Jim was pacing the emergency room waiting area, only glancing up briefly as Blair entered. "They..she shot...they made her..." He shook his head and started pacing again.

Blair and Simon exchanged a glance, and Simon went up to the larger man, stopping him in his tracks. "Jim, sit down before you fall over. And tell us what the hell happened."

Jim sat heavily, and they took seats beside him. He stared into space for a long time before he started talking, and quickly, brokenly filled them in. "Jason Mendel. Three friends. Must have followed me last night. Went there to ambush me."

"They shot Summer?" Blair asked for clarification.

Jim shook his head, his eyes reflecting his horror.

"You mean...oh, God. Jim, if you did it, it was an accident. You have to know-"

"I didn't shoot her, Chief."

"Then, what?"

Jim told them quietly how he had found her strapped in the chair, gun tied to her hands. "Must have been a big joke," he commented roughly, his eyes misting over. "She heard me coming, must have. Wanted to warn me, but they had her gagged, and tied...so tight." He shook his head, his hand coming up to cover his eyes.

Blair drew in a sharp breath, looking over at Simon.

The captain put it together the same time he did. "She shot herself. To warn you." He stated flatly.

Jim nodded, covering his face with both hands.

Blair looked at his silent friend for a moment, before standing and going over to the desk. "You brought a girl in a few minutes ago, gunshot wound. Any idea how she is?"

"The doctors will call you when they know anything," the tired-looking nurse answered flatly.

Blair turned and paced back towards his friends. He almost stumbled when he saw the strange shaking of Jim's shoulders, and Simon's awkward patting of his back. He was crying. Jim was crying.

Blair went over to his side quickly, giving Simon a look. The captain stood quickly, almost relieved, and gave them space.

Blair wrapped an arm around Jim's back and held him quietly. Jim sobbed into his hands, not seeming to notice Blair was even there.

But Blair stayed by his side for the minutes Jim needed to vent his emotions. And when his friend had finally pulled himself together and looked up from the cover of his hands, he turned immediately to Blair. "Why does this have to happen, Chief?"

Blair almost shivered at the look in Jim's eyes. "I don't know, Jim," he answered quietly.

Jim wiped his eyes roughly. "Every time. Anyone who means anything to me. They always get taken away. Why?"

Blair tried hard to think of a good answer. But what could he say? "I'm not going anywhere, Jim." Even as he said it, he realized how little comfort it could be.

Jim drew in a breath. "I hope not," he said quietly.

Blair kept his arm around his friend as they sat and waited in silence. Every single time a doctor would walk past, Jim would tense, his face would lose it's color, and he'd ready himself for the blow. And the doctor would pass by without a look.

Simon stood, going to the desk every five minutes, wandering over to Jim and Blair and then away to make a phone call or something.

Finally a doctor stopped in front of them. "You're here about Miss Vance?"

Jim's face paled, but he got to his feet. "Yes."

"You're not family, are you?"

Jim blinked, unprepared for conversation.

Blair spoke for him. "We're the closest thing she has right now, okay?"

The doctor saw the glare in the younger man's eye, and nodded. "Alright. I'd be very interested in learning how  she was hurt like that. Have you gotten the police involved?"

Simon almost leaped at the man. "We ARE the police. Captain Simon Banks, Detective Jim Ellison, and Blair Sandburg, official observer.  Now tell us how she is, god dammit."

"She'll live."

Jim collapsed onto his chair, his hands going back to his eyes.

Blair sat beside him, but kept his eyes on the doctor. "And?"

"We'll have to do reconstructive surgery on her jaw. She blew out quite a bit of bone. She's very lucky the shot didn't kill her."

Simon glanced down at Jim, but the big man didn't react. "When can we see her?"

"Tomorrow."

"Look, doctor-"

"Tomorrow, Captain Banks. She's not in the best shape right now, and we're taking her into surgery soon."

Simon opened his mouth, then clamped it shut.

