Misplaced Memories

(Completed May 2005 - Posted to May 2007)

“Hey Pete, you want to hear a really great riddle?” Officer James A. Reed asked his partner eagerly as the other man eased the black and white into the late morning traffic. “Wells told it to me just before roll call. It’s a real doozy.”

Officer Peter J. Malloy, an almost nine year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and Reed’s partner for the last nineteen months cast his companion a sideways look as he suggested patiently. “How about you clear us first?”

Jim grinned sheepishly as he reached for the mic and quickly cleared them with dispatch. “1-Adam-12 Mid-Day Watch clear.”

“1-Adam-12 clear.” The radio parroted in acknowledgment.

“So what’s your riddle?” Pete asked with perfected patience as his partner returned the mic to its proper place.

A large grin broke over the younger officer’s face as he turned slightly in his seat to get a better look at his friend. “Okay, are you ready because this is a really good one?”

“Lay it on me, partner.” The senior officer encouraged with an expectant grin as he guided the unit through the streets of their beat.

“Okay, if you had eight green socks and eight red socks in a bag, how many would you have to pull out, without looking, to get a matching pair?”

“Well, if you’re extremely lucky two, otherwise three.” Pete answered without missing a beat causing Jim to gape at him in astonishment.

“How did you get that so fast?” The younger man demanded with obvious awe.

His partner shrugged his shoulders and reasoned. “If you pulled out two socks and they didn’t match, by pulling out a third you would get a pair of one color or another.”

“I’m impressed.” The dark-haired man told him honestly. “It took me about five minutes to figure it out when Ed told it to me earlier.”

“I’m not surprise.” Pete told him with a deadpan tone. When Jim frowned at him he added with a twinkle in his eye. “Everyone knows that I’m the brains in this partnership.” When Jim’s eyes narrowed slightly the redheaded officer started to chuckle. “Oh, don’t feel too bad. After all it took Ed almost twenty minutes of stewing on it before he finally had to admit defeat and I had to tell him the answer.”

“Wait a minute!” Jim shot Pete another dark look. “You told that riddle to Wells?” The smirk on Pete’s face told him that he was right. “How could you?” He demanded, his tone filling with hurt. “How could you tell Wells and not me? I thought we were friends.”

The senior officer almost laughed at the small pout on his partner’s face. After working with Jim for over a year and a half he was use to his younger friend’s various moods. In all the years that he’d been on the force Pete had never met anyone who could change moods as fast or as suddenly as James Reed. He could go from happy and laughing to grumpy and brooding in the space of a minute. Fortunately it also seemed to work in the reverse as well.

“I’m sorry, partner.” The redheaded man replied sincerely as he turned at the next corner. “I had planned on telling you, but can I help it if Wells beat me to it?”

“Sure you can help it!” Jim grumped, refusing to let his friend off the hook that easily. “You could have told me that riddle first! You are my partner, after all, not Wells’.”

This time Pete did laugh. “Feeling a little bit jealous, are we?”

“No!” Jim cried almost indignantly. “I just thought that as you’re suppose to be my partner that you’d have the common courtesy to tell me all your new riddles first.”

“Well I’m sorry, partner.” Pete replied with exaggerated remorse. “I guess I didn’t realize that you’d take it so personally. But I’ll tell you what, to make it up to you I’ll tell you a riddle that I heard the other day and have not repeated to another living soul. How does that sound?” Jim just shrugged his shoulders and continued to stare out his side window, quite obviously not ready to give up his foul mood easily. Pete glanced over at him and then rolled his eyes as he returned his attention to the road. After stopping at an intersection he turned right onto a busy street and found himself behind a very familiar looking car. “Hey, isn’t that Jean and Jimmy up ahead?”

Jim finally pulled his eyes from the view out his side window and focused his attention on the car ahead of them. “Let’s pull them over.” He suggested eagerly when he positively identified the vehicle ahead of them.

Pete sent his partner a mischievous look, relieved to see his companion smiling again. “What’s the PC?”

“I’ll think of something.”

His companion chuckled and asked wickedly. “Should I give Jimmy a thrill and give the siren a blast?”

“Better not. You might give Jean a heart attack.”

Pete chuckled slightly and watched as the right turn signal started blinking on the car ahead of them. “Looks like she’s going to the market.”

“Let’s follow her.”

The driver of the black and white glanced at his friend and teased. “I don’t think the good citizens of Los Angeles pay us to follow your wife around town.”

“Oh, come on, Pete.” Jim pleaded slightly as he watched Jean pull into the market’s parking lot. “Just for a minute.” His eyes started twinkling slyly as he added. “Jimmy’s with her. It must be at least two weeks since you’ve seen him.”

“Sixteen days.” Pete replied as he followed Jean into the parking lot. “But whose counting.” Jim smiled in amusement as his friend pulled the unit up into the parking space behind Jean. Almost before Pete had the car stopped his excited partner jumped from it, eager to greet his wife. “Careful.” The older man cautioned. “Don’t break a leg or anything. I don’t want to have to shoot you.” Jim just gave Pete an amused look as he quickly covered the distance between the unit and Jean’s side of the car. His partner joined him.

“What can I do for you two officers?” Jean grinned as she looked up at the pair through her open window. “Don’t tell me I was speeding.”

“As a matter-of-fact you were, young lady.” Jim teased her in a mock stern tone. “And your fine is a kiss for this very handsome looking police officer.”

“Well, I don’t normally do such a thing, but if you insist.” Jean batted her eyes at him coyly before turning towards his partner and encouraging. “Better lean down, Pete. I can’t reach you from here.”

“Hey!” Jim objected with mock anger as his partner leaned down to receive Jean’s kiss on his cheek.

“I always knew she liked me better than you.” Pete quipped as he straightened up and shot his friend a sly look.

“At least I get better kisses than that.” The dark-haired man retorted and leaned down to plant a tender kiss on his wife’s lips.

“You’re welcome to them.” Pete remarked as he opened the back door of the Reed’s car. “I’m just here to see my godson.” Leaning a knee on the seat he reached into unbuckle the young child from his car seat.

Upon seeing his godfather Jimmy Reed began squealing with delight and clapping his hands excitedly. “Pee…Pee…Pee!”

Pete chuckled with amusement. “That’s right munchkin, its Uncle Pete.” Lifting the child from the safety seat the officer carefully rose to his feet, holding the boy tightly to him.

Jim and Jean both smiled warmly as they watched the pair. “Looks like you’ve been missed.” Jim remarked to his partner as he watched his son lay his head down on Pete’s shoulder.

“I’ve missed him too.” Pete surprised the couple by admitting. It wasn’t very often that the redheaded officer let his true feelings show.

“So how’s your day going so far?” Jean asked curiously as she got out of the car. “Anything exciting happen yet?”

“No, it’s been fairly quiet so far.” Jim told her. “But then again our watch just started a few minutes ago.”

The sound of the radio crackling in the background caught Pete’s attention. “Looks like things might have just picked up.”

As he and Jimmy moved off to check the broadcast Jim turned his attention back to his wife. “So what are you two up to today?”

“I have a couple of errands to run and then Mom’s coming over this afternoon to help me make a new quilt for Jimmy’s crib. I still have to get the rest of the supplies for that.”

“Sounds like you have a busy day planned.”

“Relatively I guess. Listen, I was going to pick up a roast for supper, why don’t you see if that partner of yours would like to come too. It’s been at least two weeks since he’s been over for dinner. Besides, we haven’t had a chance to celebrate Pete’s new promotion yet. He’s had those new stripes of his for over a week now and we haven’t formally congratulated him.”

A mischievous glint appeared in Jim’s eyes. “And are you planning on inviting anyone else for this little ‘celebration’ of yours?”

Jean shook her head. “No, I figured we’d just have a nice, quiet family dinner with just the four of us. Besides, I’m through trying to set that partner of yours up with anyone. He’s completely hopeless.”

“Thank you.” Pete’s sarcastic reply interrupted the couple’s conversation.

Jean turned and looked at him, completely unabashed. “Well its true. You are totally and completely hopeless.”

“And proud of it.” The redheaded officer told her mischievously. Jean just rolled her eyes in response.

Jim laughed at the pair before addressing his partner curiously. “Nothing for us?”

Pete shook his head and carefully unwrapped little Jimmy’s fingers from his badge. “Thirty-four got a 415-Family call, but nothing for us.”

“Good. And by the way, I hope you don’t have any plans for supper because Jean has just invited you over for supper tonight. She’s making a roast.”

“With all the trimmings.” The cook added enticingly.

Pete chuckled knowingly. “What’s the occasion? Or should I say ‘who’?”

Jim exchanged amused looks with his wife before replying to his partner’s remark. “Jean assured me that it’s just going to be the four of us – you, me, herself and Jimmy.”

“What? No eligible young woman for me to meet?” The older officer feigned disappointment and shot Jean a wicked look.

“No way.” She shook her head vigorously. “I am tired of introducing you to women. You are absolutely hopeless when it comes to knowing what to do with them.”

“Well it’s about time you realized it.” The officer laughed good-naturedly. “I’ve been trying to tell you that from the start.”

“Yeah, well tonight is just going to be a family night.” She told him seriously. “Just the four of us.”

“A family night, eh?” Pete repeated with a broad grin. “Well in that case how can I possibly refuse. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to spend some more time with my godson.” Looking at the child he held he prompted. “Right, Jimmy?”

“Pee…Pee.” Jimmy eagerly replied.

Jean smiled and then admonished semi-seriously. “Now try not to be late you two. I expect to see you at home no later than seven o’clock.”

Pete and Jim both chuckled. “We’ll be sure to let the criminals know.” Her husband teased with mild sarcasm.

Jean opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by the sound of Adam-12’s radio beeping signaling an important broadcast. Both Jim and Jean watched as Pete quickly moved back to the black and white and reached inside for the mic. He listened for a moment, spoke briefly into the mic before hurrying back to his friends. “We have to go!” He informed his partner anxiously as he quickly handed his godson over to Jean.

“What’s up?” Jim quizzed.

“A 211-silent at Marty’s Drugs on Fifth.” Pete called over his shoulder as he headed for the car. “Code three.”

“Okay.” Jim acknowledged, then quickly bent down to kiss his wife goodbye. “I’ll see you later, honey.”

“Be careful.” Jean begged, her eyes filling with fear.

“As always.” He assured her and jumped into the car as Pete pulled up alongside him.

Jean watched anxiously as the black and white sped down the street its reds flashing and its siren wailing. “Please let them make it through the day all right.” She breathed prayerfully. “Please let Jim come home to me safely.”

“Why are some clerks so quick to trip the silent alarms?” Jim groused as Pete pulled the black and white away from the pharmacy where they’d just been sent on a false alarm. “I think anyone who trips one false alarm should lose their permit to have one.”

“Take it easy, partner.” The other officer remarked patiently. “The reason they got that alarm in the first place was because they’d had two robberies in the last three months. I can’t blame the clerk for being a little skittish.

“The guy pulled a pipe out of his pocket, Pete. A pipe!” The younger man cried indignantly. “A stinky, tobacco-laced smoking pipe. Hardly a dangerous weapon!”

Pete just glanced at his partner tolerantly before turning his attention back to the road. It hadn’t taken long for Jim’s earlier bad mood to return. Once they had reached the drug store and had discovered that the call had been a false alarm his partner had been almost livid. Though to his credit he had managed to keep his anger in check until the officers were safely back in the police car. Pete had been proud of how well Jim had masked his annoyance when dealing with the apologetic clerk. He just wished that the dark-haired man would conceal it from him a little more too.

It had taken the senior officer a few minutes to figure out what it was that had his friend so steamed. They’d handled their share of false alarms over their year and a half partnership and he had never seen Jim react so angrily as he had today, no matter what his current mood had been. But finally Pete realized what it was that was no doubt bugging his partner.

When they had gotten the call and had taken off down the street code three they had left Jean behind in the dust, no doubt worrying about what it was they were about to encounter. Pete knew just how protective Jim was of his wife and little boy. He did the best he could to shelter his family from the horrors of his job so it was probably bugging the younger man that his wife had seen them take off down the street in such a rush no doubt worrying about what it was that they were about to encounter.

