Misplaced Memories – Part 4

Pete let out a deep sigh as he navigated his car through the late afternoon traffic. He had left the station well before PM Watch had started in the hopes of missing the bulk of the late afternoon traffic. But it appeared that he had still left it too long. Pulling to a halt at a red light he settled himself more comfortably into his seat in preparation for a long drive to Central Receiving Hospital. As much as he didn’t want to he knew that there was no way that he could show his face back at the Reeds’ without having kept his promise to Grace and stopping to see Dr. Kenwood for a check up. That woman could be just as stubborn as her younger sister when she got something in her head and Pete was in no condition to face her wrath.

As he waited for the light to turn green a large yawn overtook him. It had been a very long and tiring day, especially after the fitful night he had spent the night before. Despite what he’d told Jean when he’d said good night, he hadn’t really been tired. A coward yes, but certainly not a tired one. Pete knew that it wasn’t like him to run from a difficult situation nor was it like him to flee from his friends when they needed him the most. But this time he couldn’t help it. One look into Jean’s disappointed face had very nearly sent him over the edge. He couldn’t see the tears of disappointment in Jean’s eyes and still continue to fight back his own. He knew just how much she’d been counting on him remembering what had happened to Jim; to be able to supply them with the remaining pieces of the puzzle so that they could rescue Jim from wherever he was being held. But he couldn’t. Those memories were still firmly locked up and he hadn’t yet found the key to releasing them.

His frustration over the situation was even more acute now than it had been yesterday in his apartment. But now that he had almost his full memory back he was better able to handle his feelings, doing his best to bury them in true blue Pete Malloy fashion. But it wasn’t proving as easy as it had been in the past, as the restless night spent staring at the ceiling and the nightmare testified. He had spent most of those long hours of darkness trying hard to put all the once missing pieces of his life back in place. But when he was done he still found a gaping hole of several hours, hours which could very well mean life or death for his partner…his best friend. The very thought of Jim being held hostage for four days by some unknown captors in an unknown location really grated on Pete’s conscience.

Why hadn’t he stopped the abduction from taking place in the first place? Had he even tried?

Of course you would have tried! The logical side of his brain reasoned seriously. You wouldn’t have just let them take Jim without a fight! You’re not a coward, you would have done everything you could do to protect him.

I am so a coward! The emotionally charged portion of his brain retorted. I was a coward last night when it came to Jean. I went to bed early instead of dealing with the situation. And then again this morning I snuck out of the house before she woke up because I couldn’t bring myself to face her. To tell her how sorry I was for not being able to remember and for letting Jim get taken in the first place. After everything that she had done for him the last few days his actions of the night before were appalling.

A shudder passed through Pete as the thought crossed his mind that he may never see his best friend again. What would he ever do? How would he cope with loosing yet another partner? And not just a partner, but a close friend too.

And what about Jean? What would she do? How would she cope with a fourteen month old baby and no husband? That thought caused another stab of guilt to attack his conscience. Why hadn’t he been able to bring Jim home safe and sound to them? What had happened in that parking lot?

He had been so caught up in his internal war that he narrowly missed rear-ending the yellow Chrysler that had stopped suddenly in front of him. Pete frowned in annoyance as he watched the cause of the sudden stop – a blue Chevrolet which had pulled out of an alley and in front of the Chrysler. The driver of the yellow car laid on his horn angrily and let out a few choice expressions but the driver of the Chevy drove on unperturbed.

“That guy’s an accident waiting to happen.” Pete mumbled to himself as he watched the blue Chevy dart across a lane of oncoming traffic to catch a side street. Without knowing why Pete found himself turning onto the same side street, following the Chevy at a careful distance.

“Four-two-five-Queen-Edward-Robert.” He said to himself as he caught sight of the license plate. Pulling his pen out of his pocket he awkwardly jotted the number down on his cast.

The car ahead of him made a right hand turn at the next intersection. Pete stopped at the corner and waited until the two cars that had the right of way passed him before also making a right hand turn. Now that there were two cars between them Pete hoped that the driver of the Chevy wouldn’t realize that he was being followed.

About ten blocks later the blue car made another right turn onto a small side street. Pete knew that the street was U-shaped with no other side streets running off of it and that the other exit was just a few hundred feet ahead. Deciding to stick to the main street in case the driver was trying to see if he was being followed Pete continued past the side street. Sure enough, as Pete approached the other entrance to the side street he spotted the blue Chevy waiting to turn off. It waited until the other cars, including Pete’s and the Ford and Dodge behind him passed by before it pulled back onto the street. Pete continued to drive on at regular speed, dividing his attention between the road ahead and the car two cars back.

After about two minutes the Chevy once again darted across oncoming traffic and into a side street. Pete turned left at the next intersection and took the back way into the same subdivision. Carefully scanning the side streets and driveways as he rolled passed Pete eventually saw something that made him stop. Down a dead end street to his right he spotted a garage door closing.

Quickly parking his car a few car lengths from the mouth of the side street Pete slipped out of his vehicle and quickly and carefully made his way towards the house in question, using trees and houses as cover as he went. When he finally reached the small, cream-colored house at the end of the block he realized that the back yard was completely enclosed by a high wooden fence.

“Terrific.” He mumbled. He knew that there was no way that he could scale the fence with his broken arm. So instead he carefully made his way around the front of the house, hoping to find a window that would allow him to see what was going on inside. Crouching low he carefully crossed the front of the house until he reached the big picture window. He bit down a curse of frustration when he realized that a blind covered the window, obstructing his view. Moving further along the house he came to the side where he found another window. It too was covered with a shade but this time the shade didn’t quite reach the bottom of the window. Peaking through the gap Pete struggled to see in to the dimly lit room. When it finally registered what he was seeing he felt his heart twist and his stomach lurch. Sitting on the hardwood floor with his back against the big picture window was his partner. It took a few moments for Pete’s eyes to focus enough to make out any specific details. When they did Pete found himself fighting down a wave of guilt that threatened to overwhelm him.

Wrapped around Jim’s head was a makeshift bandage with a dark red stain above his right ear. Surveying the scene more closely Pete frowned when he noticed the little girl snuggled protectively in Jim’s arms. From what he could tell she appeared to be asleep.

That must be the sister. The redheaded officer mused to himself as he carefully examined the pair on the floor. His friend appeared to be alert, making Pete hopeful that the head wound wasn’t serious.

Shifting his position slightly the officer went about searching the other side of the room looking for Jim’s captors or for any sign of the two young robbers. He found a young man of about twenty-five or thirty sitting in a ratty looking armchair, a shotgun lying across his knee. He was smoking a cigarette and watching Jim and the little girl carefully. Pete could see from the set of his friend’s jaw that he was quite obviously seriously displeased about something.

Just then the door at the far end of the room opened and two young boys dressed in black T-shirts, jeans and ball caps came stumbling inside, another man closely following behind them. Pete strained to make out the man’s face and features but found it hard in the darkness of the room. All he could tell was that he had long greasy-looking hair and wore jeans and cowboy boots.

“Go sit down!” The long-haired man ordered the two boys, giving them both a hard shove in Jim’s direction. The two boys quickly obeyed, one sitting on either side of Jim and pressing as close to the officer as was possible. Pete noticed his friend give both boys a reassuring smile. “What’s he doing up here?” The newcomer asked the man in the chair gruffly as he nodded towards Jim. “And why’s he untied?”

“After you and the boys left that brat took to howling like a banshee. It was getting on my nerves. Besides I thought the neighbors might start wondering what was going on.” He nodded to Jim. “Blue boy here said he could get her to stop if I let him up and untied him, so I did. I tied his feet though so that he wouldn’t try to get away. I also told him that if he tried any funny stuff the girl would get it first.”

Pete focused his attention once again on the little girl in Jim’s arms. From what he could tell in the dim light the child looked to be about four or five years old with bright red hair that was cut very short. He also noticed that his partner tightened his arms around the sleeping child and narrowed his eyes at his two captors, pure anger and deep hatred flaring in them.

“Okay, let’s get them back into the basement.” The longhaired man ordered. It was obvious to Pete that he was the one in charge. “You and I have some business to attend to.”

“Right.” The other man rose from his seat and moved to where their four hostages sat. Looking at Jim pointedly he warned. “No funny stuff, pig or I’ll kill you, understand? Right after I kill these three brats.” Jim didn’t reply he just matched his captor’s challenging look evenly as the men untied the ropes that bound his ankles. “On your feet, cop.” He yanked on Jim’s arm, pulling him up from the floor roughly. At the sudden movement the little girl in his arms gave a frightened shriek. Pete noticed that Jim really had to hold on to the little girl to keep from dropping her. “Now walk.” The suspect shoved Jim towards the door on the other side of the room. He then pushed the two boys after him. Pete watched as the five of them left the room leaving only the longhaired man behind.

Confident that he wouldn’t be observed. Pete headed for the fence surrounding the backyard. He tried the gate and breathed a sigh of relief when he found it unlocked. He didn’t really relish the idea of jumping the fence if he didn’t have to. Carefully making his way along the back of the house he found the windows to the basement where Jim and the children had been taken. He waited until he was sure that the suspect was gone before he knelt down to see in the window.

“What’s going on, Officer Jim?” One of the boys was asking his partner anxiously. “They’ve never put us all down here together before.”

“I don’t know, Gary.” Jim admitted honestly as he sat on the makeshift bed, the little girl still in his arms. “I’m not sure what they’re planning, but I do know that we’re not going to stay around to find out.”

“But how are we going to escape?” The other boy asked with a frown. “We’ve already tried to get the windows open but we can’t and there’s no way that we can sneak by them to get out the front door.” Desperation filled the boy’s tone. “Face it, Officer Jim. We’re trapped.”

