd grown to be comfortable with each other." Jim took Blair's empty glass and set it in the sink.

"Jim, what about Uncle Christopher?" Blair inquired.

"He died before I was born. Uncle Christopher and dad had some kind of falling out. Uncle Christopher moved back east somewhere. He was a police officer from what my grandmother used to tell me. He died on the job." Jim looked thoughtful. "I remember a woman coming to the house late one night. I was supposed to be in bed. I heard what she was saying to my dad." He paused.

"Well," Blair demanded. He gestured impatiently with his hands.

"Her name was Ann no Amber. Amber Hunter," Jim nodded. "Apparently she had Uncle Christopher's illegitimate son."

"Jim, you have a cousin who might be a Sentinel." Blair brightened with excitement. "His father was a police officer like you. It could have been his Sentinel's instinct to protect his tribe."

"Whoa, Chief, WE don't know anything. Now, if WE don't hurry, I'm going to be late. Simon will have me walking harbor patrol." Jim was already grabbing his coat. He tossed Blair his leather jacket.

"Maybe I could look up your cousin on the Internet," Blair slipped on his leather jacket.

"Chief, I don't know his name." Jim was exasperated. He locked the door after them.

()()()

"Hey, Jim," Rafe greeted them as they entered Major Crimes' bullpen. "As soon as word got out that Chuck Reilly was testifying against those boys a half a dozen 'concerned citizens' stepped forward."

"Yeah, 'concerned' citizens always come forward after the fact." Jim sat down at his desk.

"Those boys are over eighteen. They're going to go away for a long time." Rafe handed Jim several files. "Henri and I are going to follow up on the teenage shoplifting ring. You get the runaway kid reports."

Jim looked alarmed, "Shoplifting, runaway kids. Those are family court cases not Major Crimes."

"Those were Tony's cases." Blair said softly. "I was helping him look for some of the runaway kids."

"Looks like you have a head start with the kids." Rafe turned away before Jim could protest.

"This is supposed to be Major Crimes not kiddy court," Jim shot an irritated look towards Simon's office.

"Tony thought that saving kids' lives was important enough to be included in Major Crimes," Blair picked up one of the files. "Although with some of the missing kids being girls we should look into the Travelers." Blair held up a bulletin. "Looks like the Travelers have arrived in Cascade. They are descendents of Irish peddlers. In some ways they are similar to Gypsies moving around in caravans but unlike Gypsies they rely completely on stealing and con games to survive. They are also a much more closed society."

Embarrassed Jim set the files on his desk. "We're not going to find these kids discussing subcultures, Dr. Sandburg." He spoke gruffly. Jim flipped open the top file. "Kids usually go home when they run out of money. Most are with friends unless there is a major problem at home." Jim punched the number that was listed as the parents' home phone number.

A couple of hours and several phone calls later Jim was able to update three of the files. "It looks like Miss Tina Savage was arrested in Portland." He set the phone back in it's' cradle. "Her parents are going to put her in drug rehab this time around." Jim frowned. "They should have done something when they first discovered that she was stealing money to buy pot."

"Jim, parents have different methods of raising children." Blair pointed out. He was well aware that Jim didn't think too highly of Naomi.

The phone rang. Jim picked it up trying not to think of his father and the way that he'd turned everything into a competition. "Ellison," Jim spoke into the phone.

"Detective Ellison, this is Officer Grey. I'm at your father's house."

Jim felt his heart almost stop. He vaguely recognized the voice on the other end of the phone. "Officer Grey, is my father all right?" Jim forced the words out trying to ignore horrifying scenarios going through his mind.

"Your father is a little upset," Officer Grey said cautiously.

"What happened?" Jim demanded. Blair mouth a question at Jim but Jim was too upset to recognize any words.

"It seems that your father caught his new housekeeper in the act of stealing."

"How badly was my father hurt?" Jim demanded.