“Was Jean going home after she went to the market?” Pete finally asked as he guided the car along the busy LA streets.

Jim shook his head. “No, she had a few errands to do first.”

Pete looked thoughtful for another moment before suggesting. “Why don’t we take seven at the station in a little bit? You can call Jean and let her know that you’re still in one piece.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of the younger man’s lips. “Sounds good, Pete.” The redheaded officer could almost see the storm cloud over his partner’s head start to dissipate. “Oh, hey you didn’t tell me your riddle yet.”

“My riddle?” Pete looked at him with pretend innocence.

“Yeah, earlier you promised to tell me a riddle that you hadn’t told anyone else yet.”

The senior officer pulled a face. “Oh, yeah I did, didn’t I?” He suddenly devoted all his attention to the road ahead of them as if it might suddenly disappear if he took his eyes off of it for even a second.

“Come on, Pete. You can’t leave me hanging like this.”

The Pete glanced at his partner briefly for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. He hesitated for another moment before finally asking. “If you were running a race and you passed the person in second place, what place would you be in now?”

“That’s it?” Jim asked with a hint of disappointment in his tone. “That’s your great riddle?”

“Hey, I never said it was great.” Pete corrected with mild offense. “I just said that I’d never told it to anyone else before.”

“I can see why.”

“This from a man who’s famous for his corny jokes and bad riddles.”

“Hey, at least my riddles are hard.” Jim objected crisply. “Yours are way too easy.”

“Okay Mr. Smarty-pants.” His partner huffed in visible annoyance. “If it’s so easy than what’s the answer?”

“Oh, come on Pete.” Jim gave him friend a disbelieving look. “You don’t expect me to actually answer that question, do you?”

“Sure I do.” His partner replied, giving him an expectant look. “You said it’s easy, so give me the answer. Or is it really hard and you don’t want to admit that you can’t get it. Maybe I should try it out on Wells and see how long it takes him to get it.”

“Okay.” The younger man relented then with great confidence added. “It’s first place.”

“Wrong answer, Sherlock.” Pete exclaimed with a triumphant grin.

Jim stared at him for several moments. “Come on, Pete it has to be.”

“I’m sorry, partner but that’s not the answer.” The senior officer replied, a slight smirk on his freckled face.

Jim blinked a couple of times, the wheels in his head obviously turning. “Come on, Pete. If you’re ahead of the second place runner than you’re in first place.”

“That’s true.” The senior officer agreed as he turned left at the next corner. “But the question was ‘if you were running a race and you passed the person in second place what place would you be in now?”

Pete could almost hear the wheels in his friend’s head turning as he worked through the riddle more carefully. Finally the light came on. “Second place.” The dark-haired man exclaimed suddenly. “You wouldn’t be in first you’d be in second place.”

“Brilliant deduction, Watson.” His partner laughed with amusement. “Not as easy as you thought it was, was it?”

“Okay, I admit it was a little trickier than I expected. Hey, it wasn’t a bad riddle after all.”

“Thank you.” Pete acknowledged with a broad grin. “But now you know why I don’t tell riddles. Everyone is a critic.”

His companion laughed but before he could say anything the radio crackled and began to squawk.

“1-Adam-12. 1-Adam-12. See the woman. A 459 report. 17 Winchester Boulevard. Apartment 14.”

“1-Adam-12 roger.” Jim acknowledged as Pete turned the unit around and headed for Winchester Boulevard.

“So how’s Jean?”

“She’s fine.” Jim replied as he sat down at the table that Pete was already occupying. A steaming cup of coffee was sitting there waiting for him. “Her mother had just arrived to help her with Jimmy’s new quilt.

“So was she worried?” His partner asked curiously as he took a sip of his own coffee.

“She was…concerned. I think she was really glad that I called.”

Pete gave his partner a teasing look. “Your wife is a sweet old worry wart, you know that don’t you?”

Jim chuckled slightly. “She sounds like someone else that I know.”

“And just who might that be?” The senior officer inquired innocently.

“Oh, just someone that I know.” The younger officer commented evasively. “The King Worry Wart himself.”

Pete smirked slightly but before he could say anything more the coffee room door opened and Detectives Jerry Millar and Dave Hudson stepped inside, deeply amused laughter on their lips. Pete and Jim both turned to look at the newcomers, silently wondering what was so funny.

“I can’t believe he actually said that!” Dave Hudson said with a shake of his head. “Nothing like giving yourself away. If he had have just kept his trap shut he probably would have gotten off since Holmes couldn’t ID him and its very likely he wouldn’t have been able to positively identify his voice either.”

“Well, who said that all suspects were geniuses?” His partner remarked as he pulled out a chair and sat down with a cup of coffee in his hand. “If they were we’d need a lot more manpower to keep a lid on them.”

“Not to mention a lot more than just pure dumb luck.” Dave added as he joined his friend at the table.

“Precisely.” Jerry agreed as he took a sip of his coffee. The two men laughed then noticed Pete and Jim watching them curiously. Millar smiled at them and greeted brightly. “Hey guys. How’s it going?”

“We were about to ask you the same question.” Pete told the detectives with a grin. “Sounds like you two have had an interesting morning.”

Jerry chuckled again and looked at his partner who was smiling into his coffee. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. We just had a guy cop out to that big jewelry store robbery on Front Street that was pulled last week.”

“Well that’s certainly a good thing.” The redheaded officer acknowledged evenly. “Though I must say that I fail to see what’s so humorous about it.”

Dave snickered slightly as Jerry replied. “It wasn’t so much what he did, it was how he did it. When we asked the jewelry store clerk to identify the guy we were pretty sure had committed the robbery he couldn’t because the suspect had been wearing a mask at the time. But the victim said that he could probably recognize him by his voice since the guy talked quite a bit during the hold up. So we asked the suspect to say ‘This is a hold up. Give me all your money’.” The detective chuckled and exchanged a look with his partner.

“So what happened?”

“Well…our suspect proceeded to object angrily, saying: “That is not what I said!” Jerry gave the patrol officers a mischievous look as they laughed heartily. “I think that qualifies as a confession. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Well, I don’t know now, Jerry.” Pete teased with a wicked glint in his green eyes. “He could always try and plead temporary insanity.” Looking at Jim he prompted. “What do you think, partner?”

“Yeah, sure. After all I’ve heard how tough you guys can be while questioning a suspect. It’s no wonder the guy cracked under that kind of pressure.”

“And how has your morning been so far?” Jerry asked as Dave rolled his eyes Heavenward.

“Oh, we’ve had a really exciting morning, isn’t that right Jim?”

“Oh, yeah. We’ve had lots of excitement!”

“Oh, really?” Jerry raised an eyebrow slightly. “You call a false alarm at a drug store, an hour of writing ‘No Parking’ tickets and a 459 report ‘excitement’, do you?” A broad smile spread across his face as he added. “Though I did see that 502W that you two brought in earlier when we were booking Saunders. She seems like quite the handful. She was trying to convince Peters to let her go by vacillating between seductress and Attila the Hun.” After carefully examining Pete’s face for a moment the detective asked with an amused chuckle. “Is that the beginnings of a bruise on your cheek there, Malloy?” Looking at his partner he prompted. “What do you think, Dave?”

Dave pretended to examine Pete’s face thoughtfully. “Yeah, it certainly does. Looks like she nailed you pretty good. Must have had one hell of a left cross.”

Pete rolled his eyes and looked at his partner eagerly. “You ‘bout ready to go?”

“Yeah, sure. But what’s your hurry?” Jim gave him a mischievous look. “We still have ten minutes left of seven. How about a second cup of coffee? My treat.”

“Maybe later.” Pete declined as he placed all his garbage into his brown paper bag and rose to his feet. “I want to talk to Mac about something before we hit the streets. Besides, there’s getting to be too many clowns in this here circus.” Looking at Jerry and Dave he said wickedly. “Catch you later Bobo, Cocoa.” Jerry and Dave just shook their heads and chuckled good-naturedly.

“Watch out for those 502Ws there, Champ.”

Pete chuckled slightly as he followed his partner out of the coffee room.

“1-Adam-12 clear.”

“1-Adam-12 clear.”

“So what did you have to talk to Mac about that was so all fire important that it couldn’t wait?” Jim asked his partner as he replaced the mic to its holder.

“Nothing much.” Pete replied evasively. “Just some stuff.”

“Stuff?” The dark-haired man repeated with a slight grin.

“Yeah, you know…stuff.”

Jim’s grin broadened as he commented with visible amusement. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say that you were only using talking to Mac as an excuse to get away from Jerry and Dave.” Pete shot him a baleful look, which didn’t even fizz his partner. “If I didn’t know better I’d say that the Strawberry Fox was loosing his edge.”

“You’d better watch yourself there, Reed.” Malloy growled gruffly. “Or the next time I talk to Mac it’ll be to put in a request for a new partner.”

Jim laughed at the empty threat. “That might be a good idea, Pete. I hear Ed Wells is in need of another partner.”

“Another one?” Pete frowned in disbelief at Jim’s nod he remarked. “That guy changes partners like most people change insurance companies. What happened this time?”

“Irreconcilable differences. Apparently Jacobs even transferred to Foothill Division to get away from him.”

“When?”

“Last week.”

Pete shook his head slightly. “That guy is a menace.”

“That he is.”

“Remember that time he got shot charging up to that house with the gunmen inside?”

“How could I forget?” He shivered slightly as he glanced towards his friend. “If I’m not mistaken you were about to rush in to pull him out.”

Jim flushed slightly at the memory of his rash response to Ed Well’s collapse. As much as he hated to admit it now, he had been taken in by Ed’s exciting stories and ‘act before you think’ approach. He’d even gone so far as to wish that Wells had been his training officer instead of Pete. Pete had seemed so strict, so boring in comparison. He remember even feeling embarrassed by Pete’s way of handling that dispute call that they’d been called to after Ed and his partner had ended up making the bust. But life would soon teach him a very important and life-saving lesson – that Pete wasn’t strict or boring he was just cautious and rightly so. His methods and by the book procedures had saved his life and Jim’s on more than one occasion during their nineteen month partnership.

Jim had never ever told Pete about his thoughts on that day of patrol. He had been too ashamed of both his thoughts and his actions on that day. Ashamed of the fact that he had weighed his friend against the likes of Ed Wells and found him wanting. The ignorance and arrogance of youth – that was Jim’s only defense. And he didn’t even take note of the fact that despite the fact that Ed jumped their call and despite the fact that Mac chewed them – Pete in particular – out for not handling their own call, Pete handled the entire situation with more professionalism that Ed did. In the end it was Pete that came out smelling like a rose, at least in Jim’s book.

“It’s okay, Jim.” Pete’s soft voice cut through Jim’s reproaching thoughts. When the younger man looked at him in surprise he added sincerely. “I know what you were thinking that day and its okay.”

Jim flushed slightly marveling once again at how well his friend could read him after such a relatively short time. He had friends he’d known since Grade school that didn’t know him as well. “No, it isn’t, Pete. I very nearly let Ed Wells wreck our friendship. Ed Wells. I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

“Neither can I.” Pete remarked deadpan as he shot his friend a wicked look.

Jim smirked slightly but wasn’t easily put off. “I almost let his heroics blind me to what a good cop should be like.”

“Which is?”

“Just like you.” When Pete pulled a face Jim laughed and said. “I’m serious, Pete. You are the near-perfect example of a good cop.”

“Near-perfect?” Pete pretended to look insulted.

His partner laughed and shrugged. “Well, you know…nobody’s perfect.”

“I beg to differ, partner. I’ve had many young women claim that I would make a ‘perfect’ husband.” He pulled a face. “And your wife keeps saying I’d make a ‘perfect’ father.”

“Yeah, but none of them know you the way I do. After all they don’t get to spend eight hours a day, five days a week, fifty weeks out of the year riding next to you in a car.”

“Only fifty weeks?”

“Two weeks for vacation.”