Blair stood again. "Thank you, doctor. We'll be here, if you'll tell us how the surgery goes."

The man nodded and left them to their thoughts.

Blair sat again, and Simon took a seat beside him.

Jim was quiet for a long time, before he moved suddenly, standing and taking a few steps before turning back to the two men. His eyes were watering, and he had to clear his throat before he spoke. "Tell Summer...tell her I'm sorry."

Blair stood automatically. "Whoa, Jim. Where are you going?"

He shook his head slightly. "I can't...I can't see her. I can't ever see her. Not if this is...I can't, Blair. Tell her  goodbye for me."

Blair stopped Jim as he turned to leave. "You're going to leave her? In the hospital? Jim, you're not serious."

Jim turned back slightly. "Blair. I love her."

Blair saw in his eyes that he meant it. "Then stay here. Be with her when she wakes up. She did this for you, Jim!"

His already white face lost even more color. "That's why...I'm sorry, Blair. I have to go." He started off again.

"Jim!" Blair jumped at him, grabbing his arm again.

Jim jerked away and went to the door in a near-run.

Blair let him go, staring after him in shock. He could feel as Simon came up beside him. "He...how am I supposed to tell her..."

Simon's concerned eyes were still on the door Jim had just left. "He'll change his mind." He sounded like he was trying to convince them both.

Blair turned and went back to his seat stiffly. He would stay until she woke up. And then he would go and find his partner, and try to talk some sense into him, before he drove her away for good.

Blair still didn't know what he was going to say. He had sat all night, staring at the white walls of the hospital waiting room, memorizing the inane, Currier and Ives-bland paintings hanging around to brighten the depressing room. But his mind invariably returned to his roommate, away from the talk he would have to have with Summer when she awoke from her surgery.

He knew he shouldn't be mad at Jim. The guy had looked devestated when he left. And Blair knew the only reason Jim was leaving her this way was to protect her. At least, that's what the Sentinel thought he was doing. But the fact remained, he was leaving her. In the hospital. After she had nearly killed herself saving his life.

And now, sitting over her bandaged form, Blair was debating just leaving before she woke up. She wouldn't be able to talk, the doctors had said. She was bandaged too tightly, to protect the healing of her scars. He would have to stand over her and tell her she'd been deserted, and she wouldn't be able to say a thing in response.

God, he couldn't do it. How could he? Who the hell did Jim think he was, doing this to him? This was Jim's problem, damn it all.

Blair glanced over at the silent form, insuring that her eyes were still closed. He made his decision, turning and heading out of the room to get his roommate and get him back here to do his own dirty work.

Jim was sitting in the loft when he got home, on the couch, staring into space, looking as though he must have been there all night. He didn't turn as Blair came in.

"Jim." Blair still couldn't resolve how he felt towards his friend right then.

"Is she awake?" His voice was hushed.

"Not yet, not when I left."

"You didn't wait?"

"No. I'm not going to do this, Jim." Blair strode in, determined of that at least. "I think what you're doing...it sucks, Jim. It's really a shitty thing to do, and I won't have any part of it."

Jim looked up long enough to see the anger in Blair's face, then turned back to the wall. He didn't answer.

"This is ridiculous!" Blair blew out after a pause. "Why are you doing this to her?"

Jim stood silently and turned his back on his roommate, going towards the staircase.

"No, you don't." Blair's anger grew, finally overpowering his concern. "You don't run away from this, Jim."

Jim paused on the stairs, but didn't even bother looking back.

Blair approached him, almost stalking. "You don't want to do this, Jim. And it's not too late to change your mind. Summer may not even be awake yet. You can go over there and be by her when she opens her eyes. Don't do this, man."

His shoulders slumped, Jim went up to the top of the staircase.

Blair was on the second step, on his way up to corner Jim in his bedroom if he had to, when Jim turned suddenly. "Forget it, Blair. It isn't going to happen. I can't see her again. I know you don't agree, but I can't. I'd rather she didn't wake up alone, and I wish you'd go back. Just to be there, I don't care what you say. You can...you can tell her I was killed. It'll be better for her to think that..."