“We may be trapped.” Jim replied seriously. “But we’re not beaten. We’ll get out of here somehow, Charlie.” He reached out and gave the boy’s shoulder a warm squeeze. “I promise.”

“It’ll take a miracle.” Charlie commented pessimistically as he sat on the bed beside Jim and leaned against him. His brother sat on Jim’s other side.

Just then the quartet heard a soft knock on one of the basement’s small windows. Twisting around they found a freckled face peering in the window at them. The boys gasped in alarm and gathered even closer to Jim. The girl threw her arms around Jim’s neck and clung to him with fear evident in her blue eyes.

Jim himself looked like he’d seen a ghost. “P-Pete…?”

A broad grin nearly split the other man’s face. “Hey there, partner.”

Jim continued to gape at the window for several more moments as a variety of emotions passed over him, two of which being intense disbelief mingled with profound relief.

“W-Who is that?” Gary asked nervously as he looked from Pete to Jim and back again. When the dark-haired officer didn’t respond Gary looked at him again and prodded. “Officer Jim?” He nudged Jim with his elbow.

“Huh?”

“Who is that?”

Jim looked from the face peering in the window to the boy at his side and back again. “That kids is your miracle.” After gently untangling the girl from his neck and handing her to Gary Jim rose to his feet and moved towards the small window. Tears burned his eyes as he looked at the face that he thought that he would never ever see again. Fighting to keep his strong emotions in check he said a little hoarsely. “Nice of you to drop by, partner.”

“Well, you know I just happened to be in the neighborhood.” The other officer grinned feeling great relief at being able to talk to his friend once again. “You okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine.” He noticed Pete’s eyes focusing on the bandage around his head. Touching it gently he assured his friend. “It’s just a scratch. Bled pretty good when it happened but I’m okay now. How are you? When did you get out of the hospital? How badly were you injured? How did you ever find us?”

“I’ll tell you the whole story later. I promise. But first I think we’d better get you all out of there. Will you guys be okay for a few more minutes while I run next door and call for some back up?”

“We’ll be here.”

“I hope so.” The partners exchanged a meaningful look, Jim knew just how hard it was for Pete to just leave him behind even if it was only for a couple of minutes.

“I promise.” Pete nodded and then moved from the window. Jim watched him go mentally pleading. Hurry Pete. Please hurry.

Pete hastened to retrace his steps back through the gate and around the front of the house. He had just gained the sidewalk after ducking behind a couple of houses when he saw a black and white pull onto the street.

Now how’s that for timing? He increased his speed as much as his injured ribs would let him and headed towards the unit that was now parked in front of a house near the beginning of the block. Two officers climbed out and started up the walk towards the house. Before Pete could reach them a middle aged woman came rushing down the walk wagging a finger in Pete’s direction.

“That’s him, officers!” She was crying frantically. “That’s the prowler! I saw him sneaking around that cream house at the end of the street. He was peeking in the windows and everything!”

When the two officers turned Pete was relieved to see that it was Wells and Brinkman.

“Pete?” Brinkman shot their comrade a look of surprise as he identified the redheaded man. “What are you doing here?”

“I found Jim!” Pete told them almost breathlessly when he finally reached them.

“Where?” Ed asked anxiously. “Is he all right?”

“He’s fine and so are our ‘armed robbers’. It’s their kidnappers that I’m more worried about right now.”

“Why?” Wells frowned.

“Because I have a gut feeling that they’re up to something but I don’t know what it is. I don’t trust them though. You’d better call for backup.”

“Right.” Brinkman acknowledged and ran to the car.

“How many are there?” Ed asked eagerly.

“Two as far as I can tell. They seem to be holding Jim and two boys and a girl hostage. They’re keeping them in the basement of that last house on the left.”

Brinkman rejoined them. “Mac’s on his way and he’s notified S.W.A.T. They should be here in about five minutes.”

“Good.” Pete acknowledged. “Now all we have to do is figure out how to get Jim and the children out of there alive.”

Just then the garage door of the house they were watching opened and the blue Chevy Pete had followed earlier came roaring down the driveway. Not even bothering to stop to close the big door the car tore down the street, barely missing the black and white as it sailed by.

“Let’s go get them, partner.” Wells called to Brinkman as he ran towards the car. But before he made it two steps an explosion rocked the street. The three officers watched in alarm as the house that the suspects had just fled was immediately engulfed in flames.

“Jim!” Pete took off at a run towards the burning house as Brinkman scrambled for the radio.

“Pete, wait!” Wells called after him as Brinkman alerted dispatch to their situation.

“This is 1-Adam-12. We have a structure fire at 14 Belcourt Crescent. Officer needs assistance. Send ambulance and fire unit. And have 1-L-90 meet me on Tac 2.”

Without waiting for Wells to catch up Pete dashed into the open garage and into the burning house. Quickly glancing around the smoke-filled kitchen he located the door that led out into the main living area and bolted through it. The smoke in that room was even thicker as burning curtains and furniture added to the accumulation. Pete’s eyes began to water and he started choking on the heavy smoke. Pulling his handkerchief out of his pocket he placed it over his mouth.

They must have used gasoline to start the fire. He thought to himself as he searched around for the door that led to the basement. He could hear the kids screaming in panic but with the roar of the fire and the heavy smoke he found it hard to find exactly which door the yells were coming from.

“Jim!” Pete cried between fits of coughing. “Jim!”

“Pete!” Pounding came from a door just to Pete’s left. “Pete, we’re through here!” Pete finally found the door through the thick smoke and was dismayed to find that several pieces of furniture had been piled in front of the door. “Pete? Pete?”

“I’m right here, Jim. Just hang on a minute. They blocked the door with some furniture, I have to move it.”

“There’s no time, Pete. The floor is on fire! Get out of here before it collapses!”

Pete coughed on the smoke but refused to do as his partner said. “I’ll have you…out of there…in a…minute.” He told Jim between choking coughs. Grabbing the end table that was stacked on top of a medium-sized bookcase he pushed it to the floor, jumping slightly at the sound of the crash.

“Pete?” Jim’s frantic cry roared above the sound of the fire.

“I’m okay.” The redhead assured him. “Just don’t ever have me help you move furniture. At least not if you plan on keeping your furniture.”

“Just be careful, Pete.” His partner admonished as Pete continued to work as fast as his bruised ribs and broken right arm would allow. Both were screaming in protest at the sudden jerky movements but he persevered.

After moving the end table and the bookcase he was relieved to find the basement door but was alarmed when he discovered that it was locked. Not having time to search for the key Pete shouted through the door. “Stand back. The door’s locked, I’m going to have to kick it in.” He waited for a couple of moments before lifting his leg and giving the door a firm kick. The door swung in to reveal Jim and the three kids standing anxiously at the bottom of the basement stairs.

“Thank God.” Jim cried as he ushered the kids up the steps. Pete took charge of the two boys while Jim swept the girl up into his arms. The group quickly made it through the thick cloud of smoke to the kitchen and then out into the garage. They all stumbled into the front yard just as the fire truck arrived.

Collapsing onto the grass the five of them coughed deeply as their lungs fought to expel the heavy smoke that filled them. Rescue personnel descended on them all, carefully slipping oxygen masks on their faces. Both Pete and Jim tried to refuse but the paramedics wouldn’t listen.

“Set an example, gentlemen.” One of the paramedics scolded the two officers glancing towards the three kids who were watching them all closely. Pete and Jim stopped resisting the masks.

Mac appeared a few moments later. “Reed, Malloy. You fellas okay?” Unable to speak due to the masks the two officers nodded. Focusing his attention on Jim the Sergeant commented a little gruffly. “You gave us quite a scare there, Reed you know that? You had half of Los Angeles out looking for you.” Jim gave him an apologetic look.

“We may not have found him in time if it hadn’t have been for Pete.” Brinkman remarked to Mac as he approached the group. “He’s the one that found out where our 211 suspects were hiding out.”

Mac turned curious eyes on the redheaded officer. “I must admit, I’m eager to hear the details.”

“Me too.” Brinkman echoed.

“Me three.” Jim Reed croaked, removing his mask momentarily to speak. Doing so earned him a reproving look from both Mac and the paramedics.

“I just wish our two suspects hadn’t managed to get away.” Mac remarked with a disappointed frown.

“They didn’t.” Ed Wells reported as he came jogging up to the group. “X-Ray-14 and Adam-26 got them. They TAed at the corner of Olympic and Blackwood.”

“Was anybody hurt?” The Sergeant asked with concern.

“Just a few bumps and bruises to the suspects. Nobody else was involved…except a phone booth. Apparently it’s been damaged beyond repair.” Wells grimaced slightly. “Fortunately nobody was inside. Anyway, they got ‘em before they could bail out of the car.”

Jim and Pete exchanged triumphant looks. We got ‘em, partner. Pete thought to himself.

As if reading his friend’s mind Jim gave Pete a thumbs up signal.

“Okay, let’s get you two checked out.” One of the paramedics said to the two officers seated on the ground. Pete noticed that another paramedic was talking to the kids. Removing Jim’s mask their paramedic asked him with concern. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.” Jim assured him as he took a couple of deep breaths. Several harsh coughs followed.

“Any chest pains or blurred vision? Dizziness?”

Jim shook his head. “No, I’m fine.”

When the paramedic turned his focus on Pete Jim looked at the three kids seated nearby. “How are you guys feeling?”

“Okay, Officer Jim.” Gary assured him a little hoarsely. A cough punctuated his reply.

“Yeah, thanks to you.” Charlie added earnestly.

“Well I can’t take all the credit.” Jim told them seriously. Looking over at his partner gratefully he added with visible emotion. “None of us would have made it if it wasn’t for the fact that I have a very brave partner. Not to mention a very stubborn one.”