“Oh…well, I didn’t realize it was such a chore for you. Maybe you should talk to Mac and put in for a new partner. I understand that Ed Wells may be available.”

Jim rolled his eyes as Pete chuckled lightly with amusement. Before either of them could say anything else the radio beeped capturing both officers’ attention.

“All available units and 1-Adam-12. A 211-silent at the National Savings and Loan. 4350 Inglis Avenue South. 1-Adam-12 handle code three.”

“1-Adam-12 roger.” Jim acknowledged as Pete flipped on the switches for the siren and lights and turned the unit around.

It only took them about two minutes to reach 4350 Inglis Avenue South. X-Ray-14 pulled up behind them to provide backup. Pete waved them towards the back of the building. As he and Jim carefully take stock of the situation a man in a brown suit came rushing out the front door.

“Freeze, Mister!” Pete cried as he drew his gun and aimed it at the man. Jim followed his lead. The man’s hands shot up instantly.

“I’m the bank manager, Denis Madison.” Pete glanced briefly at Jim and nodded. Jim patted the man down and nodded back to Pete when he found he was clean. Pete returned his gun to its holster.

“What’s going on in there, Mr. Madison?” The senior officer asked seriously, wanting to get as much information as possible as quickly as possible so that he could do something to defuse the situation.

A slightly amused smile spread across the bank manager’s face. Motioning for the officers to follow him he urged. “Come with me and I’ll show you.”

Puzzled Pete and Jim followed Madison inside the bank. When they gained the main part of the bank they found a man of about twenty-five sitting in a chair being guarded by the security guard. The whole demeanor of the captured man screamed dejection.

“Here’s your armed robber, Officers.” Madison pointed towards the young man.

“Was he armed?” Pete asked the security guard as Jim relieved him of his prisoner.

The security guard, an older gentleman of about sixty, chuckled slightly and said lightly. “Only with this.” He held up his hand with his thumb sticking up and his index finger pointing straight out.

“I beg your pardon?” Pete frowned in confusion.

“He came in here with his hand in his pocket, claiming to have a gun. He told every one to lie on the floor and ordered the girls to fill a canvas bag with the money from their cash drawers.” He chuckled again. “Problem was he kept forgetting to keep his hand in his pocket. I didn’t take long to figure out that he wasn’t really armed, so we managed to overpower him.

“I’ll go put out a four.” Jim told Pete as he led their prisoner out of the bank.

“I’ll start the report.” Looking at the small group of people before him he said. “I’m going to need to get your statements and your names if you can just wait for a few more minutes.” Looking at the security guard he said. “Why don’t you start?” Gesturing to two chairs located a few feet away the officer suggested why don’t we sit over here.”

“Okay.”

As Pete took the guards statement Jim returned to help. At his partners questioning look he said. “Woods and Nelson took him. I told them we’d book him after we finished here.” Pete nodded and turned back to his witness as Jim began questioning one of his own.

“Ah, another day another fifty cents.” Pete said as he shut the door of his locker with a bang. “I was beginning to wonder if this day was ever going to end.”

“Tell me about it.” Jim sighed as he finished tying his laces. “It was one of those shifts that felt more like eight days instead of eight hours after that bank 211 the air pretty much died. Sometimes I think days like that are more tiring then ones that keep you busy.”

His partner eyed him carefully as he finished changing into his civilian clothes. “Listen, Jim maybe we should take a rain check on supper tonight.”

Jim shut his locker door and favored his friend with a frown. “Why? Are you not feeling well?”

“It’s nothing like that. But you just got through saying what a long day this has been. I just figured that you might want to go home and just spend a quiet evening with your family.”

“And that’s exactly what I’m planning on doing. So we’d better get going. I already called Jean and told her that we’d be home on time, so everything’s going to be waiting for us when we get there. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Jean mad at me for ruining her fine dinner by being late.”

Pete chuckled lightly. “No, I definitely don’t want Jean on my case about spoiling dinner. Your wife is a real sweetheart except when she’s angry. And I don’t want to ever have her direct any of that anger at me.”

“Wimp.” Jean’s husband taunted wickedly as he led the way out of the locker room.

“Not a wimp.” Pete countered. “Just smart.”

“Wimp.” Jim repeated as the door closed behind them.

“Honey we’re home!” Jim announced as he stepped through the front entrance of the house that he shared with his wife and son. Pete entered right behind him.

“I’m in the kitchen!” Jean sang out cheerily. “I’ll be right out.”

“Have a seat.” Jim offered his friend, gesturing towards the couch.

“In a minute.” Pete replied as he headed straight for Jimmy’s playpen.

As soon as the young boy spotted him he got to his feet and started jumping up and down crying excitedly. “Pee! Pee!” On the third jump he landed on his small bottom, a look of surprise on his face. For a split second he looked like he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, but his honorary uncle quickly came to the rescue.

Smiling brightly at the boy he asked in a light hearted tone. “Did you fall down?”

Jimmy finally laughed and clapped his hands, letting out a delighted squeal. Lifting his arms he said eagerly. “Up! Up!” Pete immediately obliged.

“How’s my big pal doing?” The little boy just laughed and wrapped his arms around Pete’s neck. His godfather smiled and hugged the child to him. “Hey, I got you something.” Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled out a small stuffed dog and presented it to Jimmy.

The child squealed in delight and accepted the toy, crushing it to him. “Woof, woof.” He cried eagerly. “Woof, woof.

“That’s right.” Pete grinned broadly. “Woof, woof.”

“Hey, honey.” Jean greeted her husband with a kiss when she entered the living room. “I see you found your little buddy.” She commented to Pete as she watched him and Jimmy for a minute.

“Yup.” Pete nodded and bounced his godson to make him laugh. Jimmy squealed again, a huge grin on his cherub-like face.

Holding out his new acquisition to show his mother the boy exclaimed. “Woof! Woof!”

Jean accepted the little brown and beige colored toy and asked curiously. “Where did you get this from?”

“Pee…Pee.” Jimmy replied eagerly, jabbing his little finger into his godfather’s chest.

The young mother looked at her friend and scolded slightly. “You know, you don’t have to bring him something every time you come over.”

“I know I don’t. But I just can’t resist.” A mischievous twinkle danced in his eyes as he added. “After all, every boy should have a dog. And this one doesn’t take much work.”

Jean laughed and handed the stuffed dog back to her son. “You’re spoiling him rotten, you know that don’t you?”

“It’s all part of being a godfather.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yup. Section three of the Godfather’s Handbook.”

Jean shook her head at the pair, a broad smile on her face. Then addressing her husband she commented earnestly. “Honey, don’t you think that Pete would make a terrific father?”

“Terrific.” Her husband echoed, giving his partner a mischievous smile.

“It’s a shame he’s so stubborn when it comes to women.” She shook her head sadly. “What a waste.”

“Okay, okay.” Pete gave her a mildly amused look. “I thought you said you weren’t going to play matchmaker tonight.”

“I’m not.” Jean assured him sincerely. “There’s no one else here but the four of us, I was simply making an observation is all.” Then after shooting her friend a sly look she said. “Dinner will be ready in about five minutes. Why don’t you guys get washed up.” She then disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Well, I guess we’d better do as she says.” Jim commented and reached for Jimmy. “Why don’t you go first while I get Jimmy in his highchair.”

“Okay.” Pete reluctantly surrendered his godson before heading to the bathroom to wash his hands.

Ten minutes later they were all sitting around the table enjoying Jean’s culinary efforts. “This is delicious, honey.” Jim told her proudly.

“It certainly is.” Pete agreed eagerly. “Thanks for inviting me. Sure beats take-out.” Pointing his fork at Jean he commented seriously. “Don’t say it, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

Jean gave him a completely innocent look. “What am I thinking?”

“That if I got married than I wouldn’t have to eat out all the time. Because then I’d have a wife to cook for me and make sure that I ate properly.”

Jean gave him a mischievous grin and said. “You said it, I didn’t.” Both Jim and Jean laughed at the absolutely priceless expression on Pete’s face.

Supper passed with more laughter and light-hearted teasing. Pete had to admit that the most cherished times of his life right now were those spent in the company of his partner and his family. It still surprised Pete how quickly he had been accepted into the Reeds’ daily life.

Pete remembered vividly the first time he had met Jean Reed. He and Jim had only been working together for about two weeks when a friend and colleague of theirs, Bill Stenzler had been killed in the line of duty. Stenzler and his wife Beth had been long time friends of the Reeds and both Jim and Jean had taken his death very hard. It was their first real taste of what could happen on the job.

Pete’s first glimpse of Jean Reed had been during the funeral. She’d looked so small and fragile as she had stood with Beth Stenzler and watched he and Jim and the other officers carry Bill Stenzler’s coffin from the hearse to it’s final resting place. After the ceremony was over Jim had taken him over to meet Jean. Pete had thought that she looked even smaller and more fragile close up with her blue eyes red from tears and her tan-colored coat barely covering her expanding midsection. But what the redheaded officer remembered the most was that despite the solemn occasion and the grief and heartbreak that was palatable in the air she had greeted him with a genuinely warm and friendly smile telling him how happy she was to finally meet him and that as soon as things settled down somewhat he was going to have to come over for dinner so that the two of them could get better acquainted. Pete had accepted the offer and had been delighted to receive a formal invitation two days later.

The first night that Pete had visited the Reeds’ home he had been surprised by the warm welcome that he had received from Jean. She had been open and friendly and genuinely pleased to see him again. He had liked her immediately and could very easily see why Jim was so crazy about her. She really was a great catch. Over the next few months his friendship with both Jim and Jean had grown and strengthened to the point that he now considered them to be two of his closest and dearest friends. He thoroughly enjoyed their company and was always willing to join them for supper whenever they asked or even whenever they didn’t. There’d been more than a few times over the last eighteen months that Pete had shown up on their doorstep with chicken or a couple of pizzas because he hadn’t felt like spending the evening alone. And no matter when it was that he appeared he was always warmly welcomed. It made him feel really good to have friends like that, friends who cared about him and really enjoyed his company no matter when it was.

“That was a delicious dinner, honey.” Jim told his wife earnestly as he pushed back his plate slightly.

“Thank you.” She beamed proudly as she rose to clear the plates. Looking at Pete she asked. “Are you finished?”

“Yes, thank you Jean.” He acknowledged as she took his plate. “That was wonderful.”

“You guys up for some dessert?” She asked curiously as she put the dirty dishes in the sink.

“I could go for some.” Jim eagerly accepted.

“When can you not go for some?” Pete asked giving his friend a teasing look.

“Very funny.” His partner replied sarcastically. As his wife cleared some more dishes off the table he asked. “Remind me again why we hang around with this guy.”

“Because he’s sweet and adorable and we love him very much.” Jean told him earnestly, catching Pete’s deeply embarrassed look out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far.” Jim commented with a mischievous smirk, greatly enjoying his partner’s discomfort.

“Besides now that he’s got those new stripes on his sleeve you’ll want to stay on his good side.” His wife reminded him slyly as she finished clearing the table.

“Yeah, who knows what he’ll have me do now that he’s almost a Sergeant.” The dark-haired officer joked wickedly. “He’ll probably have me buying him lunch and fetching his coffee…Oh wait, I do that already.”

“Very funny.” Pete perfectly mimicked his partner’s earlier sarcastic tone.

“Okay, you two.” Jean admonished lightly as she placed three small plates on the table. “Play nice now.”

“We always play nice.” Her husband quickly assured her. “We’re nice guys after all.”

“Uh, huh.” Jean smiled with amusement as she poured three cups of coffee. As the two men doctored their drinks according to their respective tastes Jean went and retrieved their dessert, which she’d carefully hidden from the view of their friend. Approaching the table she smiled broadly and set the cake she was carrying down in front of Pete.

A look of surprise appeared on the redheaded man’s face when he read the words scrawled on the cake: Congratulations, Pete. We’re very proud of you. Looking at his two friends warmly he acknowledged. “Thanks you two. But you didn’t have to do that.”

“We know.” Jim gave him an amused smile. “But we wanted to. I mean how often does my partner make Policeman III?”