Blair froze. He blinked at his roommate, the feeling growing in him that he'd never seen this man before. "I can't believe I just heard you say that."

"Believe it," Jim said tonelessly, turning away and going into his room.

Blair hesitated. He could go, continue this conversation in Jim's room. But no. Jim wouldn't change his mind. And Blair was almost afraid that if he had to listen to Jim's BS any more, he'd haul off and hit him.

He turned, and paused again at the bottom of the steps. He didn't want to stay in that loft alone with Jim.

But he couldn't do it, he couldn't go to the hospital and be the one to greet Summer with the news that her sacrifice had been wasted on the thick-skulled Jim Ellison.

Maybe he'd go to the U. Do some reading. No. The station. Always paperwork to do. No, then he'd have to answer questions about Jim.

Maybe he'd just get in the car and drive for a while.

Summer was panicking, slowly but surely. It wasn't just that she hadn't seen him, it was that no one would talk to her about him at all. It was that she didn't see Blair either, and the man from the police who did come in and talk to her wouldn't say a word about Jim.

Jim. Where was Jim? Why wouldn't he come, damn it. Why wouldn't anyone say anything?

She spent a few days in that room, staring at walls, listening to the doctor talk about how miraculous her survival had been. In her head she screamed, she cried out to know what had happened.

Which was why when Blair appeared at her doorway on the fourth day she'd been awake, she would have jumped up and kissed him if she wasn't still on dizzying medications."Blair!" It hurt her to talk, and she still felt like her mouth was full of cotton, but at least she could communicate.

Blair smiled. "Hi, Summer. How you feeling?"

Her grin faded. He looked awful. His smile was obviously forced, he had circles under his eyes, and strain showed all over him. "I'm fine. What's...where is Jim? Will you tell me, Blair?"

His strained smile faded at her hopeful expression.

Oh, God.

"Summer. I guess I kind of need to talk to you about Jim."

Her eyes shut, she let out a breath, almost a sob. "Oh, no. Please, I was hoping so much....I didn't give him enough time, did I? I hesitated, Blair. I waited to pull the trigger. I didn't want to die. But I didn't want him to...God." She sobbed another breath.

Blair took a step in, horrified. "No! Summer, he's not dead! I didn't mean...I thought someone would have told you that much by now."

She opened her eyes, confused. "No one said anything. He's....he's not dead?"

"No. You warned him. You saved his life, Summer. He's fine."

She almost sobbed harder at the happy words. "I'm sorry," she said after a minute. "No one would tell me."

He came up to the bed and sat beside her. "Hey, it's okay. You've got a right to be emotional right now." A lot more than you know.

She smiled at him slightly, as much as she could without hurting. "Why won't they let him see me?"

He swallowed. "Listen, Summer. It's kind of complicated."

"What do you mean? How could it be complicated?"

Blair drew in a breath. He was never going to forgive Jim for this. Ever. "Sum, Jim was kind of freaked out by what happened."

She laughed nervously. "He wasn't the only one."

"Yeah, well..I mean, he's feeling really guilty right now, I guess. I don't know, I don't know what's going on in his head. But he's...well, he told me to tell you...." There was no way to say this.

Her eyes grew. "He told you to tell me....why wouldn't he...." She blinked, her eyes went up to the ceiling briefly.

There was a long pause, as Blair studied her to see what she was making of this. He wanted so badly not to have to say the words out loud. Maybe she would just guess it. Maybe she would be happy. Maybe...

Maybe.

Maybe.

Whoever invented that word should be shot.

Her next words were whispered so quietly he almost didn't hear them. "Is he mad?"

"What?" Blair sat up in surprise.

She blinked over at him. "Jim's mad? Because of what I did?"