Mac laughed heartily and said. “You don’t know the half of it, Reed. Wait ‘til you hear what he went through the last few days trying to remember you let alone find you.”

A frown creased Jim’s forehead. “What do you mean?”

Pete opened his mouth to reply but Mac cut him off. “He’ll tell you the whole story…on the way to Central Receiving.”

“Mac!” The two officers whined simultaneously.

“Save it.” The Sergeant barked gruffly. “I want the two of you checked out to make sure that there’s no complications. Besides, you should set a good example for them.” He nodded towards the three kids who were watching the exchange curiously.

Jim and Pete looked at the curious trio and then each other. “I think we lost, partner.” Pete complained with a slight grin.

“I think you’re right, Pete. But after this week it’s a battle I don’t mind loosing.”

“Amnesia?” Jim repeated in alarm after Pete got to the part about waking up in the hospital without any recollection of who he was. “Shouldn’t you still be in the hospital or at the very least at home resting?”

His friend smiled slightly in good-natured amusement and glanced across the front seat to his friend. Pete had somehow managed to convince Mac to let him drive himself and Jim to the hospital instead of going in one of the waiting ambulances. He knew that Mac was worried about having them checked out by a doctor, but right now Pete’s biggest concern was letting Jean know that her husband was okay before the media beat them to it. And he didn’t want to keep her waiting one minute longer than necessary to get the news. So they assured Mac that once Jean had seen for herself that Jim was alive and well they would go directly to Central Receiving for a complete check up.

Though not pleased with the proposal the Sergeant had finally agreed. He also understood the importance of relieving Jean’s worry as quickly as possible. However before letting the two of them go he had made them swear that they would get to the hospital as soon as possible. Both men had fervently assured him that they would get checked out just as soon as they saw Jean. Mac had then shoved them off.

Jim had stopped in his escape only long enough to speak to the three kids who had been his companions during the last four days. He had assured them that everything would be fine and that he would see them later at the station. He had then followed his partner to the car.

On the way to Jim’s Pete had answered his partner’s questions regarding what Mac had meant before when he’d said that Pete had gone through the last few days trying to remember Jim.

“Maybe we should go straight to the hospital, Pete.” Jim commented, eyeing Pete’s casted arm with obvious worry. The cast was blackened from smoke and fire and bore several scars from his battle with the furniture that was blocking the basement doorway.

Pete gave his partner an amused look. Jim’s concern over his friend’s well-being was so typical. Here he had been the one kidnapped and held hostage for four days and yet he was more worried about his partner than himself. No wonder he was such a great friend.

“I’m fine.” Pete assured his worried-looking friend. “It was just a bump on the head…” When Jim’s eyes darted to his cast and back he amended. “And a broken arm. But I’m fine! My memory is back, for the most part and my arm will heal, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Jim gave Pete a skeptical look, but wisely refrained from pressing the issue. “I saw the article in the newspaper.”

“Oh?”

“Dougan showed it to me.”

“Dougan?”

“He was the fellow with the long hair.”

“The one that was in charge.”

“Precisely.”

There was a long pause before Pete asked, an unreadable look on his face. “What happened in that parking lot?”

“Well, after Dougan rammed you with the car and knocked you out, he fired a shot at me.” Touching the right side of his head above his ear he continued. “It just grazed me, but it was enough to knock me off balance for a few minutes giving Dougan the chance to get the drop on me. He knocked me out cold and I didn’t come to until I got to the house.”

“So who are the kids?” Pete pressed curiously.

“Gary, Charlie and Ruth Proctor.” Jim replied. “Dougan and his partner kidnapped them from a park about three weeks ago. They apparently wanted two boys old enough to pull robberies but young enough to be intimidated and a younger sister young enough to be able to use as insurance against the boys.”

“How old are they?”

“Gary’s fifteen, Charlie’s thirteen and Ruthie’s four.” A look of fury filled Jim’s face. “That poor child was so terrified when I first got there. Dougan and Gibson, that’s Dougan’s partner, terrorized that poor girl for over three weeks just to make Gary and Charlie pull those robberies.” There was a brief pause before Jim asked. “Did you notice Ruthie’s hair?”

“Short and red, right?”

“Right.” Jim nodded. “Except that when they first took her she apparently had really long red curls. Gary said that her hair was really beautiful but those monsters cut it all off as a demonstration of what they would do to her if the boys didn’t cooperate and pull those robberies. They told them that next time it would be worse.” He turned emotion-filled eyes on his partner. “They’re animals, Pete. Pure animals.” His voice cracked slightly and tears flooded his eyes at the memory of what those three kids had been through.

Pete reached over and gave his partner’s shoulder a light squeeze with his partly casted hand. “Hey, it’s okay, Jim. It’s over. The kids are safe, you’re safe and those animals are where they belong – behind bars. We got ‘em partner and that’s the main thing.”

“Yeah. This time.”

Squeezing his friend’s shoulder again Pete said gently. “Let it go, Jim. It’s over and you protected those kids the best way that you could. Just keep telling yourself that.”

The younger officer flashed his mentor a grateful smile. Reaching up he very carefully squeezed the fingers of the hand that still rested on his shoulder. Pete tried not to flinch at the light pressure. “Thanks, Pete.”

“No charge.” The two men fell into a comfortable silence as they both became lost in thought.

Let it go. Pete’s words to Jim echoed in the redhead’s mind. Take your own advice, Peter J. Even after listening to Jim relate the events surrounding that fateful 211 and Jim’s abduction Pete could not remember what had happened. That frustrated the older officer to no end because he knew that he would always wonder whether he could have done something to prevent his friend’s abduction. To have prevented Jean from spending the last five days and four nights worrying about whether or not she’d ever see her husband again. Let it go. Pete repeated sternly to himself as he pulled into the Reeds’ driveway. Jim’s safe and sound and his captors are in jail. That’s what matters so let it go.

Putting the car in Park Pete sat back in his seat and gave his partner an expectant look. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go say ‘hi’ to your wife.”

“Aren’t you coming in?” Jim asked with a slight frown.

“Naw, I think I’ll wait out here. Just come on out whenever you’re ready to go to the hospital.”

“Come on, Pete, you might as well come on in. You know that Jean will want to make sure that you’re okay too once she hears about your heroic rescue.”

His friend chuckled slightly. “I’ve always said that your wife is a worry wart, sweet but a worry wart.”

Jim grinned broadly and chuckled. “I know. You two make a great pair so you might as well come in and get it over with.”

“Okay.” The redheaded man let out an exaggerated sigh of resignation and turned off his car. Then following his partner’s lead he exited the car and headed up the walk to the front door.

Pete hung back slightly as Jim opened the front door of his home and stepped inside.

“Pete is that you?” Jean’s voice greeted them from the kitchen.

Jim indicated to his friend to respond. “Yes, it’s me, Jean. And I brought you a present.”

“A present?” Jean repeated curiously as she appeared in the kitchen doorway. At the sight of the dark-haired man with Pete her eyes widened and her jaw dropped in surprise. “Jim?”

Jim opened his arms and said eagerly. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”

“Jim!” Less than a moment later she was in his arms crying and clinging tightly to him. Neither one of them noticed as Pete slipped back out the front door leaving the two of them alone.

After several tearful minutes Jean finally pulled back and looked her husband over carefully. “Are you okay? Did they feed you properly? Did they hurt you? Where were you?”

“Take it easy, honey. One question at a time.” He laughed as he pulled her back into his arms, relishing the feeling of holding her once again. He said a silent prayer of thanks that he had such a brave and persistent partner who refused to give up and just let him die in that fire. “I’m fine. Everything is fine, I promise you.”

It was then that Jean realized that Jim reeked of smoke. Pulling back she looked at him again, noticing for the first time that his face had black streaks here and there. It looked like he’d tried to wipe them off but hadn’t succeeded in getting them all. “Jim, what happened? Were you in a fire?”

He hesitated for a moment before finally nodding his head. “Our captors decided to split and leave us behind. I guess they wanted to make sure that there would be no one left behind to identify them so they lit the house they’d been hiding out in on fire with us still inside.”

Jean’s eyes widened in horror. “How did you escape?”

“Pete came in and rescued us.”

“Pete? How on earth did he find you?”

“I don’t honestly know.” Her husband admitted with a shrug. “I never got a chance to ask him. One minute I’m trying to figure out how to get us out of there and the next thing I know Pete’s peeking in one of the basement windows telling me that everything’s going to be all right and that he’d be right back with some backup.”

“Is the fire burning at this point?” Jean asked with alarm, unable to understand how Pete could just leave him if it was.

“Not at this point. But about five or ten minutes later there was a big explosion on the main floor of the house. They must have doused everything with gasoline first before lighting it because the fire spread pretty quickly.

“Where were you when the fire broke out?”

“In the basement. They kept us mainly down there.”

“Well how did you ever get out?” Tears filled Jean’s eyes as she thought of how close she had come to loosing him.

“Pete rescued us. He came into the house and broke down the door.” He didn’t add that he wouldn’t be here now if it hadn’t have been for his partner.

“Who is ‘us’?” She frowned slightly in confusion. “Were there other hostages?”

Jim nodded. “Two teenage boys and their younger sister. The suspects were making the boys pull the robberies while using the girl as insurance that they’d cooperate.”

“Oh my.” Jean closed her eyes against the tears that started to flow. Wiping at them with the back of her hand she said. “Jerry Millar wondered if someone was making these kids pull these robberies.” Looking at Jim she suddenly threw herself into his arms. “Oh honey, I’m so glad to have you home again!”

“I’m glad to be home too.” Then glancing around the room he remarked. “Where is everybody? I expected to find more people. Pete said this place has been like Grand Central Station the last few days.”

“It has been.” Jean acknowledged with a nod. “Grace has been staying here and my mom and your mom have been here most of the daytime and evening hours as well. Our fathers usually show up after work as well as Tony and Maxine.”