“I suppose it depends on how many partners you have.”

“I don’t need more than one. You’re more than enough to handle.”

Jean tactfully interrupted the teasing by handing a knife to Pete and instructing. “Why don’t you cut the cake?” When he took the offered item she admonished with mock seriousness. “And make sure you only use that knife on the cake.”

Pete chuckled slightly and did as she requested cutting generous pieces for both himself and Jim and a smaller one for Jean. When Jimmy started to fuss and reach for the cake he also cut an even smaller piece for him.

“Pete!” Jean scolded with mild exasperation.

“What?” He gave her a look of complete innocence. “It’s my cake, I can share it with whomever I wish.”

“Fine.” She threw up her hands in exaggerated surrender. “But you get to clean him up afterwards.”

“Deal.” The redheaded officer agreed and then laughed as he watched his godson devour his piece of cake. “Besides, it’s worth it.”

The young mother just shook her head then produced a small wrapped box from behind her back and handed it to Pete. “This is from all of us.”

Another surprised look filled Pete’s face as he reached for the gift that she offered. Unwrapping it he pulled off the lid revealing a beautiful wristwatch. Lifting it up he admired the object more closely. “It’s very nice.” He told them sincerely, a broad smile spread across his face. Looking at them both he added. “Thank you.”

“Look at the back.” Jean encouraged and watched eagerly as he did so.

Silently Pete read the words inscribed on the back of the watch. Good cops are a rare breed and close friends a treasure. Pete, you truly are a special gem. Love the Reeds. A lump built itself in Pete’s throat causing him to swallow a couple times to try to loosen it. Fighting hard to control his emotions he gave Jim and Jean a warm smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The couple acknowledged in unison.

Pete took a sip of his coffee, still trying to keep his emotions under control. It wasn’t his habit to reveal the deeper range of his feelings to the world, even his closest friends. But at times like these he found it hard to stay true to form. When he finally had himself under control he slipped the watch onto his left wrist and secured it in place. “It’s very nice.” He told the pair after he’d admired his gift again.

“I’m glad that you like it.” Jean told him with visible relief. “I wasn’t sure what to get you, but then I remembered Jim mentioning that you’re old watch had gotten broken in a scuffle with a suspect a few days ago.”

“It was a very good choice.” He assured her and rose to his feet to give her a warm hug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Jean returned his hug easily and then smiled as Pete squeezed Jim’s shoulder before reclaiming his seat.

“This is delicious.” The honored guest commented after taking a bite of his cake. “You know you really didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

"Just like you didn't have to take us out to dinner to celebrate me surviving probation." Jim pointed out with a smile.

Pete gave him a mischievous look and shrugged slightly. "I figured you deserved it. After all being a probationer isn't easy."

"Especially with you as a training officer." His partner returned with a wicked grin.

"Well we figured that you deserved some recognition too." Jean commented, cutting into the light-hearted bantering. "After all, carrying all those stripes on your sleeves can't be that easy."

Pete smiled slightly. "Its not so bad. Even with Jim as a partner."

"Gee thanks, partner." His friend drawled sarcastically.

A comfortable silence fell over the trio as they finished their cake and coffee. As Pete leaned back in his chair his eyes landed on his godson's chocolate smeared face. An amused laugh bubbled up from his chest. "I see you enjoyed your cake there, munchkin."

Jim and Jean looked at their son and shook their heads gently. "I think he got more on his face then in his mouth." Jean observed with a chuckle.

"Don't worry about it, honey." Jim told his wife seriously. "Uncle Pete volunteered to clean him up, remember?"

Jean smiled slightly and suggested. "I'll tell you what, you and Pete clean up the table and I'll clean up the chocolate monster. Deal?"

"Deal." Jim quickly agreed and Pete seconded the agreement.

Jean rose to her feet and carefully lifted her son from his high chair. "Come on Little Jim, let’s get you cleaned up and ready for bed."

"You're not putting him down yet, are you?" Pete asked with a frown.

"Don't worry, Uncle Pete." She assured him with a knowing smile. "I'm just going to get him cleaned up and into his PJs. You'll still be able to have some quality play time before he's sent off to bed."

"Good." The dotting godfather grinned and gave Jimmy's small foot an affectionate squeeze as Jean passed by. Jimmy squealed and then giggled in delight. When the pair disappeared through the doorway Pete turned to look at his friend, a broad smile on his freckled face. "That's quite the son you have there."

Jim smiled proudly in return. "Yes he is." Then with a wicked glint in his eyes he added. "I still think that it’s about time that you got yourself one of your own."

"Jim! Please don't start that again!" Pete rolled his eyes and rose to his feet to carry his dirty dishes to the sink.

"I still don't understand you, Pete." Jim remarked as he also rose from the table and cleared his own dishes. "You quite obviously love kids very much. You dote on Jimmy like no one else does and I've seen you with the kids that we meet on the job. You would make a terrific father."

"That may be so." Pete acknowledged with uncharacteristic seriousness regarding the subject. "But you're forgetting something, partner. One very important something."

"What's that?"

"Well usually you also need a wife if you're going to have children." The redheaded officer gave his friend a wicked look. "I would have thought you of all people would realize that."

"Very funny." Jim shot a mock glare at his friend as he grabbed the dishcloth and moved to wipe off the table and clean up Jimmy's highchair. "I just think its such a waste to see you all by yourself. You deserve to be happy."

"I am happy!" His partner eagerly assured him. "I get to meet lots of new people and go to a whole lot of interesting places. I'm just not ready to settle down and be domesticated like you are." A wicked look appeared in the older man's eyes as he added teasingly. "Maybe if something ever happened to you and Jean was suddenly available…"

"Pete!" Jim flung the dishcloth he'd just rinsed out at his friend, catching him square in the face and cried with mock indignance. "Get your own girl, Malloy!" Pete laughed and tossed the wet cloth back to Jim. As the dark-haired man rinsed it again he said slyly. "We could always fix you up with Jean's sister. She’s be more your style. She’s just as stubborn about the subject of marriage as you are. It would be perfect. You could date forever and never have to worry about a serious relationship.”

“Reed!” Pete exclaimed with perfected exasperation. Jim just laughed heartily.

“’Dain!” Jimmy cried in delight as he clapped his hands eagerly. Picking up one of the wooden blocks at his feet he handed it to his godfather and repeated. “’Dain”

Pete laughed and took the offered block. “Okay, we’ll do it again.” He shoved all the other blocks towards the little boy and then placed the one that Jimmy had given him on the floor between them, adding more as the child handed them to him.

Jean and Jim watched from their spots on the couch as Pete built the tower and then laughed right along with the pair on the floor when Jimmy kicked out his little foot and knocked the structure down barely seconds after his godfather had placed the last block.

“’Dain!” Jimmy clapped and cried eagerly. Picking up a block he held it out to Pete. The indulgent godfather smiled and scooped up the remaining blocks, dumping them in the boy’s lap before accepting the one that he held out. As the pair built another tower a knock suddenly sounded at the Reed’s front door.

“I wonder who that could be.” Jean mused as Jim rose from the couch and moved to answer the door. Both Jean and Pete watched curiously as the door was opened and the visitor entered. Jean rose to her feet when she recognized the young woman who had appeared in her entryway.

“Gracie, what are you doing here? I thought you were working tonight.”

“I am.” Grace Carter told her younger sister eagerly as she moved further into the house. “Actually I was on my way to work for nine when my car started making some funny noises. I was hoping that Jim wouldn’t mind having a look at it for me.”

“Certainly.” Jim immediately agreed and moved towards the front door.

“I’ll give you a hand.” His partner offered as he rose to his feet to follow Jim outside. But before he could take a step there was an adamant protest from the boy still seated on the floor.

“No!” Little Jimmy Reed cried and wrapped his arms tightly around his godfather’s leg. “No!”

Pete laughed and bent down to swing the child up into his arms. Jimmy wrapped his little arms around his godfather’s neck and hugged him tightly, laying his head on Pete’s shoulder. The officer smiled and patted his back affectionately. “Don’t worry, kiddo. I’m not leaving yet. I’m just going outside with your Daddy for a minute. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Jean moved to take her son from her friend. “Come on, Little Jim. Uncle Pete and Daddy are just going to go check on your Aunt Gracie’s car. You and Uncle Pete can play again in a few minutes.”

“No!” Jimmy firmly cried and tightened his grip on Pete’s neck. His godfather made an exaggerated choking sound that caused Jimmy to laugh.

“Careful, Jimmy.” The young mother warned. “You’re going to choke your godfather if you’re not careful.”

Pete tickled the boy’s side, causing him to loosen his grip as he wiggled and squirmed. “Okay, come on, you little monster.” The officer chuckled, grabbing one of Jimmy’s baby blankets that lay draped across the back of the couch and wrapped it skillfully around his godson. “Lets go help your Daddy see what’s wrong with your Aunt’s car. Maybe we can keep him from blowing it up.” Grace and Jean both laughed at the look that Jim shot his partner as the three guys went outside.

“Those two are quite the pair, aren’t they?” Grace chuckled as the front door closed.

“Which pair? Jim and Pete or Pete and Jimmy?”

“Either actually.”

Jean chuckled than asked. “Would you like some coffee and a piece of cake before you go?”

“I’d love some but I’m afraid that I don’t have time tonight. I have to run as soon as Jim comes back in with a diagnosis. I’ll take a piece with me though.”

Her sister gave her an amused smile. “Come on, then. I’ll package you up a piece.” The sisters headed for the kitchen. “So how late are you working tonight?”

“I’m working from nine until one tomorrow afternoon. That makes sixteen hours.”

Jean pulled a face. “Ouch.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m not a big fan of working the back-shift, especially one this long.”

“I know what you mean. Jim never likes it when he has to work the Morning Watch. It really messes up his sleeping pattern. Especially when he suddenly has to do the Day Watch too.”

“Tell me about it.” Grace exclaimed as she watched Jean cut the cake. Then with obvious curiosity she read. “’Congratulations Pete. We’re…’” She looked at Jean and asked. “You’re what?”

“Huh?”

Pointing to the cake she reread. “’Congratulations Pete. We’re…’”

“’Really proud of you’.” Jean supplied as she finished packaging up the piece of cake she’d cut for Grace.

“Congratulations for what?”

“For his new promotion. He got a few new marks on his sleeve. He’s now a Policeman III, which is almost a Sergeant.”

“That’s right. I remember Jim mentioning that.”

“It’s been about a week since he got them so we figured that we should celebrate.”

Grace watched her sister for a moment as she recovered the remainder of the cake and put it away. “He really means a lot to you guys, doesn’t he?”

“Who Pete?” Jean gave her a surprised look. “Of course he does. He’s practically a member of the family now.”

Her sister smiled. “So I’ve noticed.”

Jean frowned slightly. “What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. I’ve just noticed how close the four of you seem to be, especially since you two picked him to be Jimmy’s godfather.”

“Don’t tell me you’re still upset about that.” The younger woman sighed slightly. “I thought you liked Pete.”

“I do like Pete and I was never upset about you choosing him to be Jimmy’s godfather. I was only concerned. We all were.”

“So I remember.” Jean commented a little crisply as she turned and reached for the coffee pot to fill it with water.

“Jeannie, we always thought that Pete was a very nice guy and obviously a very good friend to Jim, but he were just not sure that he was a good choice as godfather for Jimmy. For one thing, he’s a bachelor who hasn’t had any real experience with children…”

“And for another he’s a police officer.” Her sister added, her tone still cool.

“Yes, that was also a concern.” Her sister admitted honestly. “After all, he could very easily be injured or killed any time he puts on that uniform.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Jean cried a little harshly. “Trust me, it’s a reality I live with everyday that Jim puts on that uniform.”

“I know it is, Jeannie.” Grace acknowledged as she reached over and rubbed her younger sister’s arm consolingly. “And I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just explaining why the family was concerned with your choice of Pete as Jimmy’s godfather. We only want what’s best for all of you.”