Blair stood instantly, meeting her eyes fiercely. "Summer, Jim is a lot of thinks. Stupid, foolish, thick-headed, stubborn. Moronic. But he's not mad. You saved his life."

"Then why...." She couldn't finish.

"Because he's an idiot. He's..." Blair shrugged helplessly. "He's scared, Summer. He really cares about you, and this has him scared."

She inhaled. "Just tell me what he told you to say."

Blair shook his head slightly. "Summer, he's not thinking-"

"Tell me!"

Blair looked away from her teary eyes. "He says he can't see you. Ever again. And he's sorry."

There was a long silence. He waited for her to yell, to scream. To say what Blair would say if it was him. Jim was SORRY? It was outrageous.

But she didn't. She sniffed loudly once, and waited until he looked back at her before speaking. "Tell him...tell him it's alright."

What?

Blair blinked. "Alright?" he repeated in disbelief.

She nodded slightly. "Thanks for coming, Blair."

It was a dismissal if he ever heard one. He stood slowly. "Summer. Are you-"

She rolled over quickly onto her side, facing the wall, away from Blair.

He backed out of the room, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. That was one of the worst things he had ever had to do in his life.

And no. Never, ever would he forgive Jim for making him do it.

Blair was going to eat dinner at the loft that night for the first time in four days. He had been avoiding the place like the plague, unwilling to be left alone with Jim for any given amount of time. He was worried about what he would do.

And now, he wasn't worried. He was mad. He was upset for what he knew Summer must be going through, and he was pissed off at his partner for putting them both in that position. And he would confront Jim about it, and that was that.

So he waited for Jim to get home from the station, making dinner for the two of them that he knew probably would get thrown before it got eaten.

Jim came in about ten minutes early, and when he saw Blair standing there he stopped in his tracks.

Blair contained his reaction when he took in his best friend's appearance. Geez, Jim looked awful. He was pale, his eyes red-rimmed, dark circles indicating lack of sleep. Those eyes grew guarded the moment he saw Blair, as if waiting for the inevitable attack.

"Hi. Jim. You're a little early."

Jim swallowed. "I know. Simon sent me home."

"Really?"

Jim started forward robotically and lowered himself onto the couch. "Third time this week."

Damn. Blair should have known better than to miss work. He should have been there to keep him in line. To at least watch for zone-outs. "Sorry."

Jim let out a small laugh. "Sorry? What are you sorry for, Chief?"

"I should have been there."

"No. You shouldn't. Just leave it alone, Blair."

Talking to the back of his roommate's head was rapidly getting old. "Dinner's ready, Jim."

"Not hungry."

"When's the last time you ate?"

A small pause. "What the hell do you care?"

Blair almost stepped back form the sudden vehemence in his tone. "Jim..." No, what could he say? It was obvious from the way he'd been avoiding Jim that he was mad. He couldn't deny it.

"Going upstairs," Jim mumbled, standing slowly.

"Jim, for God's sake. How long are you gonna let this go on?"

"Let what go on?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. I went to see her today."

Jim stopped now, turning to face Blair. His eyes were wide, he swallowed before he spoke. "You did."

"Yeah. I gave her your message. She knows now why no one has been there for her for the last few days."

"What did she say?" His voice was getting quieter and quieter.

Blair didn't bother concealing his anger. "She said to tell you it's alright."

"She what?"

"It's alright."

Jim nodded slowly, turning back to go to his room.

"But it's damned well not alright, and you know it."

Jim stopped again. He slowly turned, and went back down the stairs. His eyes found Blair's, and stayed with him as he closed the distance between the two men. "Okay. It's time, huh? You want your shot? You want to tell me what Simon's been telling me for days? Go ahead. I'm here."

"Fine, I will. Sit down, Jim."

"Don't get carried away, Sand-"

"SIT!" Blair pointed at the kitchen table.

Jim's eyes grew at the almost-shout, and he went to the table slowly, lowering himself into a chair, his eyes going to Blair expectantly.