“So where is everyone right now?”

“Grace went home for a little while to check on her place and get some more clothes; your mom had an appointment at the dentist’s and my mom is outside taking clothes off the line. She should be in any time.” Then glancing around herself she asked eagerly. “Where’s Pete at?”

Surprised Jim looked over his shoulder to where his partner had been standing. “He must have gone back outside. I had to twist his arm to get him to come in as it was.”

Jean’s face sobered as she said earnestly. “He has been really worried about you. Even when he didn’t remember you he was worried and he was upset that he couldn’t remember you.”

An emotion-filled look appeared in Jim’s eyes. “He’s a great friend. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him.”

“Why don’t you go and get him so that I can properly thank him for saving my husband’s life.”

“Make sure that you do because I can guarantee you that he won’t let me. You know how much he hates all that emotional gratitude stuff, especially from me. He’ll take it much better from you I think.”

“Pete’s had enough of his own emotional displays this week.” Jean remarked seriously. “I’ve seen sides of Pete Malloy that I’ve never seen before.”

Her husband’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “He has? How?”

“I’ll tell you about it later. Why don’t you go and get your partner before he thinks that we’ve forgotten about him.”

Jim gave Jean another hug and then moved to the front door. Pulling it open he was surprised to find Pete sitting on the front step, his face buried in his hands. Stepping outside Jim pulled the door closed behind him. “Pete?” The redhead’s head jerked up at the sound of his friend’s voice. “What are you doing out here? I thought you were going to come inside so Jean could give you a once over.”

“I just thought that you and Jean needed some time to yourselves. After all, she hasn’t seen you in five days and she’s spent each one of them worrying about you.”

Jim sat down beside his friend on the step and looked out towards the street. “It’s been one hell of a week, hasn’t it?”

“You can say that again.”

“It’s been one hell of a week, hasn’t it?”

Pete shot his friend a mock annoyed look and muttered. “I should have left you in that burning house.”

Well, I’m very grateful that you didn’t.” Jim quickly replied, immediately jumping on the opening Pete gave him. “I’m indebted to you.”

“For what?”

Jim gave his partner an incredulous look. “For saving my life. For running into a burning building to rescue us.” A sober look appeared in his eyes. “I wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t have done that.”

“What are you talking about Jim?” Pete frowned slightly. “There were several windows in that basement. You could have just broken out one of them and climbed out.”

“Did you happen to take a close look at the size of those windows, Pete?” When his partner shook his head Jim said. “The windows in that bedroom were so small that Ruthie was the only one that I was sure would fit through. Charlie and Gary may have been able to wiggle though, but I have my doubts that they’d have made it. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to. So like I said before, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here now. You saved my life, Pete.”

Guilt stung Pete’s conscience. “I shouldn’t have let you get abducted in the first place so if you had have died than it would have been all my fault.”

“That’s nonsense, Pete.” His friend remarked with a firm tone. “There was absolutely nothing that you could have done to prevent it.”

“Yeah, well…” Pete remarked solemnly as he suddenly got to his feet. “We should probably get going. I promised Mac that I’d deliver us both to Central Receiving and I don’t want both him and Grace on my back for missing a doctor’s appointment.” Seeing Jim’s confused frown he just smiled and said. “Go and kiss your wife so we can get out of here. We still have to go by the station and fill Mac in on what happened today and I’d like to get home sometime tonight.”

“Well you’d better come in too, then.” Jim told him, giving his sleeve a gentle tug. “Jean still hasn’t had a chance to check you over herself yet.”

“Isn’t one examination enough?”

“Come in, you old whiner. Time to face the music.”

“I’d rather face the firing squad.”

“If I tell Jean you said that you may just end up.”

“I’ll just plead temporary insanity.”

“I’m afraid for you, partner, it’s not temporary.” Jim laughed at Pete’s scowl as he opened the door of his house and stepped inside. Pete followed right behind him.

“Well, Officer Malloy I see that you’ve been following my advice and getting plenty of rest so that your body can recuperate.” Dr. Kenwood remarked brightly to the redheaded officer sitting on one of the two examination tables. The other one was occupied by Jim who was watching his partner and the doctor carefully. “Though I don’t seem to ever remember hearing it said that running into a burning house was considered resting and recuperating. But who knows, I may have missed that lecture while I was working on my golf swing.” He pantomimed swinging a golf club.

“Actually it’s written in the Police Officer’s Handbook.” Pete commented with a wicked smirk . “’Burning Houses and Your Health’.”

“You’ll find it between the chapter on the ‘Art of Ticket Writing’ and the ‘Coffee Shop Directory’.” Jim piped up, shooting his partner a mischievous look.

Kenwood looked from Pete to Jim and back again before noting with an amused chuckle. “He must be your partner.”

Pete glanced at Jim and nodded proudly. “Yup, that’s him. Jim Reed. Jim, this is Dr. Mark Kenwood.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Jim acknowledged.

“You too, Officer Reed.” The physician returned. “I understand that you had almost all of the LAPD out looking for you these last few days.”

“So I understand.” Then glancing at his friend he added. “Fortunately I was found by one of the best of the group.” The physician watched as the pair exchanged a meaningful look.

“Well, I’m glad that he did. And I’m sure that everyone else involved is too.”

“I tell you, Doc. You can’t take your eyes off this guy for one second. If you do he gets himself into a whole mess of trouble.” Pete shot Jim a teasing look.

Kenwood laughed and looked at Jim. Is he always like this?”

“No.” Jim shook his head solemnly before adding with twinkling eyes. “Usually he’s much worse.”

“You two must have some very interesting shifts together.”

“Some.” The dark-haired man replied in a non-committal tone though his eyes were dancing with mischief. “Pete’s famous around the station for his wit. Very little gets past the Strawberry Fox.”

“The Strawberry Fox?”

“That’s right.”

Kenwood gave Pete an amused look as he observed earnestly. “Well I must say that he’s certainly in much better form than he was the last time I saw him.”

“Yeah, me too.” Jim echoed, looking at Pete seriously as he said the words.

“All right then, let’s get this over with. I’m sure that both of you have better places to be than here.” Addressing the senior officer he urged. “Why don’t you come with me, Officer Malloy and we’ll get you checked out.” Pete slid off the exam table and followed the doctor through the door that separated the treatment room from a small office.

Closing the door behind them Dr. Kenwood gave the officer a scrutinizing look. “So how are you feeling?”

“Much better now, Doc.” Pete assured the other man. “Especially now that Jim’s safe and sound.”

“Yeah it sounds like you two have both had quite the harrowing week.”

Pete nodded solemnly. “Yeah, Jim especially.”

“What about you? Have you been experiencing any dizziness? Nausea? Shortness of breath?”

“No nothing like that.”

“Have you been taking your pain medication?”

Pete nodded. “Yeah, neither Jean nor Grace will let me away with not taking them.”

“Good girls.” Dr. Kenwood praised as he made a notation on the chart he held in his hand. “How are you sleeping? Have you been getting enough rest?”

The officer hesitated for a moment before admitting honestly. “Maybe not as much as I should be, but now that Jim’s been found and my memories are back I think I’ll sleep like a baby. I think it was more worry and stress that was keeping me from sleeping than my injuries.”

“What makes you so sure?”

Pete squirmed uncomfortably, not really wanting to admit that he’d been having nightmares. “Let’s just call it a hunch.”

“Well generally speaking as a doctor I like to go about things a little more scientifically than that.” A serious look appeared in his eyes. “You still having nightmares?”

“How did you know I was having nightmares?”

“Mrs. Reed mentioned it to me when you were still in the hospital.” At Pete’s frown he hastened to add. “She was worried about you and was looking for advice as to what she could and should do to help you.” He paused for a few moments before saying. “You know you’re very lucky to have friends who care about you so much.”

Pete smiled slightly and nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

“So what do you say we get this over with so that you and your partner can get out of here and on your way back home.”

“I say ‘Amen’ to that.”

Mac looked up at the sound of Pete’s familiar knock. “Well it’s about time that the two of you decided to show up. I hope you’re ready to explain to Mary why I’m almost four hours late getting home from work tonight.”

“Hey, you can’t hang that on our shoulders.” Pete told him with mock heat. “We didn’t ask you to wait around for us. We could have just as easily given our report to someone else.”

“Surely you didn’t think that I’d be able to sleep tonight without hearing the whole story, now did you?”

A mischievous twinkle appeared in the redhead’s eyes as he said solemnly. “Sorry to disappoint you, Mac but there really isn’t anything to report. I found Jim and the three kids in that house on Belcourt Street and while I was going for backup the suspects roared off and a minute later there was an explosion. I helped Jim get the kids out of the house and that’s when the Calvary showed up.” Looking at Jim he asked earnestly. “That about sums it up, doesn’t it partner?”

Jim gave his friend an amused look. “Yeah, I guess that’s a fair summary of the events.”

Mac gave the pair an exasperated look. “I certainly hope that’s not your official statements.”

“Not exactly but pretty close.” Pete gave the Sergeant a deadpan look.

“Well what do you say we polish it up a bit? I have a few questions that I’d like some answers to so why don’t you two have a seat and we’ll start from the beginning. You both look like you’re about ready to fall over anyway.”

“Gee thanks.” Pete drawled sarcastically but gratefully sank into the chair that Mac had indicated for him to take. Jim pulled another one up to sit beside him.

“So why don’t we start from the beginning.” Looking at Jim he prompted eagerly. “Why don’t you tells us exactly what happened in that back parking lot last Sunday?”

“Well after I took off after Charlie he led me around in a big circle that ended up in that back parking lot. When I got there I saw a blue Chevy waiting in the lot with two passengers. One was Gary, the other was Dougan – he was the mastermind behind the whole plan.”