“I know you do, and I appreciate that. But trust me when I tell you that Pete is the perfect choice for godfather to Jimmy. Nobody dotes on him more than Pete does and what’s more they love each other very, very much. Not only that but making Pete Jimmy’s godfather does basically make him a part of the family and that means a lot to Jim. I think in a lot of ways Pete is like the older brother that Jim never had. Ever since the two of them started working together Pete has been Jim’s mentor. His friendship means a lot to Jim. It’s something that he never wants to lose.”

Grace nodded thoughtfully but before she could say anything the front door opened signaling the guys return.

“Jean? Grace?”

“In here.” Jean called then led the way back into the living room. Seeing her son snuggled up against Pete’s shoulder she shot a meaningful look at her sister before approaching the pair. Squeezing the boy’s foot she asked the young boy. “Did you help Daddy and Uncle Pete fix Aunt Gracie’s car?”

When the boy didn’t stir she glanced at her son’s face. His eyes were closed and he was obviously dropping off to sleep.

“He just started dozing off a couple minutes ago.” Pete replied to her unspoken question. “He’s still just teetering on the brink.”

“Do you want me to take him?” The young mother offered, holding out her arms to take the boy.

“I got it covered.” Pete assured her and carefully crossed the room to the hallway that led to the bedrooms.

When he disappeared from the room Grace starred thoughtfully at the hallway for several moments before turning to Jim. “So, what’s the verdict?”

“It sounds like it could be the water pump, but it’s hard to tell without taking it apart.” Jim admitted honestly.

His wife gave her sister a mischievous smile. “Jim just likes to take things apart.”

“But the question is, can he put them back together again?” Grace asked, shooting Jim a teasing look.

“Fifty-fifty.” Jean quipped, sending her husband a wicked look.

“Hey, whatever happened to the supportive wife?” The dark-haired man complained.

The young woman reached over to take her husband’s hand. “I support you, honey. And I support the fact that you can only put things back together half of the time too.” Both Jean and Grace chuckled at Jim’s insulted face.

“I guess I’ll just have to make an appointment with a real mechanic.” The older sister remarked to Jean as she cast a sly look at her brother-in-law out of the corner of her eye.

“Probably wouldn’t hurt.” Jean agreed wickedly. When their laughter died down she asked her sister eagerly. “You want to come by tomorrow afternoon and help Mom and I finish Jimmy’s new crib quilt? We’ve only got about three or four hours work left on it.”

“I wish I could, but after working a sixteen hour shift all I’ll want to do is sleep.”

“Why are you working such a long shift?” Jim asked with raised eyebrows.

“Because it seems that every crisis imaginable has befallen the nursing staff of Central Receiving’s Emergency Ward. Two are out with the flu; one is off for a couple of weeks because her mother just had a stroke and so she’s gone to San Francisco to care for her for a couple of weeks; and another girl got married today.”

Jim chuckled slightly. “And a wedding constitutes a crisis?”

“For her it does since her husband is an idiot.”

Amusement twinkled in Jim’s eyes. “That’s not saying much since you think all men are idiots.”

“Not all, just most. You’re not that bad.”

“Gee thanks, that’s quite the recommendation. Can I use you as a reference?”

Grace gave him a cheeky look. “Anytime you want to, bro. Your partner too if he wants. He’s not that bad either.”

“Really?” Her brother-in-law quirked an eyebrow at her. “Well maybe Jean and I should set the two of you up then. I was just telling Pete tonight what a great pair you two would make: the confirmed bachelor and the old maid. You guys could date for years and never have to worry about having a serious relationship.”

Grace pretended to give the suggestion some serious thought. “It might work, but then with my luck you and Jean would end up corrupting him into thinking that marriage was a good thing and then where would I be? Wither he’d be dumping me for someone else or he’d fall head over heels in love with me and ask me to marry him. Then I’d just have to go and break the heart of a wonderful guy and I certainly wouldn’t want to do that.”

Jean shook her head gently. “I still don’t understand you, Gracie.”

“What’s to understand?”

“I can’t understand how you can have such a negative view of marriage. I mean Mom and Dad always had a happy marriage. It’s not like we grew up in a problem home or anything.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.” Her sister commented seriously. “Mom and Dad have such a great marriage that it’s hard to find someone to measure up to them. After all guys like Dad are one in a million.”

“Two in a million.” Jean corrected, slipping her arm around Jim’s waist and giving him a loving look. Jim smiled back at her. Then looking at her sister the younger woman said encouragingly. “And I wouldn’t be surprised if there were three. Four including Pete.”

Grace gave her a doubtful look. “I’m no so sure about that. There may be three: Dad, Jim and Pete, but I doubt that there’s a fourth.”

“Well then maybe you should grab onto Pete then.” Jean teased lightly. “He’s quite a catch.”

“He maybe, but not necessarily for me. So until my Mr. Right finally decides to show his face I’m going to stay a confirmed bachelorette.”

“Bachelorette?” Jean repeated curiously.

“Sure, why not? Why should unmarried women be referred to as ‘spinsters’ and ‘old maids’? As far as I’m concerned those terms denote some little old gray-haired woman who wasn’t able to find herself a husband. But that’s not me. I could get a husband if I wanted to, but right now I don’t. So that makes me a bachelorette. I’m single by choice just like our bachelor friend Pete.”

“Speaking of which, where is our bachelor friend Pete?” Jim asked a slight frown

“He must still be back there with Jimmy.” Jean commented and headed towards the hallway. “Maybe Little Jim wouldn’t go to bed for him.”

“I’m going to head out to work.” Grace told the pair before they left the room. “I’ll see you both later.”

“Catch you later, Gracie.” Jean acknowledged before heading down the hallway that led to her son’s room. Jim followed her as Grace let herself out.

The couple silently made their way down the hallway towards their son’s bedroom. The door was partially open and in the dim light from the hallway Jean could make out a dark form sitting in the rocking chair by the window.

“Jim.” She whispered and pointed towards the rocking chair.

Jim’s eyes followed her finger and he smiled when he saw what she was pointing at. Quietly stepping into the room he reached over and turned on the small lamp that sat on the top of Jimmy’s dresser. In the soft glow of the lamp the couple smiled as they saw Pete, with his head leaning against the back of the rocker, eyes closed with Jimmy snuggled securely in his arms sound asleep.

“Get the camera.” Jim whispered to his wife and then waited patiently for her to return, hoping that his partner wouldn’t wake up in the meantime.

When Jean returned with the requested item Jim took it from her and quickly set about taking a picture. When the flash went off Pete moaned slightly but didn’t stir until Jim snapped another picture. Several moments later Pete opened his eyes. When he did he was nearly blinded again, this time by Jim’s broad smile. “Gotcha, partner.” The dark-haired man remarked.

Pete merely groaned and then closed his eyes once again.

The smell of frying bacon and fresh brewed coffee pulled Jim from his deep sleep. Rolling onto his back he yawned and stretched his arms above his head trying to work out some of the kinks that had developed in his muscles over night. Turning onto his other side he automatically reached for Jean and was mildly surprised when he came up empty. Cracking open an eye he realized that he was alone in the double bed. Glancing at the clock he was again surprised to find that it was already almost eight o’clock. Pete would be there in a little over an hour to pick him up for work.

Throwing back the covers he pulled himself out of bed and padded barefoot down the hall towards the kitchen where he found both Jean and Jimmy.

“Morning, beautiful.” He greeted as he slipped his arms around Jean’s waist and dropped a kiss on the side of her neck.

Jean giggled as his breath tickled her neck. “Morning, sleepy head.”

“You must have been up bright and early this morning.” He commented as he eyed the still steaming blueberry muffins sitting on the counter and the bacon strips frying in the skillet.

“I got up about six.” She told him brightly. “I just couldn’t stand being in bed any longer on such a gorgeous day.” She gestured out the window before her to the beautiful sunshiny day.

Jim chuckled and kissed her neck again. “You could have woken me up too, you know. I’m sure we could have come up with some reason for you to stay in bed.”

Jean giggled again and turned in his arms to face him. Sliding her arms around his neck she teased. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

“I know.” He responded with a mischievous smile and leaned down to give her a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Then pulling back she said. “Pete will be here in about an hour. Why don’t you go and get ready while I finish making breakfast.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” He agreed but then leaned down to kiss her tenderly.

When they parted Jean smiled at him and teased. “If you keep that up you won’t get your second cup of coffee before Pete gets here.”

“This is much better than coffee.” He replied and trailed more kisses along her jaw line and down her neck.

Jean laughed and gave him a playful shove. “Go and have your shower while I finish getting your breakfast ready.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jim gave her a mock salute before heading for the kitchen door. He paused beside Jimmy’s highchair to tousle the boy’s hair and gave him a warm kiss on the cheek. “Morning, Sport.”

Jimmy grinned up at him and said brightly. “Da-dee!”

Jim laughed and ruffled his hair again. The boy laughed with delight and stretched a hand up as far as he could, grunting slightly as he tried to reach higher. His father laughed and ducked his head down to allow the boy to muss his own already wild locks. Jimmy squealed with delight.

“Okay, you two.” Jean laughed with amusement as she joined the rowdy pair.

“Settle down.” Looking at her husband she urged. “Go get ready before Pete comes and finds you still standing around in your pajamas.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jim saluted again earning him a smack on the shoulder from his wife. Jim laughed, tousled Jimmy’s hair again and then continued on out of the room.

Jean smiled and shook her head slightly as she turned her attention back to her cooking.

About twenty minutes later Jim reappeared freshly showered, shaved and dressed. Jean set two plates of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast on the table and urged. “Let’s eat.”

After they started eating Jim asked curiously. “So what are you doing today?”

“Well, Mom’s coming over later to help me finish up Jimmy’s crib quilt and Ruthie’s going to stop by for a while later this afternoon. She picked up a book of knitting patterns for children’s sweaters and she wants me to pick one out so she can knit it up for Jimmy.”

“I hope she remembers to make it big enough for him to grow into.” Her husband remarked. “I’d hate for her to go to all that work and then Jimmy not be able to wear it because it’s too small.”

Jean gave him and amused look. “I think Ruthie knows what she’s doing. It’s not the first time she’s knit a sweater for a child. She does have several nieces and nephews after all.”

“Is she practicing for when she has her own kids someday?”

Jean chuckled. “I think she has to find a husband before she gives much thought to kids.”

“Well, just don’t try to fix her up with Pete again. I don’t think she’ll get too far with him.”

“That’s because your partner’s hopeless.” The pair laughed then Jean added seriously. “You know, I really enjoyed Pete’s visit last night. He seemed so much more relaxed, much more himself with just the four of us. Maybe we should do that more often.”

Jim chuckled. “I’m sure he would appreciate not always being put on display for your girlfriends. It might be a good idea to just ease off a bit with the matchmaking for a while. Pete’s obviously not ready to settle down yet. He’s enjoying his freedom, not that I can understand why. As far as I’m concerned there’s nothing better than a good marriage. But I guess Pete’s just not ready to learn that lesson yet.”

“Well that doesn’t mean we can’t keep trying to educate him.” Jean commented mischievously.

Jim laughed and leaned forward to kiss her gently. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?” Jean just grinned back in return. After a few minutes passed he asked a little hesitantly. “Honey, I was wondering something.”

“And what’s that?”

“Well as you know Pete and I have this Saturday off, right?”

“Right?”

“And I know that I promised that I’d fix that leaky tap in the bathroom…”

“But…?”

“But I was wondering if you’d mind too much if I put it off until Sunday.”

“That depends on what you have in mind.”

Jim hesitated for a moment before answering. “I was thinking of seeing if Pete was interested in taking a drive up to the lake and drowning a few worms.”

“Don’t you get enough of his company during the week? I mean, you guys spend eight hours a day, five days a week together as it is. I would think you’d want a break from one another.” She had said the words in a teasing manner so she was surprised when he admitted seriously.

“Now that Pete’s been promoted who knows how much longer we’ll be riding together. After all now that he’s the lead man of a ten-car operation the chances are greater that we may be split up at any time.”