Blair sat across from him, anger momentarily fading. "That was bad, Jim. Sending me to talk to her. That was really bad. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to forget that."

Jim swallowed, unprepared for anything but an attack. "Was...how was she?"

"How do you think she is? She shot herself in the face, Jim. She woke up alone, and then I come in and tell her that the man she was trying to save doesn't want to see her again. How would you be?"

"Blair, please..."

"Please what? You want me to word it prettier so you'll feel better about what you did to her?"

"No. I'm sorry. Keep talking."

Blair paused, taken aback by the quiet surrender in his voice. "What's left to say, Jim? Really? What can we say  to get you to change your mind?"

Jim shook his head. "Nothing. I can't do this, Blair. I'm sorry you don't understand."

"I never said I didn't understand."

"You- you understand? Why I'm doing this?"

"Of course. If I didn't, I probably wouldn't have been able to resist the urge to knock sense into you." Blair  shrugged. "I know why you're doing this. But you're wrong. Everything you're thinking is wrong."

"No. You don't know. You say you understand, but you can't." Jim stood, pushing away from the table so  suddenly that Blair didn't think to catch him until after he was already past.

"Jim! Dammit, stop running away from me." He went after his roomate.

"Screw you, Sandburg." Jim glared at him from the living room. "I've heard it for days. You can't say anything I haven't heard."

"Maybe you need to hear it all again."

"No." Jim moved to the door, grabbing his coat from the hook on the wall as he passed. "Forget it."

"No you don't." Blair ran to the door, slamming it shut with the weight of his body as Jim started to open it. He was now eye to eye with the man, and flaming mad. "You made me go to that hospital, you owe me. You can damn well sit and listen to me."

"Blair, you'd better get the hell out of my way." Jim glowered at the smaller man.

Blair didn't back off, confident in the knowledge that Jim would never hurt him, even as mad as he was now. "I won't do it, man. You're staying here and hearing me out."

Jim reached out and shoved Blair away from the door, not violent, but not exactly gentle. "Stay out of my way."

"No!" Blair was pissed- he couldn't remember being this mad in a long time. "Jim, you-"

"You think I give a damn about anything you say, Sandburg? I've heard it, I've told it to myself.  I'm not listening to it from a man whose longest relationship since I've know him has been a third date, alright?"

Blair's mouth dropped open. "What? Jim, this isn't about me."

"No, it isn't. You don't have a clue about what I'm feeling. You've never loved anybody, have you, Chief?"

"Wha...what?"

"Who are you to tell me anything?" Jim threw his coat on the ground, stalking forward. "You're a kid, a stupid kid. You're nothing, Blair. And you think you have the right to-"

Blair's world was red. He was finally unable to hold the vent over his emotions, and they sprang from where they'd stayed pent up for days, going straight to his arm, directing it to swing at Jim's chin. He was motivated by anger, by frustration, by surprise at the personal attack Jim had launched on him. He was also helped by the knowledge that Jim could stop Blair from hurting him easily. It wasn't about hurting Jim, it was about release.

So he swung. And hit.

And Jim was hardly surprised, stumbling backwards, hand going to his jaw, eyes on his roommate. "That's it, kid? That's all you've got? You really are nothing."

Blair launched at him again, driving his fist into Jim's stomach. The larger man doubled over, hands flying to protect his stomach, but his amused, laughing eyes were still on Blair.

That look drove Blair over the edge. He threw himself at Jim, over and over again, knocking the smugness out of the Sentinel's eyes, knocking Jim off balance, to his knees.

And then, as Jim huddled into himself, on his knees by the front door, Blair came to his senses, stopping his arm in mid-motion, horror coming over him.

He dropped his hand limply, staring down at the older man. He had lost track of how many times he'd hit Jim. He'd hurt him, he could tell.

And Jim hadn't made a single move the entire time to defend himself.