Mac nodded and reached for the folder sitting on the edge of his desk. “Charles Edward Dougan. He’s got a package about three inches thick: ADW, Armed Robbery, Murder, Assault on a Policeman. He’s been in and out of prison ever since he was fifteen. He and his partner escaped from San Quinton about four weeks ago.”

“And then three weeks ago they kidnapped the Proctor kids from a park in West Hollywood and set about training the boys in the skill of Armed Robberies and used Ruthie as an incentive to make them cooperate.” Looking at his partner he said sadly. “A couple of nice guys, huh?”

“What do you mean they were using the girl as an incentive?” The Sergeant frowned slightly.

“Dougan and Gibson would threaten to harm her if they didn’t cooperate.” Jim replied. “As a show of that they chopped her hair off and told the boys that next time they’d do a lot worse to her than that.” A lump appeared in Jim’s throat as he thought about the suffering those three kids had had to endure during the last few weeks. He closed his eyes against the tears that wanted to come. He couldn’t let himself break down. Not now, not in front of Mac and Pete. He felt a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Pete looking at him with deep concern.

“You okay, Jim?”

The younger office swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Wiping the corners of his eyes with his thumb he continued with his account of the events that had happened. He noticed with gratitude that Pete kept his hand on his shoulder in a silent gesture of support. “When Charlie and I got to the parking lot Pete had his gun aimed at the get-away car and he was telling Gary and Dougan to freeze. But Dougan wasn’t about to so he opened fire on Pete. He missed Pete, but I caught a stray.” He reached up and touched the side of his head just above his right ear. “It was just a graze but it bled pretty badly.”

“So that was your blood that we found on the pavement at the scene.” Mac commented with a grim look. “We were wondering if it was.” Jim nodded as Pete gave his shoulder another squeeze. “What happened next?”

“After that everything happened really fast. Dougan floored the Chevy, aiming it right for Pete. I tried to warn him to get out of the way but I didn’t have a chance. Pete was hit hard, falling onto the hood of the car and then rolling off the side. He tumbled for several feet before finally coming to a stop. When he did he was so still.” Both the lump and the tears returned as he looked back to his partner and said hoarsely. “I thought you’d been killed. I was positive that he had killed you.”

Pete gave Jim’s shoulder another reassuring squeeze. “But he didn’t, I’m still in one piece – more or less.”

“Thank goodness.” Jim whispered and once again fought hard against his strong emotions.

After giving the younger officer sometime to get himself under control Mac prompted gently. “So what happened next?”

“After Pete was knocked out Dougan came after me. But instead of hitting me with the car he pulled up alongside me and jumped out. I tried to fight him but I guess between the graze to the head and thinking that Pete had just been killed I was no match for him.”

Mac couldn’t help but chuckle. “Jim, that guy must weigh twice as much as you do. I’d be surprised if you could have taken him even if you’d been in top form.”

Jim looked offended. “I’ve taken down some pretty big guys in my time, Mac. I’m not exactly a weakling.”

“That’s not what I meant, Jim.” The Watch Commander sighed with mild exasperation. “I meant that it was understandable why he got the drop on you.”

Jim looked like he was going to argue again until he felt Pete give his shoulder another squeeze. When he looked at his partner the older man advised gently. “Let it go, Jim.”

Jim looked at his friend for a moment before nodding slightly. “Yeah, okay.” Looking back to Mac he gave him a sheepish look. “Sorry, Mac.”

Mac gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Jim. Forget it.”

The young officer nodded again. “Sure.” Then after taking a deep breath he continued his tale. “Dougan managed to knock me out while we were struggling in the parking lot and when I came to I was in the basement of that house on Belcourt Street. That’s where I spent most of the last few days.” An involuntary shiver passed through his body at the thought of the damp and cold cellar. The smell of mold and mildew had been almost enough to make you sick. A couple of old beat up blankets had served as make-shift beds for both himself and the kids, except for Ruthie. Dougan and Gibson had always kept her upstairs with them, which really bothered Jim. Especially when he could hear her crying and whimpering in fear. The only times that Jim had managed to talk his way into seeing the terrified little girl was whenever Dougan had taken the boys out to pull a robbery. Jim had soon found out that Gibson at least had a heart and he would let Jim come upstairs and care for Ruthie. He’d even provided the officer with some warm water to wash the dirt and tears from the child’s sweet face. Usually as soon as Gibson heard the car pull into the garage he would hurry the officer back into the basement. As much as he hated to, Jim would always comply, leaving the little girl once again at the mercy of the two criminals. His heart always felt like it would break whenever he let Gibson usher him out of the living room and back into the basement.

But Jim didn’t relate any of this to Pete and Mac. Instead he concentrated solely on what he knew of the activities of the two men. As he related his story strong emotions threatened to overcome him a few times and Jim didn’t think he’d have been able to get through it all without Pete’s constant unspoken support. Whenever he came to a portion of his tale that threatened to overwhelm him his partner would squeeze his shoulder in quiet support.

“When I looked up and saw Pete peeking in the basement window tonight I wasn’t sure if I was seeing an angel or a ghost but he was the most beautiful sight to behold.” Then looking at his partner he asked. “I still don’t know how you managed to find me though.”

“That makes two of us.” Mac added as he looked at Pete expectantly.

“Three of us actually.” Pete admitted with a slight grin as he removed his hand from Jim’s shoulder and shifted in his chair.

“What do you mean?” The sergeant frowned slightly.

“Well, I was on my way to Central Receiving to see Dr. Kenwood…” Seeing his partner’s worried frown he assured him. “…It was just for a check up. He’d told me to come in to see him today.” Jim relaxed and nodded. “Anyway, as I was driving down Belvedere I very nearly rear ended the yellow Chrysler in front of me when it suddenly slammed on it’s brakes to make room for a blue Chevy that was forcing it’s way into traffic.”

“A blue Chevy?” Mac repeated, knowing that the suspects had been apprehended in a blue 1952 Chevy.

Pete nodded. “That’s right. Well, when the Chevy darted across a lane of oncoming traffic to catch a side street I followed him.”

“Did you recognize the car from the other day?” Mac asked curiously knowing that Pete had been missing those memories earlier.

The redhead shook his head. “No, it was more an instinctive reaction than one based on fact. Anyway, after a little game of cat and mouse they finally led me to their hide out on Belcourt Street. I parked my car at the end of the block and then made my way to the house on foot. The backyard was all fenced in and I didn’t really want to try scaling it with this broken arm.”

“Not to mention those cracked ribs of yours.” Mac added knowingly.

“Yeah, those too.”

Jim looked at his best friend sharply. “You have a broken arm and cracked ribs?” A look of awe filled his face. “How on earth did you ever manage to rescue us in that condition? You must have been in so much pain.”

“Actually pain killers work wonders for things like that.” Pete told his partner mischievously. Jim couldn’t help but laugh.

“So what happened after you decided not to scale the fence?” Their superior pressed, shifting the conversation back to its original topic.

“I ended up sneaking around the front of the house looking for a window I could peek in through. Most of them were covered by blinds, but I finally managed to find one on the North side of the house where the blind was skewed slightly, leaving a gap to look in. When I did I saw Jim sitting on the floor with Ruthie Proctor asleep in his arms. He was being guarded by Gibson, but a few moments later Dougan came in with the boys. He wasn’t long sending them all down to the basement. Unfortunately the basement windows were all at the back of the house.”

“So what did you do?” Mac asked anxiously. “You didn’t scale the fence, did you?”

“Of course not!” Pete responded with a deadpan expression on his face. “Who do you think I am? Spiderman?”

“So what did you do?”

“I used the gate.”

Jim laughed and gave Mac a cheeky look. “Even you should have thought of that, Mac.”

The older man glared at Jim for a moment before turning back to Pete. “Go on.”

“Well, I found the basement window and got Jim’s attention. I then told him to sit tight, that I was going for back up. When I got back to the street I saw a black and white pull up in front of one of the houses. It was Wells and Brinkman. I guess one of the neighbors had seen me prowling around and called it in. I told them that I’d found Jim and Brinkman was going to call it in when Dougan and Gibson came roaring out of the garage like the house was about to blow up – which is exactly what happened less than a minute later.”

“Investigators said that they found evidence of explosives and gasoline cans at the scene.” Mac told them solemnly. “These characters obviously meant business. As a matter of fact, the Fire Chief said that he thinks the only thing that saved the four of you from being killed was the fact that you were down in the basement when the explosion occurred.”

“That’s not the only thing that saved us.” Jim said solemnly as he looked at his partner. “Like I already told Pete, if it hadn’t have been for him I would very likely have burned to death in that fire.”

A few moments of uncomfortable silence filled the room as each man inwardly acknowledged the truthfulness of Jim’s words. Finally Mac broke the deafening silence. “We’ve contacted the kids’ parents. They’re on their way in.” He glanced at his watch. “As a matter of fact they should be here any time.”

“I bet they were thrilled to hear that their kids were okay.”

Mac nodded. “It had been three weeks since the kids had gone missing. Mrs. Proctor was pretty much a basket case and Mr. Proctor didn’t sound much better off.”

“I don’t wonder.” Jim said with deep emotion. “I know how I’d feel if someone took Jimmy away from me. I’d probably be a complete wreck.”

Me too, partner. Pete thought to himself. Me too.

“So what did the doctor say about you two?” Mac changed the emotional subject by asking.

Pete and Jim exchanged grimaces. “He suggested three days off than light duty for a week.” Jim reported dully.

“He said six to eight weeks light duty for me.” Pete gripped.

“Hey, I wouldn’t grouch too much.” His partner said seriously. “He wasn’t going to okay you at all until I promised to keep a close eye on you and make sure that you didn’t over do it.”

Pete let out a martyr’s sigh. “Just what I need another baby-sitter. Like I don’t have enough already.”