"He's got a sprained wrist. One of his neighbors had fortunately come over to check on him. Perhaps you could come down here. Your father is still upset."

Jim recognized the unspoken cop speak for 'you're needed NOW'. "I'll be right there." Jim hung up. "Come on, Chief."

"What happened, Jim?" Blair grabbed his jacket off of the back of his chair.

"The new housekeeper tried to rob my dad." Jim responded grimly. "I may have to move my dad into my side of the loft. I can't let him go on living by himself."

"Jim, it's going to take several more weeks to finish fixing up the other apartment." Blair was almost at a run trying to keep up with Jim.

"Yeah," Jim sucked in a breath. "I know I promised you that you could turn the small bedroom under the stairs into your office. I'll have to figure something out. My dad isn't going to be alone any longer." Jim resolved.

()()()()()

William Ellison held the ice bag over his wrist. "I'm going to be fine. My son Jimmy will be here soon." He insisted.

The two paramedics exchanged guarded looks. "Mr. Ellison, you might want to reconsider. You are after all going to be alone."

Officer Grey looked outside. A familiar truck had screeched up to the curb. Relief was visible on his thin face. "It looks like Detective Ellison is here."

Both paramedics recognized Jim and Blair immediately. "All right," they started packing up their equipment.

"Dad," Jim almost ran to reach the door. He nodded at Officer Grey. "Thanks," Jim managed. Officer Grey nodded relieved that a 'sensible' adult was there to take charge. Jim's attention was on the scene in front of him. His father was sitting on the floor of the foyer. Paramedics having finished packing up their equipment were now helping William Ellison to his feet.

"He's got a bruised shoulder and a sprained wrist." Mike filled in quickly. "Keep an eye on him. It might be a good idea if someone stayed with him tonight. If your father develops any sudden pain bring him into the hospital right away. He might need x-rays to check on his collarbone for signs of fractures."

"I'm a grown man," William protested. "I don't need a babysitter." His light eyes were on his son. There was a faint look of hope mixed with fear on the elder Ellison's face. "Jimmy, Nora tired to take my retirement watch."

"Nora Wayne has been arrested." Officer Grey reassured Jim.

Jim looked at his father. Even with white hair and the passage of time adding lines to his face, his father was a handsome man. Tall and still lean with an aristocratic air William had attracted attention from several policewomen when he'd shown up at Tony's funeral. At the time it had annoyed Jim that women young enough to date him were attracted to his father. Now as he looked at his father Jim realized how old and frail his father looked. "You're coming home with me tonight, Dad." Jim's voice was firm. He expected a verbal fight. Jim wasn't going to let his father win. Jim had to protect his father.

Instead of protesting William sighed, "All right, Jimmy." He had a lost wistful expression as though he was a child discovering that he was about to lose his home. "Officer Grey said that I couldn't have my watch back yet." He pouted.

"Jim," Blair stood uncertainly at the doorway of the study. "We have to get back to the station. Chuck was robbed at the motel. He's at the station making a statement."

Scrubbing his face with a hand Jim thought for a moment. "Dad, you're coming with us. I'll sleep downstairs for tonight."

"Yes, Jimmy," William was smiling.

Blair ended up sandwiched between both Ellison men on the way back to the station. "I can't believe you knew Tony."

"I started going to the same church that Tony attended." William replied softly. "Tony was part of the ministry that checked in on the elderly." William let out a soft sigh. "He used to come by once a week and play chess with me." There was sadness in William's cultured voice. "Tony used to tell me about his 'kids'. He said that he had a calling to rescue kids."

Jim half turned his head to stare at his father. "Tony used to come by your house?"

"Sally would bake oatmeal raisin cookies or fresh banana bread for Tony." William stared ahead lost for a moment in memory. "We looked forward to his visits. It was like having family come to visit."

Guilt stabbed Jim through the heart. A guilty silence reigned in the truck.

()()()()

TBC