"Oh my God." Blair sank to his knees by his friend. "Jim? Jim, I'm sorry. What did I...I didn't mean..." He shook his head in mute horror. "Jim?"

Jim hadn't moved, staying wrapped up in himself, his bowed head the only thing Blair could see. He was shaking slightly as he huddled there, and there was silence for a moment. "Thank you."

"What?" Blair blinked.

Jim looked up slightly, not meeting the younger man's eyes. "Thank you."

"For...for that?" Blair was aghast.

Jim nodded. "I...want to see her, Blair."

Now totally off track, Blair hesitated. "Jim, are you-"

"No, not yet. I want to see her. But I can't. And I know how bad a person that makes me. And I'm glad you finally realized it too."

"No." Blair shook his head in denial. "Jim, you still don't get it. Any of it. You're not a bad person for doing this, but you're not right about why you think you should. Jim, what happened to Summer wasn't your fault. Yes," he said quickly to cover up Jim's automatic argument. "It happened because of you, but it wasn't your fault. Nothing is your fault unless you actually have a say in what happens. Do you get what I'm saying? Unless you had a chance to stop what happened and didn't, you can't be blamed. Summer doesn't blame you, I don't blame you. You're the only one. And you're dealing with that by punishing her."

Jim shook his head. "No. I don't want to punish her."

"That's what you're doing. You said you loved her, Jim. You don't think she loves you? Of course she does. She was willing to die for you. She loves you, and you're abandoning her."

"No. No, I'm..." Jim paused, the met Blair's eyes finally. "I am."

Blair nodded.

"But....what else can I do?" Jim was honestly asking the question, pleading with his best friend for the answer he hadn't been able to find himself.

Blair let out a shaky breath, still off-balance over what he'd just done. "I don't know, Jim. But there are better answers than this. Summer isn't going to be safe from harm just because you're not with her. Sure, knowing you will expose her to different kinds of trouble, but then at least you'll be there to help her out." Blair met his friend's eyes. "It's the same with me, man. We've talked about this before. I could go, right? I've got enough for my diss, you've got enough control over yourself. And I'm put into dangerous situations because I work with
you. But I don't go, and you don't try and make me leave. Because we need each other, Jim. Sure, we're Sentinel and Guide and all that, but we're also...I don't know. We're brothers. We need each other. But I'm not all you need, just like you're not all I need. And...maybe Summer is something else you need." He trailed off finally, wondering if anything at all was getting through to his partner.

Jim blinked bright eyes. "You...uh, boy, you really believe that, huh?"

"Of course I do." Blair replied earnestly.

Jim was quiet for a minute. "What if she...I could have ruined this already, Blair."

"Only one way to find out." Blair jumped to his feet, grabbing Jim's arm and dragging him to a standing position.

Jim stumbled to his feet, a hand going to his stomach with a wince. "You pack quite a punch, Chief," he said with a small smile.

Instantly, Blair's lighter mood darkened again. "Jim, I can't believe what I did. I'm so sorry, really."

"Hey, no apologies. I egged you on, Blair. I was trying to make you angry. It's my fault."

"I just can't believe I'd do that. I never thought I was..."

Jim smiled crookedly. "Blair, like you said, we're brothers. I just happen to know the right buttons to push with you."

"Yeah? Do me a favor and keep your hands off my buttons from now on, okay?"

"Deal."Jim's wan face seemed suddenly a little more normal. "Blair, could you do me a favor?"

"Anything, Jim."

Jim smiled at the enthuisiastic response. "Drive me to the hospital."

Summer awoke from one dream to be facing another. She blinked, rubbing her eyes tiredly, wondering what kind of medication the doctors gave her. Whatever it was, it was joining with her subconscious mind to play a really bad joke on her.

The vision stepped forward suddenly. "Summer."

"Jim, get out of my dream. It's bad taste, you know?" She knew she was dreaming then- no chance her mood would be good enough when she was conscious to make jokes.