“You still going to stay at Jim’s for a few days?” Mac asked curiously.

“Do you honestly think that I could get away with not?” Pete asked incredulously. “Because if you do than you obviously don’t know Jean Reed when she’s in full nursemaid mode.”

Jim laughed at the comment. “Yeah, she can be…determined.”

His partner glanced at him with amusement. “Now that’s the understatement of the century. Your wife can be as stubborn as a mule.” His expression turned even more amused as he added. “But a very lovable mule.”

Jim laughed again. “If she heard you call her a lovable mule she’d probably send you packing for sure.”

“Really?” Pete’s face held an exaggerated look of hope. “I’ll have to give it a try when we get back to your place. Maybe I actually will get to go home tonight.”

Jim laughed again and shook his head slightly. It felt so good to be back again with his friends and loved one. He had missed them all so much over the last few days, especially Pete. During his five-day confinement he had lived with the fear that Pete had died from the injuries he’d sustained in that parking lot when he’d been hit by Dougan. That theory had been further fueled by Dougan’s version of the newspaper article that had been published the day after Jim’s abduction. Dougan had showed him the pictures, including the one of Jean and Pete at the hospital, but had insisted on reading the article to Jim instead of letting him see it for himself. According to his kidnapper the article had said that Pete was in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Central Receiving Hospital. Jim had been worried, but had assured himself that his friend was strong and that he would be okay.

The next day, however Dougan had come down the basement stairs, a look of sorrow on his face. At his expression Jim had felt his heart constrict knowing that something was up. “Your pig friend has died.” The other man had told him. At Jim’s stunned look he added. “Happened about an hour ago. Your wife was with him when he went. She’s quite broken up about it.” Then after seeing the look of uncertainty and pain that filled the officer’s face he had added with unconvincing sincerity. “I’m sorry, man. I really am. I never meant for this to happen.” Then without another word he had gone back upstairs.

As the cellar door had shut behind him Jim had wanted to scream after him that he was lying, that Pete wasn’t dead, that he couldn’t possibly be dead but he hadn’t. He hadn’t wanted to give Dougan the satisfaction of seeing him loose it. Even this morning when Dougan had come down into the basement to tell him that Pete’s funeral was scheduled for today Jim had refused to take the bait. He had just maintained direct eye contact with the other man has he had spouted insincere words of condolence. It had taken every ounce of inner strength that he possessed not to tear the other man’s head off. But what had especially sent a chill up Jim’s spine was Dougan’s gentle promise that Jim would soon be joining his ‘pig partner’. Jim knew then that if he was going to make it out alive he was going to have to do it today. He also knew that it wouldn’t be easy because if he was getting out of there the kids were too. But he didn’t know how to go about it. No plan that he could come up with was plausible and ones that might have been were too dangerous to risk. He didn’t want one or all of the kids to die because he was trying to save his own neck. His mind had continued to whirl with hundreds of unprofitable solutions until all of a sudden a miracle had occurred in the form of Peter Joseph Malloy. Jim had never been happier or more relieved to see his partner than he was when he saw Pete peeking in the small basement window of their cold, damp prison. Not only did it mean that their rescue was eminent but it also meant that his best friend was still alive.

“Well, you guys had better get working on your reports if you have any hope of getting home tonight.”

“Aw, come on, Mac.” Jim whined slightly. “Can’t you cut us some slack? Pete’s injured and I just spent five days as a hostage. I’d really like to get back home to Jean.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what, Jim. You and Pete get your reports written up and handed in and I’ll give you the next three days off.” Jim gave Mac a baleful look but before he could comment Pete rose to his feet and urged eagerly.

“Come on, partner. We’d better get started. After all, you’ve got a lot of writing to do. You’ve got two sets of reports to fill out.”

“Two? Why two?”

“Yours and mine.” At Jim’s surprised look he lifted his right hand and said. “You don’t expect me to fill out my reports with this do you?”

“No, I suppose not. Your regular chicken scratches are bad enough, I’d hate to see how you’d do left handed.” Pete rolled his eyes Heavenward as Jim slapped him on the back and encouraged brightly. “Come along, my one-armed partner. Let’s get this over with. I’d like to spend at least some of this night with my wife instead of you.” Then looking at their Watch Commander he said. “Night, Mac.”

“Night.” As the pair left his office a soft chuckle escaped the police Sergeant’s lips. “Glad to have you back, men.” He whispered to himself as he watched them settle into the report alcove down the hall. Jim pulled out a couple of forms and a pen as Pete made a big show of making himself comfortable. Chuckling again Mac returned to his own files feeling greatly relieved that everything was getting back to normal.

Pete watched in horror as the little yellow house suddenly exploded into a ball of flames. “Jim!” He screamed and ran towards the burning building. “Jim!” He found a small window that belonged to the basement of the house. “Jim!” He yelled, pressing himself against it. “Jim!”

“Pete!” Jim’s face appeared in the small glass opening. “Help me, Pete! Get me out of here!”

“Just hang on, partner. I’ll get you out.” He got to his feet. “Stand back, I’m going to break in the window.”

“It’s no use, Pete that window is way too small. I’ll never fit through it.”

Pete examined the window more closely and found with dismay that Jim was right. Quickly shifting gears he glanced around the burning building. “Hold tight, partner I’ll get you out of there.” Taking off at a run Pete went in search of a door to gain access to the house.

The redhead knew that neither the back nor the North side contained an entry to the house so he headed for the front. When he got there he was alarmed to find that there was no door to be found.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Pete cried as he doubled his speed to the South side of the house. The exertion caused his ribs to protest but Pete pushed on. He had to get Jim out of there.

When he reached the fourth side of the house Pete couldn’t believe his eyes. Once again there was no door. “I don’t believe this!” He continued back to the back of the house in case he’d missed seeing the door. Once again he found nothing.

“Pete? Pete? Pete!”

Pete ran back to the basement window. “You still okay?”

“It’s getting pretty hot down here.” Jim’s face was red and sweaty. “What’s taking you so long out there?”

“I can’t find the door to the house.”

“What?”

“There’s no door leading into the house.”

“Sure there is, Pete. It’s around the front.”

“I already looked. There’s no door.”

“Yes, there is, Pete! Look again! And hurry! It’s really hot down here!”

“Just hang tight. I’ll get you out of there.” Once again he took off for the front of the house. This time he found it all aflame. Amidst the flames he found the outline of the doorway but common sense told him that there was no way he was going to get through it safely.

With growing desperation he racked his brain for another possible solution to getting Jim out of that burning inferno. Suddenly a loud snap cracked through the air and less than a moment later the roof caved in over the living room area.

“Jim!” Pete screamed and raced back around the back of the house. By now the entire house was starting to moan and groan as beams sagged and snapped. The heat of the fire was getting so hot that Pete could no longer get close to the basement window. “Jim!”

“Pete!” Jim yelled over the roar of the fire, his hands pressed against the pane of the small window. “Pete!”

“Jim!”

A look of resignation filled Jim’s face. “Pete, tell Jean that I love her and give Jimmy a hug and a kiss for me.”

“Jim…”

“It’s been great working with you, partner.” The dark-haired man told his friend calmly. “Goodbye, Pete. Don’t forget me.” Then after a brief moment he stepped back into the shadows of the basement.

“Jim!!” Pete screamed and tried to step towards the window but something seemed to prevent him. “Jim!!”

“Pete!” His unknown restrainer called to him but the redhead ignored them, fighting against the hands that held him as he tried to get to Jim.

“Jim!!”

“Pete…”

“Jim!!”

Just then the rest of the roof as well as the walls of the house collapsed. Sparkles flew and flames danced as the wood hissed and sizzled.

“Jim, no!” Pete screamed with heart-wrenching pain. “NO!!” He strained again against the hands that gripped his shoulders. “Let me go! I have to save him! I can’t let him die! Jim! Jim!!”

“Pete…”

“Jim!” Pete sat up in his bed, his heart pounding like a jackhammer in his chest. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his breathing was ragged and short. “Jim…” He panted breathlessly.

“Pete, it’s okay. Take it easy. Everything’s okay.”

The sound of Jean’s soft soothing voice helped chase away some of the remnants of the nightmare that he’d just had.

Swallowing hard he asked with very deep concern on his face. “How’s Jim?”

“He’s fine, Pete.” Jean assured him as she gently rubbed his back. “He’s sound asleep.” Pete nodded and ran his good hand through his hair. As the rest of his dream melted away his brain began to register other feelings, specifically the ones his cracked ribs and his right arm were sending him. A slight moan escaped his lips before he could bite it back.

“You okay, Pete?” Jean’s concern deepened when she noticed he was chewing on his bottom lip to keep from groaning again. “When was the last time you had your pain medication?”

“Just before I left the station.” He replied through gritted teeth as another wave of pain overtook him.

Jean glanced at the clock on his night stand. “Well that would have only been about five hours ago. You shouldn’t be due for another one yet.”

Pete shook his head and then moaned again. “I took it at three-thirty when I left the station this afternoon.”

“Pete! That’s almost twelve hours ago. No wonder you’re in pain. You’re supposed to take them every eight hours!” Getting up from the bed she hurried to the door. “I’ll go get you some water.” Pete didn’t respond. He just closed his eyes against another wave of pain. Jean returned momentarily with a glass of water and quickly retrieved Pete’s pain medication. “Here, take these.” Without a word the injured man obeyed swallowing the pill and then gulping down the water. When he was finished he handed the glass back to Jean and then settled back against his pillow as his body continued to torment him. He felt Jean take his uninjured hand and gently squeeze it between both of her. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Pete managed to squeeze out. “I’ll be fine once the medication kicks in.”

“You really should have been home resting today instead of going down to the station. You’ve been pushing yourself way too hard, Pete. You’ve only been out of the hospital a few days and the doctor told you to rest.”