Jean gave him a sympathetic smile and reached over to squeeze his hand. She knew that ever since Pete had received his big promotion two weeks ago her husband had been secretly worrying that his days as Pete Malloy’s partner were coming to a close. Everyone involved knew that the break up was inevitable but they all hoped that it was still a long ways off.

Letting out an exaggerated sigh she said. “I suppose I can do without you for a day while you go off gallivanting with that big shot partner of yours.”

Jim flashed her a big smile and leaned forward to give her another kiss. “Honey, you’re the greatest.”

“I know.” She teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

A few minutes later Jean rose and cleared the dirty dishes as Jim got up to get himself another cup of coffee. As he was pouring it he glanced out the kitchen window and spotted a familiar-looking car pulling into the driveway. “Pete’s here.” He announced as he returned to the table with his cup.

Jean glanced at the clock. “He’s early this morning. It’s only a quarter to nine.”

Jim grinned with amusement. “Either his new watch is fast or he’s decided to drop by early to get in some quality time with Jimmy. I think he’s really missed him the last couple of weeks.”

“We have got to get that partner of yours a wife so he can have a family of his own.” His wife commented as the doorbell rang. “It’s such a waste to see him all alone.” Jim just chuckled as she left the kitchen to go and answer the front door. “Morning, Pete. Come on in.”

“Morning, Jean.” The redheaded officer greeted with a warm smile. “I’m sorry I’m so early, I just…”

“There’s no need to apologize, Pete.” The young woman interrupted eagerly. “You know that you’re welcome here any time of the day or night.” Then leading the way to the kitchen she added. “Jim’s just having a second cup of coffee. Would you like one too?”

“Sure, that’d be great.” He accepted.

“Morning, partner.” Jim greeted with a broad smile. “You must have been up early this morning.”

“I woke up about half an hour before the alarm.” The other man admitted as he sat in the chair beside Jimmy’s highchair. “So I thought I’d come by a few minutes early and spend some quality time with my godson.” He reached over to tweak Jimmy’s nose, completely missing the knowing look that Jim exchanged with Jean.

“Pee…Pee…Pee…!” Jimmy held out his arms to Pete and squirmed about in his high chair.

Grinning Pete rose to his feet and lifted the child from his seat. Then sitting back down he settled Jimmy on his lap as Jean set a steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of him, just out of Jimmy’s short reach.

“Thanks.” Pete acknowledged than looked at his godson affectionately. “So, how’s my big boy today?”

“Goo.” Jimmy replied and then giggled when Pete jiggled his knee. “Pay.” The boy requested then squirming off his godfather’s knee he grabbed the officer’s hand and tugged on it. “Pay, Pee, pay.”

Pete laughed and glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Okay, I’ll play but only for a few minutes. Uncle Pete has to go to work soon.”

Jimmy tugged on his hand again. “Pay.”

“Go and get your blocks and we’ll play.” His godfather told him with a grin on his face.

Jimmy obediently toddled off to get the requested items, his mother right behind him to lend a hand. Jim and Pete both laughed as they watched them go.

“That’s quite the boy you have there.” The redheaded officer commented, a look of god fatherly pride on his freckled face.

“He’s a rascal that’s for sure.” Jim acknowledged with a chuckle. “He’s growing up so fast too. I can’t believe he’s already over a year.”

“Time sure does fly. And he’s not the only one who’s done some growing.”

“What do you mean?”

A mischievous grin tugged at the redhead’s lips. “Well, I seem to remember being partnered up with this real green rookie not that long ago who had a real faddish for playing Sergeant York.”

“Oh, yeah. I think I remember meeting him once.” Jim teased good-naturedly.

“You probably did. But now he’s grown into an experienced, more level-headed officer.”

Jim gave his partner a warm smile as the sound of excited footsteps came from the hallway.

“Pay, Pee.” Jimmy called to his honorary uncle from the kitchen doorway.

Pete smiled and rose to his feet heading for the living room, Jim right behind him. They both laughed as they watched the boy excitedly dump the bucket of blocks his mother had carried from the bedroom for him onto the floor and then flop down on the carpet beside them. Looking up at Pete he held up a block and urged. “Pay, Pee!”

With a chuckle his indulgent godfather sat down on the floor across from the boy and accepted the wooden block that he held out while Jean and Jim watched with knowing amusement from the couch.

“I must say, Pete. You have an awful lot of patience.” Jim commented to his partner as they headed towards the station a few minutes later.

“What makes you say that?” The redhead asked, glancing at his companion curiously for a moment before turning his attention back to the road.

“Well, just the way you handle Jimmy. You always treat him with kindness and gentleness even when he’s doing something incredibly annoying. I mean that’s par for the course for mothers and fathers, but not always so with others – including godfathers.”

“It’s not always so with some parents either.” Pete acknowledged sadly. “But there’s nothing annoying about my godson. He’s a perfect little angel.”

“Sure he is.” Jim chuckled slightly. “He has his annoying little habits whether his godfather wishes to admit to them or not.”

“Like what?” Pete frowned, as he turned left at an intersection.

“Like when he asks you to build a tower with his blocks and then knocks it down when you’ve just barely finished.” Pete chuckled to himself. “What?”

His partner glanced at him, a large grin nearly splitting his face. “Oh, nothing.”

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s a secret.”

“A secret?” The dark-haired man repeated as his friend nodded. “From whom?”

“Everyone but Jimmy and me.”

A slight smirk tugged at Jim’s lips. “You have a secret with a fourteen-month old baby?”

“Yup.” Pete confirmed proudly then shot his partner a teasing look. “Jealous?”

Jim laughed. “Oh, yeah. Terribly.”

“I thought so.” The senior officer grinned mischievously causing his friend to laugh again.

Several moments of comfortable silence fell over the two men as Pete directed his car though the mid-morning traffic. When they were only a few blocks from the station Jim asked curiously. “You got any plans for next Saturday?”

“Not that I know of. What did you have in mind?”

“Well I was just thinking that its been a while since you and I went fishing together. I just thought that maybe we could take a drive up to the lake and spend a few hours drowning some worms since its our day off.”

Pete glanced over at him, a look of mild surprise written on his face. “Can’t you think of something better to do on your day off than hang around with me? I mean you probably see more of me in the course of a week than you do your wife.”

Jim chuckled. “Yeah, that’s probably true, at least some weeks. But what do you think? You up to a little fishing with your partner next weekend?”

“Hey, I’m always up to go fishing, even if it is with you.” He gave his friend a wicked look. “But are you sure that Jean won’t mind? I mean we’ve been putting in a few more hours than usual lately. Are you sure she doesn’t want you to say around home this weekend? Maybe spend some time with her.”

“Don’t worry, Pete. She’s fine with it. As a matter of fact she thinks it’s a great idea.” He hesitated for a moment before adding. “Besides, now that you’ve got all those new decorations on your sleeve who knows how much longer you’ll be stuck with me as your partner. After all, now that I’m no longer an inexperienced probationer I’m no longer the newest model anymore. You might suddenly decide to trade me in for a rookie who didn’t know you before you became such a big shot.”

Pete gave him a droll look. “Forget about trading you in, if you keep talking like that I might just throw you out of the car right now.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Jim returned in a sing-songy tone.

“And why’s that?”

“Because Jean’ll hunt you down and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

“You got that right, partner.” His friend agreed emphatically. “Like I told you before, you’re wife’s a real sweetheart, except when she’s mad and I never want to see her mad at me.”

“Chicken.”

“Not chicken. Smart.”

“Chicken.”

Pete let out an exaggerated sigh. “Maybe I will trade you in for a rookie. At least they show me some respect.”

“That’s just because they don’t know how much of a chicken you are.”

His companion rolled his eyes and sighed again. “I have a feeling this is gong to be a long day.”

"By the way Jean wanted me to tell you that she really enjoyed last night. She said we should do that more often, you know just the four of us." A smirk appeared on his lips as he added. "She claims that you're much more relaxed when its just the four of us."

"Now why would she ever think that?" Pete quizzed in a mild sarcastic tone as he finished doing up his uniform shirt. "Why wouldn't I be relaxed when I arrive to find a friend of Jean's there that she's trying to set me up with? I just don't understand it."

"Neither do I, actually." His partner remarked wickedly as he worked away at his own buttons. "You always act like those girls are out to get you. Like they're going to drag you down the alter if you so much as smile at them."

"They just might, partner." Pete commented with a completely deadpan look on his face. "It's been tried before. More than once."

Jim rolled his eyes but before he could comment Mac entered the room and headed right for them.

“Good, I’m glad that you’re both here. I was hoping to talk to you both before Roll Call.”

“What’s up, Mac?” Pete asked the Senior officer curiously.

“We’re getting a new probationer today.” Mac told the pair.

Jim looked at Pete and frowned, visibly worried about what the other man was about to say. “I have a feeling I know where this is going.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions, partner.” Pete told his friend calmly. “Lets hear what the man has to say.”

“The probationer’s name is Mike Wallace.” The watch commander looked at Jim sympathetically for a moment before focusing on Pete. “He’ll be riding with you in Adam-12 today.” He watched as Pete and Jim exchanged a meaningful look.

“It’s starting already.” The younger officer said grimly, his mouth set in a thin line. “It’s starting already.” He turned back to his locker and focused his attention on the contents inside as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

Mac watched him with mild concern for a few moments before saying. “Now before you get too worked up over this, Jim I want you to know that it’s only temporary. You two will be back together in a day or two.”

“Yeah, temporary.” Jim nodded slightly without turning around. “For now. But I see the handwriting on the wall.” He glanced at Pete for a moment before reaching into his locker and grabbing the last of his gear. Then without even stopping long enough to put on his equipment belt he closed the door and mumbled to his partner. “I’ll catch you at Roll Call. I’m going to go and grab a cup of coffee.” Pete and Mac watched with concern as the younger officer left the locker room.

“He okay?” Mac asked, looking at the redheaded officer for confirmation.

“Yeah, I think so.” Pete replied though his face was full of concern. “I think he’s just worried that one of these days the assignment will be permanent.”

“Well, partnerships don’t last forever, Pete. You both know that.”

“Yeah, we know.” Pete nodded, his own expression solemn.

Mac watched his friend silently for several moments as he put the finishing touches on his uniform. “You and Reed are pretty tight, aren’t you?”

Pete glanced at the other man before looking back to his locker. After closing the door he finally nodded his head, not even looking at Mac as he admitted somewhat uncomfortably. “Yeah, we’re pretty tight.”

The Sergeant nodded and reached out and squeezed Pete’s shoulder. “Don’t worry Pete, there are no plans to separate you and Jim in the immediate future. This assignment is only temporary. In a couple of days Wallace is going to be assigned to somebody else.”

“That’s good to know, Mac.” Pete commented as he gave his friend a soft smile. Then picking up his briefcase he said. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

“Where you going?”

“To find Jim before he stews himself sick over this.” Pete moved towards the door but stopped when Mac called his name.

When the other man looked at him Mac said gently. “Everyone in our profession knows that when you find a combination that works as well as you and Jim do together you shouldn’t be too quick to break it up.”

Pete smiled slightly. “Thanks, Mac.” Then turning he left the room.

Mac couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. “What a pair.”

“There you are!” Pete exclaimed when he walked into the men’s restroom a few minutes later and found his partner leaning dejectedly against the far wall. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I thought you said that you were going to the coffee room.”

“I was, but it was too crowded in there. I needed…I needed a few minutes alone.” Jim’s shoulders seemed to sag a bit more as he said the last word. Pete watched his friend with concern. “It’s happening, Pete. My worst fear since you got your promotion is happening. They’re splitting us up.”

“It’s only temporary, Jim.” The senior officer told his emotional partner seriously as he took a few steps towards him. “It’s only for a couple of days.”

“Yeah, this time but what bout the next time? One day Mac is going to come up to the two of us before Roll Call and tells us that we’re no longer partners, Pete. I can’t begin to tell you how much I dread the change. I’ve learned so much from you during these last nineteen months, not just on the job but off as well. You’re not just my partner, Pete you’re my mentor, my friend – probably the best friend that I’ve ever had. I don’t want to loose that.”