The vision gave a small, sad smile. "Not a dream, kid."

She blinked. And suddenly it wasn't. He was standing there.

She sat up quickly, almost defensive. "Jim?"

He came closer. "Sum, how can I....how can I tell you how sorry I am?"

"But I thought...Blair said...."

"I know what he told you. He told you I was an idiot. That's where he was right. He told you I was scared. That was another bull's eye. You don't know what went through me, seeing you bleeding, tied to that... I was scared, really terrified." He came over and sat awkwardly on the chair by her bed. "It's happened before, you know? People get taken away from me, they always have. Blair...he's lasted this long, but just barely. He was killed -- did you know that? He was actually declared dead by paramedics, not too long ago, because I wasn't there to
help him. And I almost didn't get there in time to bring him back. Now this. I'm still scared, I won't deny it. You...I don't want to lose you to anything. If you never saw me again, at least I'd have the knowledge that you were out in the world somewhere, giving your big smile to people, even if it wasn't me. I thought I could deal with that."

She watched through rapidly blurring eyes as he moved to sit on the side of the bed.

"I can't, though. I've been such a complete wreck the last few days. I was being stupid, Summer. Blair finally had to literally knock some sense into me. It shouldn't have taken me so long, and I shouldn't have left you here alone. I don't know what I can ever do to make up for that, but I'll try anything, anything you want. Just give me a chance."

She swallowed hard. "Jim..."

He faced her, completely open, ready to listen to anything.

"You know I'm on medication, right?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, I figured."

"Well, that's a hell of a lot to dump on a girl who's half-drugged out of her mind."

He gave a tentative laugh. "Sorry. I didn't want to wait any longer."

She smiled. "I'm glad you didn't."

He reached out for her hand, but she pulled it away before he could touch her.

Instantly alert, he met her eyes. "What's wrong? Talk to me, Summer."

"I just..." She let out a breath. "You're going to touch me...I mean, your hand is gonna go right through me, and  then I'll know this really is all a dream."

Jim smiled tenderly, reaching out again and bringing his hand to her face, brushing her cheek lightly. At the feel of his very real fingers, her eyes shut, and she let out a breath that was almost a sob.

"I love you," he said quietly, taking the hand she'd pulled away.

Her eyes swung open. "No. No, that's too much. You have to give me time to recover from this before you spring that on me. Do me a favor. Twenty-four hours, then say that again. I'll be able to handle it then."

He grinned. "Deal."

She returned the smile, her own expression still tinged with disbelief. "You know, we still haven't gone out on a date yet."

He laughed. "Yeah, go figure. Maybe it gets easier from here on in."

"Hope so." She twined her fingers through his and let out a sigh.

"You might as well come in, Chief. I can hear you breathing out there." Jim spoke in the same soft tone.

Summer looked up as Blair came in, trying to look casual. "Hi, Sum. Hi, Jim."

"Hi," they said together.

He grinned between the two of them. "So, is this okay, then? I mean...you know. Sometimes it's kind of hard to tell whether or not you're really alright. Cause, you know, when stuff happens that's this serious, you have to deal with all kinds of problems. Shock, or trauma, or mental unbalance. I mean...I just want to be sure you're both in your right minds and this won't be gone in the morning, you know?"

Summer laughed. "You were right, Jim. He rambles."

Blair grinned sheepishly. "Yeah? And he's the strong silent type. Vive la difference. Now answer the damn question."

Jim beamed out at his partner. He could still feel sore spots where Blair had hit him, but they faded in the glow of the moment. "I don't know about the lady here, but I'm in my right mind. For the first time in a while, thanks to you, Chief."

Summer smiled at Blair. "I'll have to remember to thank you for whatever it was you did to him."

"No problem. Trust me, I did it as much for myself as you. You'll find out soon enough what a pain in the neck the big guy is when he's in a bad mood."

She squeezed Jim's hand and looked into his warm blue eyes happily. "I certainly hope so," she said in response.

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