The redheaded officer turned his head and looked into Jean’s worried face. He knew that she worried about him almost as much as she worried about Jim. She was such a warm caring person and Pete loved her very much. He couldn’t bare the thought of her loosing Jim, not when they had so much of their lives ahead of them, so much more to experience together. Pete was so glad that he had been able to find Jim before it was too late. He knew that if he hadn’t have and Jim had died in that fire that he would never have been able to forgive himself. He knew that he would have spent the rest of his life beating himself up over what had taken place.

Giving Jean a reassuring smile he squeezed her hand and said. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Now that Jim’s home I promise to get some rest.” At Jean’s doubtful look he repeated earnestly. “I promise.”

“You’d better.” She admonished seriously. “Because you’re a very important part of this family too and I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you. And neither does Jim. He’d be absolutely devastated if he ever had to break in another partner for any other reason than a promotion. You mean a lot to him, Pete. He said that this past week had been especially hard because he’d thought you’d been killed.”

A look of surprise filled Pete’s face. “But I thought Jim said that Dougan had showed him the article from the paper. You know the one with the picture of you and me at the hospital.”

“He did.” Jean confirmed. “But he only showed Jim the pictures. He then ‘read’ Jim the article, exaggerating your injuries. But I guess after that he had told Jim that you had died from your injuries. Then just this morning he’d said that your funeral was today. Jim wasn’t sure whether or not to believe him. Part of him knew that it was possible that you had been killed but another part of him refused to believe it. He claims that when he saw you looking in that basement window he wasn’t sure if he was seeing a ghost or an angel.”

Pete couldn’t help but chuckle. “I wondered why he looked so scared when he first saw me looking in that window.”

“He said that after he got over his initial shock of seeing you he really had to contain himself not to yell with joy.”

“Well, I’m glad that he had the presence of mind not to do that. That really would have put a damper on the rescue mission.” He noticed Jean’s eyes tear up slightly. He figured that she was thinking of how close she had come to loosing Jim in that fire. “Hey, none of that now. In my present state you’re very likely to get me going and we can’t have that. I have a reputation to protect after all. Though that’s probably all out the window now after the way I’ve been acting this week. I’m sure I’ll never hear the end of it from the guys at the station when they find out about it. They’ll laugh me into next week.”

“Won’t happen.” Jean assured him seriously.

“You wanna bet?”

“Sure. After all, how can they laugh about it if they’ve never heard about it? None of them were there to witness any of your emotional outbursts so why would they know about them. And the only one who knows about your nightmares outside of Grace and I is Mac and I’m sure that he won’t say anything to anyone else about them.”

“You told Mac?” He gave her a look of mild alarm figuring there was probably a visit with the department shrink in his near future.

Jean nodded. “I was really worried about you and I didn’t know what to do. Jim wasn’t here and I needed to talk to somebody about it. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to betray your confidence. I just didn’t know what else to do.” Tears appeared in her eyes again. She brushed at them with the back of her hand.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Her friend hurried to assure her. “I’m not upset about it. You did what you felt was best because you cared. I really appreciate your concern.” He squeezed her hand again. “You’re a great friend, Jean Reed and a terrific ‘little sister’.”

A smile tugged at Jean’s lips. “Well you make a pretty great ‘big brother’ yourself.” A few minutes of comfortable silence filled the air as Pete closed his eyes as another wave of pain washed over him. “Is the medication helping any?”

“It’s starting to. The pains aren’t quite as sharp as they were before.”

“Well, you should try and get some sleep.”

“So should you. Jim’s home now, so you shouldn’t have any trouble sleeping.” He told her mischievously.

Jean smiled softly. “Sweet dreams, Pete Malloy.” Leaning forward she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “Love you, ‘bro’.”

Pete smiled and squeezed her hand. “Love you too, ‘sis’.”

Getting up off the bed Jean moved to the open bedroom door. “Night.” She whispered before disappearing out into the hall, closing the bedroom door behind her.

Pete sighed wearily and let a medication-induced sleep claim him.

He watched in horror as the blue Chevy barreled down on his partner. “Pete, look out!”

The redheaded officer turned just in time to see the car as it hit him. Jim watched wordlessly as Pete sprawled ungracefully on the hood of the car, desperately trying not to fall off. But the driver had other ideas, jerking the wheel back and forth in an attempt to dislodge the human fly that clung to the hood of his car. Pete managed to hold on for several hairy seconds before the momentum from one sudden jerk made him lose his grip and sent him flying off the side of the car.

Jim watched with mute terror as his friend hit the pavement and rolled for several feet, finally coming to a stop lying face up and unmoving. “Pete?” Forgetting about the Chevy and its driver the younger officer raced for his friend. Dropping to his knees beside his partner Jim placed his fingers on the side of Pete’s neck. Nothing. “Come on, Pete you can’t leave me.” After groping around for another moment and not finding a pulse Jim started administering first aid. But as he looked at his friend he suddenly couldn’t remember how to do it. How many breaths was it between chest presses? Where was he supposed to put his hands? Was he supposed to plug Pete’s nose as he blew in? Jim let out a scream of frustration. He couldn’t remember any of it.

A cynical laugh echoed in Jim’s ears and he turned to find Dougan standing behind him. Suddenly they weren’t in the parking lot anymore but in the basement of 14 Belcourt Street. Jim turned back to Pete but his partner was no longer there. “He’s dead, Pig.” Dougan told the young officer triumphantly. “Dead and buried. Your pig buddies put him in the ground this afternoon. There was quite a turn out at the funeral.”

Anger filled Jim as he lunged for Dougan’s smiling face. He wrapped his hands around Dougan’s throat just as he heard someone calling his name. Turning his head he saw Pete out of the corner of his eye. Shocked at seeing his partner Jim stepped away from Dougan. But before he could say anything Pete was gone again.

“Pete!” He cried in desperation. “Pete, where are you? Pete?”

“Jim, Jim honey wake up. Wake up. It’s only a dream.”

Consciousness finally broke through Jim’s sleep filled brain, bringing confusion with it. “Pete?”

“Ssh, it’s okay, honey.” Jean soothed her agitated husband tenderly. “Pete’s fine. He’s in the guest room sleeping.” When Jim threw back the covers and moved to get up she asked anxiously. “Where are you going?”

“To check on him.” Jim admitted with mild embarrassment.

“Oh, honey he’s fine. I just looked in on him a little while ago. Come on back to bed. You need your sleep too.”

He hesitated for a moment before whispering. “I need to see Pete. I need to make sure that he’s all right.”

Jean was surprised by the underlying hint of desperation in his voice. Rubbing his arm comfortingly she replied. “Okay, but don’t be too long. I’ve missed you.”

Jim smiled and leaned down to kiss her tenderly. “I’ve missed you too.” Sitting back up he promised. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” She watched as Jim padded barefoot to their bedroom door and pulled it open. After stepping outside into the hall he pulled it closed behind him.

Once alone in the hallway Jim looked at the guest room door with some trepidation. He didn’t know why he felt so anxious. He knew that his friend was fine. That he was sleeping comfortably – or as comfortably as possible – in his bed.

You’re just being silly, James A. Reed. Wouldn’t the guys at the station get a real laugh if they could see you now. He chastised himself sternly. Now go back to bed and let your partner rest in peace.

Jim felt his blood run cold at that group of words. “I gotta check on him.” He whispered softly to himself as he stepped up to the guest room door. Turning the knob he pushed it open quietly until the light from the hallway landed on the bed. In the dim light Jim studied the sleeping face of his best friend. He couldn’t help but grimace at the healing scratches that still decorated the freckled face. The casted arm also made Jim wince. It looked very painful. But despite his partner’s current appearance Jim found just the sight of him reassuring.

“Everything’s going to be okay, Pete.” Jim whispered to his sleeping friend. “We’re both going to be okay.”

Jean hummed to herself as she cut some fruit up for the fruit salad that she was making to go along with her pancake breakfast. She was feeling very happy this morning. Jim was home, Pete was on the mend and the sun was shinning brightly. Things were finally starting to get back to normal. She knew it would be a while before things were one hundred percent okay for any of them – both Jim and Pete were being plagued with nightmares over what had happened and she was being plagued by worry – but they were all on the road to recovery and that was the main thing.

She was so glad that she and Jim had been able to convince their friend to stay on with them for a few more days. When Pete had brought Jim home last night after their visits to Central Receiving and then the station the redheaded officer had tried very hard to convince Jean to agree to let him go home, but she had refused to give in. She still wanted to keep an eye on him and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to do that adequately if he went back to his own apartment. So she had twisted his arm until he had agreed to stay, but only until the end of the weekend. Jean had agreed with this, though she hoped to be able to convince him to stay on longer than that. She still wasn’t comfortable with the idea of him being alone in his current emotional condition. She hated the thought of him waking up after one of his nightmares to find himself alone in his apartment.

Jean knew that Pete hated it when people hovered over him like a mother hen, making a fuss at his slightest discomfort but she couldn’t help it. She cared about Pete and worried about him almost as much as she did Jim. He had become such an important part of their day-to-day life that when something was wrong with him it was hard for her not to be concerned. Especially now. Last night when he and Jim came home he looked so exhausted causing Jean to wonder if he’d been getting any sleep at all. She knew that her own sleep pattern these past five days hadn’t been the greatest either but due to the insistence of her sister and her mother she had been getting some rest. But it didn’t seem that her friend had been, if the growing bags under his eyes were of any indication.

Jean wondered if Jim had even noticed the change in his partner’s appearance. Working together as closely as they do she couldn’t see how he couldn’t have noticed the difference. But if he had he certainly wasn’t saying anything about it. Jean wondered if she should mention it to her husband. After all, if someone didn’t do something soon to help Pete he may end up in serious trouble.