Pete put a hand on Jim’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “You won’t, Jim. Even if we are separated as partner we will always be friends. Okay?”

Jim smiled slightly and nodded. “Okay.”

“And I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Mac just assured me that there’s no plans in the near future to split us up on a permanent basis.”

A look of relief filled Jim’s face. Pushing himself off the wall he gave his friend a broad smile. “I suppose we should get going to Roll Call then before Mac sends out a search party for us.”

Pete smiled. “Let’s go.”

As the pair headed for the door Jim suggested eagerly. “You want to meet later for seven?”

“Sound good to me.”

“Duke’s?”

“Perfect.”

“1-Adam-12 clear.” Officer Michael T. Wallace advised dispatch as Pete pulled the black and white away from their latest call.

“1-Adam-12 clear.” The radio parroted back in acknowledgment.

As he placed the mic back on its holder the new officer commented lightly. “Boy she was quite an observant eyewitness. She even knew what color socks the suspect had on.”

“Yeah, we could use her on the force.” Pete smiled as he turned right at the next corner.

“She’s pretty too.”

“Yes she is.” Pete waited for the other man to respond and then bit back a sigh when he didn’t. Ever since they had left the station an hour ago Wallace had barely said more than a couple of dozen words and most of them had been in short, concise replies to Pete’s questions. Whether his silence was from shyness or from nervousness Pete wasn’t sure, but it really made him miss his regular partner’s eager chatter. He and Jim had long since graduated from the days of suffering through uncomfortable silences. Now their shifts were filled with laughter and teasing and mutually enjoyable conversations and when the silences did happen they were comfortable ones.

“You married?”

Wallace’s question caught the musing officer by surprise. “Huh?”

When the senior officer looked at him expectantly the rookie stammered nervously. “I-I just wondered if you were married.”

“No, I’m not. I’m a happily unmarried bachelor.”

“That makes two of us.” Mike commented with a sigh. “I guess that’s our lot in life. You become a police officer and basically you marry the badge.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I know of several officers, my regular partner included, who have very successfully balanced a happy marriage and a successful career as a police officer.”

“Really?”

“Really. I mean I know that things don’t always go smoothly all the time but the same is true in any marriage. The important thing is that they work at it and don’t let little problems come between them.” A broad smile spread across the redhead’s face. “And they have a beautiful son – my godson – to show for it.”

Before Wallace could comment the radio beeped grabbing both officers' attention. "All available units and 1-Adam-12. A 211-silent at the liquor store. 2413 West Banning. 1-Adam-12 handle code 3."

"That's Saul Turner's store." Pete flipped on the lights and the siren as Wallace acknowledged the call. “That makes three robberies for him this month."

“1-X-Ray-16 back up 1-Adam-12 on their call.” Dispatch informed the other unit.

“1-X-Ray-16 roger.” Jim’s voice came over the radio causing Pete to smile slightly. He always hated going into a situation that involved armed suspects. He especially going into such a situation with a green rookie in tow. One wrong move by either of them could quite likely cost one or both of them their lives. Knowing that Jim was going to be there helped to alleviate some of his nervousness.

“Who’s in X-Ray-16?”

“Jim Reed and Jerry Woods.” Pete replied as he made a quick left turn.

“Reed’s your partner, right?”

“Right.”

They remained silent for the rest of the trip except for Mike's quick calling of the streets along the way. Less than five minutes later Pete pulled the black and white to an abrupt halt in front of the liquor store. A moment later Jim and Jerry pulled up behind them. Just as Wallace had called in their position two young men dressed in jeans, T-shirts and baseball caps came barreling out of the store.

"Okay hold it right there!" Pete called out, his gun aimed directly at the two suspects. Wallace had his own gun leveled on them as well from his position behind his door. The two suspects skidded to a halt for less than a second before taking off in opposite directions. Wallace moved to go after one of them but stopped in his tracks as Reed launched himself to tackle the suspect as he ran past him. Jim’s tackle fell short but before Mike could react the older officer was on his feet and taking off at a run after the fleeing suspect. Pete, who had taken off after the other man, cringed slightly as he saw Jim's failed tackle out of the corner of his eye. Hoping his friend was okay the older officer continued to tail the man in front of him. The suspect was quick footed, however, and Pete was having a hard time keeping up with him, let alone overtake him.

I should have let Jim take this guy. The redheaded officer thought to himself as he pushed more speed out of his already hardworking legs. Maybe I should start taking Jim up on his offers to go jogging more often. I didn't realize how out of shape I'm getting. Or maybe I should just let Jim handle all the foot pursuits from now on.

After covering about three blocks the suspect suddenly turned into an alley. Pete made the corner and then pushed out a little more speed, finally managing to eat up some of the space that existed between them. As the pair exited the alley into a rear parking lot the officer caught sight of a blue 1952 Chevy parked a few feet away. The motor was running and there was someone sitting in the driver's seat. The angle of the vehicle made it hard for the officer to make out the license plate but he thought he could see the number ‘4’and the letters ‘ER, but he wasn’t sure.

"Freeze, mister!" The almost breathless officer managed to shout as he watched the suspect slide across the hood of the car and drop down on the other side. As he did so his cap fell off his head revealing a shock of bright red hair. The events that followed next passed in head-spinning succession.

A shot rang out from the driver's open window, missing Pete's shoulder by mere inches. Several more came followed half a moment later by a shocked yelp that came from directly behind the officer. Whipping around the redhead was alarmed to find a ribbon of red trickling down the side of Jim’s face.

“Pete, look out!” Jim cried in horror, but before Pete had time to register exactly what the danger was, the blue Chevy rammed into him sending him sprawling onto the hood of the car. The driver than veered to the right, sending the officer hurtling over the edge of the car and onto the hard ground. A pained gasp escaped Pete’s lips as the force of the landing knocked all the air from his lungs. As the back of his head connected with the pavement he heard his partner cry out in horror and the sound of screeching tires, but there was nothing that the redheaded officer could do as he sank into blissful unconsciousness.

Sergeant William MacDonald scanned the area around the liquor store and frowned. It had been well over forty-five minutes since Malloy and Reed had arrived at this location and now there was no sign of either of them, nor of the two hold up suspects they’d been chasing. To say that he was worried was an understatement. He knew Reed and Malloy well. They were a good team who always went by the book. It wasn't like them to just disappear without any indication of where they were going, especially leaving their partners and their unit behind.

Looking at the abandoned black and white that was known in the division as ‘Adam-12’ and that served as Pete and Jim’s regular car Mac felt the knot in his gut tighten. Something had happened to them, he could feel it in his bones. Something bad. He just hoped that it wasn't something unfixable. He didn't know what either man would do if something serious happened to the other, something fatal. He had never seen two officers forge such a firm friendship so quickly. True, it had been a rather rocky beginning what with Malloy nursing some emotional wounds when Reed first came on board. But it hadn't taken them long to work passed it. In fact it seemed almost immediately that the two of them had struck up a friendship both on and off the clock, which was why Mac had so disliked having to split the two men up for the next couple of days. He had known from the time Lieutenant Moore had told him about the new rookie and his wish that the probationer ride with Pete for a couple of days that the news wouldn’t be too well received by either Malloy or Reed. Those two were incredibly protective of each other, always doing everything in their power to protect the other. If one was in trouble the other was always right there to bail him out, which was one of the reasons they hated being separated. After all, it was hard to look out for someone if they weren’t under your nose.

But the main reason that the two men hated being split up was because they thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. They were best friends and got along better than any other pair in the division. In a lot of ways they were like family, especially since little Jimmy Reed came into the picture.

Mac will never forget the day that Pete came into the station looking as proud as a peacock because Jim and Jean had just asked him to be Jimmy's godfather. You'd had sworn that he had just been awarded the Medal of Valor. For months afterwards it was always 'my godson' this or 'my godson' that. It was quite evident to everyone at Central Division that Pete Malloy loved his godchild very much. And though he'd never admit it, he was as equally fond of his godson's parents too.

Where could they be? The burly officer tried not to show just how high his level of anxiety was, but as the minutes ticked by he was finding it harder and harder to stand by and wait for the others to report back in. He desperately wanted to join the search instead of just coordinating it.

"Nothing yet, Sergeant?" Saul Turner, the owner of the liquor store asked anxiously.

"Not yet." MacDonald confirmed grimly.

Turner shook his head sadly, a worried expression in his own dark eyes. "I'd feel awful if anything happened to those two, either one of them. They've saved my life during more than one hold up over the years and just last week they were able to thwart one just by being observant. They're mighty fine officers, both of them. I hope that they're all right."

"You and me both." The police officer agreed wearily. He had seen far too many cases when things didn't go all right to get his hopes up too much. "And you're sure that they both took off in different directions?"

"Positive." The store owner assured him. "Malloy and Reed pulled up in the two black and whites…wait a minute, now that I think about it they weren’t together, were they? They each got out of separate cars.” He shook his head slightly. “You know, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen those two riding with anyone else but each other. Seems kinda weird actually.”

“It’s only temporary.” Mac told the other man patiently before prompting. “So what happened after the four officers arrived?”

“Well the four officers arrived just as the two suspects ran out of my store. Malloy tried to stop them but after a slight hesitation the boys split, one in each direction. Reed tried to tackle one guy, but missed. He then got to his feet and took off after the kid in that direction." He pointed to his left. "Malloy headed in the other direction after the other guy. That was about fifty or so minutes ago. I haven't seen either of them since."

"And you say that both suspects were dressed in black T-shirts and jeans and were wearing ball caps that were pulled down over their eyes." Mac consulted his notes as he repeated the descriptions.

"That's right." Saul nodded. "I couldn't see what color their eyes or hair were because of the hats. But from what I could see of their faces they didn't look to be very old. I would guess about fourteen or fifteen."

Before Mac could respond the radio crackled and Jerry Woods excited voice filled the air. "1-X-Ray-16 to Command Post."

The Sergeant grabbed his radio mic and acknowledged. "CP to 1-X-Ray-16 go."

"Mac, we've found Pete." Woods told him eagerly.

"Where is he?" The senior officer inquired, worry tightening his stomach.

"About three blocks East of your location." Jerry replied. "He's in a parking lot behind McGill's Drug Store."

"What's his condition?" The knot in Mac's stomach tightened even more as he awaited an answer.

"He's unconscious." Woods informed him. "From the position we found him in he looks like he may have been hit by a car. We've already requested an ambulance."

"Roger 1-X-Ray-16." Mac acknowledged, a measure of relief flooding through him. At least his friend was still alive. "We still haven't been able to locate Reed."

"Mac, I think you should get down here." The other officer requested solemnly.

"Why?" Fear returned to the Sergeant's heart. "What have you found?"

"Jim's sunglasses…and a trail of blood."

"I'm on my way." The other man replied, his face as pale as a ghost. Oh, God please! He prayed. Let Jim be okay.

Mac pulled his station wagon over to the curb just before the alley where Jerry Woods stood waiting. "Where is he?" The senior officer demanded as soon as he'd climbed out of the black and white.

Woods pointed down the alley. "He's in the parking lot out back. Wallace is with him. Wells and Brinkman have gone to speak to some of the business owners in the area to find out if they heard or saw anything."

"Has he regained consciousness yet?" Mac asked anxiously as the two men jogged down the alleyway.

"Not yet. Wallace has been trying to rouse him, but he hasn't been successful so far."

"Do you have any idea what happened to him?" The Sergeant asked as they gained the parking lot.

"From the way he's sprawled out on the ground, I'd say that he was hit by a car. Either that or he was given a really good shove backwards. He appears to have hit his head hard on the pavement.”

“Ouch!” MacDonald cringed, a pained grimace on his face when he saw the unconscious officer lying on the hard ground. Both sides of Pete’s face were beginning to show signs of bruises among the assortment of scratches and scraps that he’d gathered from his encounter with the car and pavement. Kneeling down beside his friend he gave Pete’s shoulders a very gentle shake. “Come on, Malloy wake up!” When he received no response he tried again. “Come on, Pete wake up! No sleeping on the job!” Still nothing. A heavy sigh escaped Mac’s lips. Looking around he demanded anxiously. “Where’s that ambulance?”

