A/N This is being written at the request of a young special needs woman I know-after watching Part Two of 'Something Worth Dying For'. We'd had a discussion about the unanswered question-did Jim switch careers within the police force.
She has a lot of good ideas, but struggles immensely with her writing skills. I WILL delete any negative guest reviews for her sake.
You Were Meant For It
It was well past dark before Jim and Jean arrived home from the awards ceremony-and even later when Jean found Jim standing in their backyard. He was looking up at the stars. She didn't have to ask what was keeping him up so late; she pretty well knew.
"Makes a body feel pretty small a times," Jean walked up beside Jim and looked at the stars with him.
"Yeah, at times." Jim conceded, still feeling a fight within himself.
Jean, who felt as if she could almost reach out and actually feel his turmoil, put a hand on his arm. "You were meant for it. I never should have started trying to push you to get out of that squad car. Pete's blessed to have you as a partner and vice versa."
Jim's head whipped to his side and looked at his wife in astonishment. Sure, she'd finally showed up to the award ceremony, stood up and started clapping for him. Her smile had reassured him his marriage would stay intact. Only, he was still convinced she wanted him behind a desk. "What makes you say that?"
Jean wrapped her arms around her husband's waist, laying her head against his chest as she did so. "Mrs. Chavez. I bumped into her after I went for a walk-after you had left for the ceremony." She went on to say how she and Mrs. Chavez went to the park and had a good, long talk. "It's why I was so late getting to the awards. I was half afraid I would miss it."
"What did she say?" Jim remembered how the good widow had moved shortly after her husband had been died from his injuries. He hadn't been aware she was back in the area.
"A lot of things, but mostly that as much as it hurt her to lose her husband she was grateful he died doing what he loved most." Jean stepped back-but not so far that she had to let go of Jim. "I remember back in high school how I pushed you to do something-can't rightly remember exactly what-only that I was pushing you. You almost did it-for me. Only," she sighed. "One of our teachers made me stop and look at you-I mean really look. I was startled to realized that-while you were willing to do whatever it was I wanted-your heart really wasn't in it." She sighed. "I knew what you wanted when we got married. I've seen the passion for your police work in your eyes. After the talk with Mrs. Chavez," Jean shrugged her shoulders. "I realized the light I'd seen in your eyes all these years was starting to go out." She again embraced him. "I'll always hold a bit of fear that one day you'll wind up dying-like Officer Chavez or like Pete's partner-the one you replaced. Only Jim, I don't want to watch you die over and over as you work behind a desk. You and Pete make a wonderful team on the streets; let's keep it that way."
Jim couldn't keep a smile from spreading from ear to ear. "If you're sure, absolutely sure." He kissed the top of her head.
"Oh, I am only-I have one request." She tilted her head backwards. "No more narcotic jobs. I absolutely can't take that one again."
"Yes, ma'am!" Jim chuckled and started kissing his wife.
~oOo~
"Hey, Jim," McDonald stuck his head out his office door and called out as Jim entered the hallway.
"What do you need?" Jim stopped next to the open door.
"I have a friend who says you can borrow his books if you need them, for the investigator's course." McDonald, who actually hated the idea of losing Jim, still wanted to support his friend and fellow officer.
Jim smiled, but shook his head. "I'm staying where I'm at. Think Pete can handle it?"
"Handle what?" Pete walked up behind Jim.
"Being stuck with him as a partner," McDonald's smile lit up his face as he answered Pete's question.
Pete gestured towards the roll call room and started heading that direction. "We best get in there-I have a feeling it's going to be a good day." His eyes were smiling the whole time.
"I'll be there in a minute, go join the others." McDonald looked at Jim and smiled even wider as he watched Jim walk away. No matter how long he was on the police force, or how long he lived, McDonald was sure there would never be policeman that matched the caliber of Pete Malloy and Jim Reed.