“It should be here any minute.” Wallace assured his superior.

Mac nodded and turned his attention back to his unconscious friend. “Does he have any other injuries besides the bump on the head?”

“He doesn’t seem to. At least nothing we could find.” Woods assured him. “We didn’t check him over thoroughly since we didn’t want to move him around too much.”

The Sergeant nodded and glanced around the parking lot, carefully examining the scene. “Where did you find Jim’s sunglasses?”

“Over there.” Jerry pointed to a spot a few feet away where a pair of familiar looking sunglasses laid on the pavement. “Right beside the trail of blood.”

Wordlessly Mac rose to his feet and moved towards the abandoned item. Crouching down he frowned slightly as he studied the scratched lens on the glasses. His eyes than moved to the trail of blood stains that began by his knee and led to a point about three feet away before completely disappearing. “Whoever’s injured they’re loosing an awful lot of blood.”

“Think its Jim’s?” Jerry asked in a worried tone.

“It could be, or it could be one of the suspects.” The watch commander commented thoughtfully. “I guess we’ll only know for sure when we find Jim.”

“But where could he be?” Woods pressed anxiously. “He wouldn’t just abandon Pete here in this condition. Even if he did go for help, he wouldn’t have left him for this long. I know Jim and his first concern would be for Pete more so than himself.” His eyes widened slightly as a disturbing thought suddenly occurred to him. “You don’t think that Jim was taken hostage, do you?”

“It’s certainly a possibility.” Mac acknowledged grimly. Glancing towards his unconscious friend he sighed. “I just wish that Pete would wake up. He might be able to shed some light on what happened to Reed.”

Jerry nodded his head but before he could reply the sound of a siren caught their attention. “That must be the ambulance.” They watched as an ambulance pulled into the parking lot, stopping only a few feet from their position.

“What have you got?” The ambulance attendant asked as he jumped down from the vehicle.

“Appears to be a severe blow to the head.” Mac told them seriously.

“Any idea how it happened?” The attendant asked as he knelt down beside the unconscious officer.

The Sergeant shook his head. “No. We think he may have been hit by a car, but we’re not sure.”

“Was anybody with him at the time?”

“We think another officer may have been, but we’re not sure.”

“We’d better be careful of his neck, Jack.” The second attendant commented to the first.

“Why don’t you get the neck brace and back board, Sam just to be on the safe side?” His partner suggested.

“Right.” Sam quickly rose and went back to the ambulance to get the backboard.

“How bad is he?” Mac asked the other paramedic anxiously.

“It’s difficult to say until the doctor can run some tests.” The other man told him seriously. “But I am concerned about that rather large goose egg on the back of his head. He probably has a bad concussion. His arm doesn’t look too good either.”

Sam returned with the backboard and a neck brace. After securing the brace around Pete’s neck the two attendants gingerly and skillfully lifted the injured officer onto the backboard and then lifted him onto the stretcher.

“Does anyone want to ride with him?” Sam asked as they wheeled the stretcher towards the ambulance.

“Wallace, go with Malloy. I want you to act as liaison between the hospital and the department.” Mac instructed the rookie seriously. “Keep in touch with me or the Lieutenant every couple of hours, even if there’s nothing to report. Contact us sooner if there is, understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Wallace nodded.

“Okay, go ahead.” The Sergeant watched as the probationer trotted after the ambulance attendants. Once the ambulance was underway the worried senior officer turned back to the other officers and urged. “Okay, men. Let’s find him.”

Wallace looked anxiously at the battered face of his training officer and felt his stomach clench in fear. He didn’t look good. The right side of his face was starting to turn an ugly shade of purple and his breathing sounded a little labored. Mike was worried that he might have internal injuries.

“You his partner?” Jack asked gently after several minutes of silence had gone by.

“Temporary partner.”

The ambulance attendant raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Oh?”

“Yeah. He was assigned as my training officer for the next couple of days.”

“How long have you been a police officer?” Jack asked curiously.

“This is my first shift in the field.” Mike admitted.

“Really? Quite an initiation for you then.”

“Yeah, it sure is.”

The ride continued in silence for a few more minutes until Jack asked. “You don’t happen to know how old he is, do you?”

Wallace shook his head. “No, we hadn’t gotten that far yet. We only met a couple of hours ago.”

“Do you know if he’s right or left handed?”

Surprised by the question the rookie replied. “Right, I believe.”

The ambulance attendant skillfully pulled Pete’s wallet out of his back pocket without disturbing the wounded officer. Opening it up he plucked his patient’s driver’s license out of its slot and looked at it. While he did so Mike noticed a small rectangular piece of paper fall out of the wallet onto Pete’s chest. Picking it up he glanced at the message written on it: ‘To ‘Uncle Pete’ With Love from The Reeds’. Turning it over he found three smiling faces looking back at him. It was a picture of a man, a woman and a little boy. Mike immediately recognized the man to be Jim Reed, Malloy’s regular partner.

“That a picture of his family?” Jack asked curiously.

“No.” Mike shook his head and handed him the picture. “He’s not married. This is a picture of his regular partner’s family. His partner’s name is Jim Reed. I’m not sure what the names of Reed’s wife or little boy are. I believe the boy is also Malloy’s godson.”

“Nice looking family.” Jack commented and slipped the photo back into the wallet behind Pete’s license where it had been before. Then handing the wallet to Wallace he added. “You might as well keep this for him. I’d hate to see it get misplaced at the hospital.”

“Okay.” The young officer nodded, accepting the item. The remainder of the ride passed in silence with Jack carefully monitoring his patient and Wallace deep in thought.

The rookie couldn’t help but think of the lives that had been affected by the events of this morning. Events that Mike wondered if he could have some how thwarted if he had done something differently. He should have taken off after that suspect instead of Officer Reed. After all if something bad happened to him it wouldn’t matter. He didn’t have anyone to leave behind. No family, no parents, no wife or children. He was unattached. But Officer Reed had attachments everywhere. He had a beautiful wife and a little boy who depends on him. Not to mention whatever other family members he had out there. He also has a lot of friends at the station that would no doubt be very upset if something ever happened to him. Not to mention a partner who he is obviously very close with. After all you didn’t ask someone to be godfather to your child if you didn’t really like or trust them.

Mike looked at the unconscious face of his temporary training officer and sighed. He hated the thought of having to tell this man that his partner, his friend was missing. He hoped with all his heart that Sergeant MacDonald had good news before he had to do that.

Dropping his face in his hand Wallace sighed deeply. Right now he hated being a police officer.”

Grace Carter looked up from the file that she was updating as an ambulance pulled to a stop in front of the main doors.

“Looks like we’ve got some new customers.” The nurse beside her commented as she rose to her feet.

“There goes our quiet afternoon.” Grace mumbled wearily as she too got to her feet and headed for the main door. “I hope it’s nothing too serious. I’ve had enough of blood after that accident last night.”

“Looks pretty light.” Her companion commented. “There’s just one ambulance.”

They watched as the two attendants unloaded the stretcher from the back of the ambulance and came rushing inside.

“What have we got?” Grace asked the men as she kept pace with them and headed for the treatment room.

“Thirty-two year old male. Possible hit and run victim.” Sam told her as they moved down the hall. “Probably concussion, a broken right arm and possible cracked ribs.”

Grace noted the information on the chart she held. “Do you have his name?”

“Malloy. Peter Joseph Malloy.”

The nurse froze in her tracks and looked down at the injured man for the first time. A wave of horror washed over her when she recognized the freckled face lying against the while pillow. “Oh my God! Pete!” She watched as Sam and Jack guided the gurney into the treatment room. After a beat she followed.

“You know him?” Sam asked with surprise seeing Grace’s suddenly pale face.

The nurse nodded. “Officer Pete Joseph Malloy of the LAPD. His partner is my brother-in-law, Jim Reed.” Looking at them anxiously she asked. “Do you know if his partner is okay?”

“I’m not sure, Grace.” Sam told her honestly.

“Was anyone else hurt? Was there another ambulance?”

Sam shook his head. “No, there was only one victim at the scene. I don’t remember seeing anyone that looked like Officer Reed.”

Grace frowned slightly. “How do you know what he looks like?”

The attendant nodded at Pete. “There was a picture of the Reeds in his wallet.”

“Did anyone ride in with him?” Grace pressed, knowing that Jim would want to accompany Pete if he could.

“Yeah, Officer Wallace rode in with us.” Jack informed her. “Sergeant MacDonald sent him to act as liaison between the hospital and the police department. He might be able to tell you more. He should be right outside.”

The young woman nodded and took another look at the unconscious officer. Giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze she urged softly. “Hang in there, Pete. We’ll get you fixed up in no time.” Then turning she headed for the door where her coworker was standing watching what was going on. “Can you take over for me please, Jen?”

“Sure, Gracie.” Jen agreed readily as she took the offered clipboard. She continued to watch her friend as Grace walked down the hall towards the young officer who was waiting anxiously at the Nurses’ station. Why they started talking Jen entered the treatment room to attend to the wounded officer.

“How is he?” Officer Wallace asked Grace anxiously.

“We’re not sure yet. The doctor hasn’t been in to examine him. Can you tell me what happened to him?” When the young officer hesitated she urged eagerly. “Please, Officer Wallace I really need to know what happened. Officer Malloy is a good friend of mine and a very important part of my sister’s family. My brother-in-law, Jim is Pete’s partner.”

Surprise filled Mike’s eyes. “You’re Officer Reed’s sister-in-law?”

Grace nodded and held out her hand. “Grace Carter.”

“Mike Wallace.” He returned, accepting the hand.

“So is Jim all right? I would have expected him to come in with Pete if he had any say in the matter.” When the rookie shifted uncomfortably Grace felt her concern deepen. In an anxious tone she pressed firmly. “What happened, Wallace? Give it to me straight.”

The young officer finally complied and admitted. “We’re not sure where Officer Reed is.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“We’re not sure where Officer Reed is right now. He seems to have disappeared somewhere but we’re not sure where to.”

The young woman gaped at him in disbelief. “How could you possibly loose a police officer like that?”

“We don’t know.”

“So what happened to Pete?”

“We don’t know that either.”

Grace closed her eyes and pressed a hand against her forehead. “Okay, let me see if I got this straight. You have one officer who’s injured and another one who’s missing and you don’t know what happened to them?”

“I’m afraid not.” Wallace confirmed sorrowfully.

The young woman sighed with frustration and demanded harshly. “Where’s Sergeant MacDonald right now?”

“He was still on the scene when I left with Officer Malloy in the ambulance.”

“The scene of what?”

“A 211-silent. That’s an armed robbery.”

“I know what a 211 is.” Grace informed him a little crisply.

“Um, well a little after eleven o’clock Officers Woods, Reed, Malloy and myself were called to a 211 at a liquor store on Banning Street. When we got there the suspects came running out of the store. Malloy tried to get them to stop but they didn’t listen and split. Malloy took off after one of them and Reed the other. What happened after that we don’t know because it took us about forty-five minutes to locate Officer Malloy and by that time he was unconscious and there was no sign of Officer Reed.”

“Well if Jim took off in the other direction than he could have been blocks away from where you found Pete.”

Wallace shook his head. “We don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Because Woods found Reed’s sunglasses in the same parking lot where we found Malloy.”

“And how long ago was that?”

The officer glanced at his watch. “About twenty minutes to half an hour ago.”

“Thank you, Officer. Wait here please.” Then turning on her heels she headed back to the treatment room where she found the doctor examining her friend.

“I want some film on that arm and those ribs.” The doctor was telling Jen as he finished checking Pete’s injuries. “Let me know when they’re ready.”

“Yes, Doctor.” Jen acknowledged, making a notation on the chart she held.

“Do we know how long it’s been since he lost consciousness?”

“About an hour to an hour and a half.” Grace supplied as she stepped further into the room.

The doctor frowned and examined Pete’s pupil reaction with his pocket flashlight. “He hasn’t regained consciousness since then?”

“Not to my knowledge.” Grace replied. “There’s an officer out in the hall who was with