“Morning Beautiful!” Jim greeted brightly as he entered the kitchen with Jimmy perched high up on his shoulders.

When Jean turned and saw where her son was she scolded her husband mildly. “Jim I really wish you wouldn’t do that with him! What if he bops his head or falls off? He could really get hurt.”

Jim gave her an amused look as he lifted Jimmy off of his shoulders and settled him into his high chair. “Have I ever told you what a worry wart you are?”

“I’m not a worry wart.” She objected. “I just don’t want to see my son get hurt. I’m sort of fond of him.”

“Worry wart.” He repeated as he put his hands on her waist and gave her a cheeky look.

“Am not!”

“Worry wart.” He pulled her a little closer.

“Am not!”

“Worry wart.” He slipped his arms around her.

“Uh, uh.”

“Worry wart.” He whispered and then leaned down to kiss her, effectively silencing her protest. They remained locked in each other’s arms for several minutes before finally coming up for air.

“Now that’s what I call a ‘good morning’ kiss!” Jean commented with a broad smile.

“I have several more of those where that one came from.” He told her before once again kissing her.

“Where’s Pete?” Jean asked when they finally pulled apart.

“He’s in the shower.”

“Did he get his cast wrapped in that plastic bag?”

“Yeah, I did it for him. I also helped him wash his hair.”

“Good.” She nodded and returned to her breakfast preparations as Jim poured himself a cup of coffee. Leaning against the counter he watched her work as he sipped thoughtfully on his coffee. He was so glad to be home. The last five days had felt more like five hundred years. He had spent the entire time worrying about how Jean was holding up and mourning the apparent loss of his partner and best friend. He was so glad that Dougan had been lying and Pete was really alive. But it didn’t take a detective to figure out that something wasn’t quite right with his friend. He looked really exhausted and pale. He was obviously suffering whether from his injuries or from some internal demons Jim didn’t know but he was determined to find out. He hated to see his best friend suffering like this, especially if there was some way that he could help.

“Everything okay?” Jean’s concerned question brought Jim out of his musings.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” He quickly assured her. “But I’m worried about Pete. He’s looking very tired and pale. And he didn’t put up much of an argument when I offered to help him wash his hair. I had said it as a joke and expected him to turn me down flat, but he just nodded and handed me the shampoo bottle.” He paused for a moment, a deeply worried look appearing in his eyes. “Is he okay?”

“He’s had a very rough week.” She told him seriously. “I don’t know how much he’s told you about the last few days.”

“Some, but I’m sure he hasn’t told me everything.”

“Well, he woke up early Monday morning with Retrograde Amnesia, meaning he had no recollection of anything: who he was, what had happened to him, nothing. He didn’t even remember being a police officer. The doctor kept him in until Tuesday for observation than released him. I brought him here so Grace and I could keep an eye on him but he’s been having a hard time. He’s been suffering from nightmares ever since this whole thing started. He usually wakes up panicking after one at least once a night, sometimes more.” She paused for a moment before adding earnestly. “I’m worried about him, Jim. I’m really worried. I’ve tried talking to him but you know how private he can be. When he didn’t remember anything he was a bit more forthcoming and open with his emotions.” She thought back to Pete’s emotional outburst in his apartment on Wednesday but didn’t tell Jim about it. She didn’t want to invade their friend’s privacy any more than necessary. But she had been both surprised and concerned by the level of fury in his voice when he’d spoken. Jean had never before seen their friend so upset. “But once he got his memories back he clamed up again about how he was feeling.” She gave Jim a worried look. “Maybe you can talk to him, honey. He might be more apt to open up to you than me.”

Jim gave her a sorrowful look. “I’ll certainly give it a try, but I don’t know if he’ll tell me anything either. He can be so stubborn at times.”

Jean gave him a teasing smile. “Sounds like someone else I know.”

“Is that so.” He gave her amused look before leaning forward and kissing her tenderly.

“Get a room.” A mock-disgusted voice interrupted the kissing pair. When Jim and Jean pulled apart and looked towards the owner of the voice they found Pete standing in the kitchen doorway watching them with amused eyes. “I knew I should have gone home last night.”

“You’ll do no such thing, Pete Malloy.” Jean objected as she marched over to him and grabbed him by the hand. Leading him into the kitchen she directed him to a chair at the table and ordered. “You have a seat right here. Breakfast will be ready in five minutes.” Looking at Jim she said eagerly. “You might as well sit down too while I get everything ready.”

Jim did as she suggested, pulling out the chair across from his partner and sitting down. Looking carefully at the man seated across from him he frowned at the fresh scratches on his face. “What happened to you? Did Jimmy’s rubber ducky attack you in the shower?”

Pete reached up and touched his cheek gingerly knowing exactly what his friend was referring to. But before he could answer Jean appeared with a plateful of pancakes. Looking at him she frowned with concern.

“Pete why didn’t you call me to help you?” Picking up a napkin she gently dabbed at the small ribbon of blood on the side of her friend’s jaw. “You’re going to end up really hurting yourself if you try shaving with that cast on your hand.”

“I didn’t do this with the cast on my hand.” He countered then after a pause admitted. “I did it with my left hand.”

Jean sighed and shook her head. “Peter Joseph Malloy what am I going to do with you? You’re going to end up slitting your throat if you keep up that foolishness!” Turning away she moved to get the bowls of fruit salad she’d dished up.

Jim looked at his partner and chuckled. “Boy, are you ever in the dog house now.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you got called by your full name. You only get that when you’re really in trouble.”

“What is that you’re saying James Allan Reed?” Jean asked sternly as she gave him a mock annoyed glare.

“Nothing, honey.” Jim quickly replied as he snaked an arm around her waist. “Just telling Pete how beautiful you look this morning.”

“Uh, huh.” Jean set the fruit bowls down and moved to get the coffee pot.

Pete gave his partner a mischievous look. “I think I’m going to have some company in that dog house.”

“Not if I play my cards right.” The other man whispered back. “Watch an expert at work.”

As Jean poured both men a cup of coffee Jim looked at his wife and said earnestly. “You are a remarkable woman, you know that, Jean? I am the luckiest man in the world to be married to such a wonderful and beautiful woman as you. I love you so much.”

Jean looked at him for a moment and then turned to look at Pete. “The sad thing about this is that he actually thinks that works.” Pete laughed as Jean gave her husband a cheeky wink.

As she moved off Pete leaned forward and said to his best friend wickedly. “Remind me not to take any pointers from you if I ever find myself in the same situation, okay?”

Jim rolled his eyes and mumbled. “This is the thanks I get for letting him save my life…”

“Jim!”

Pete gasped for breath as he sat upright on the couch in the Reeds’ living room after yet another nightmare about Jim being killed in the fire. The dream always played out the same way: Jim was trapped in the basement of the burning house and Pete couldn’t find anyway inside to save him. Then just before the house collapses Jim makes him promise to look after Jean and Jimmy.

Pete couldn’t understand why he was still having that dream. It had been three days since Jim was found and returned home safe and sound to his friends and family and Pete had spent a lot of that time in his partner’s company. As a matter of fact, except for this evening he and Jim had been together pretty much the entire time, so he didn’t know why he didn’t feel reassured of his partner’s condition.

Maybe it was just the nervousness that he was feeling at leaving the comfort of the Reeds’ home and returning to the solitude of his own apartment. Normally he didn’t mind the solitude, as a matter of fact he usually reveled in it, but not anymore. At least not right now. Right now he was beginning to wonder if he should have been so hasty in his decision to leave the Reeds. He knew that both Jim and Jean would be happy to have him stay a few more days or even a few more weeks if he wanted to. Jean had been hinting at that all weekend and Pete had to admit that the idea held more and more appeal to him. But he knew that he was just being silly. He had already spent the better part of a week with the Reeds and he had recovered enough to look after himself. He did have to admit that some things were proving more difficult than he’d hoped with his broken arm like covering his cast in plastic before he took a shower and even putting toothpaste on his toothbrush was an awkward chore. He also sported a few more healing cuts and scraps on his freckled face than he had before since he still hadn’t quite mastered the fine art of left-handed shaving. Jim and Jean were always quick to offer their assistance in performing these tasks but Pete was determined to do them on his own. After all if he was going to go back home tomorrow as he planned he was going to have to be able to do these things by himself.

One thing that he was really going to miss about staying at the Reeds was the concerned and friendly faces that he saw whenever he awoke from one of his nightmares. For the past week he’d always awoken to either Jean or Grace gently trying to bring him from the depths of his disturbing dreams. But after tonight he was going to awaken to an empty room and an even emptier apartment. But it was something that he knew he had to do. It was time that he got out of Jim and Jean’s way so that they could all put his whole mess behind them and get things back to normal.

Glancing at the clock on the wall Pete realized that it was about time for his pain medication. Getting off the couch he went down to his bedroom to retrieve the pill bottle from the dresser. He couldn’t help but think how glad he would be when he was finished with his prescription. He absolutely hated having to take pills of any kind. After retrieving his meds he headed to the kitchen and got a glass of water to wash down the pill.

Setting the glass in the sink he glanced at the clock over the kitchen table. Nine-thirty-four. Jim, Jean and Jimmy should be home soon. The three of them had gone over to Jean’s parents’ for supper. Sarah and Doug were having them, the Senior Reeds, Maxine and Todd and Grace over for a family dinner to celebrate Jim’s safe return home. They had invited Pete too but he had begged off, claiming exhaustion. Knowing how tired he was Jim and Jean hadn’t put up much of a fight, though they had tried to persuade him to change his mind. But Pete had stuck to his previous decision and had seen his three favorite members of the Reed family out the door. He had soon regretted his decision to stay at home.

Pete had found the subsequent evening a lot longer and more boring than he had expected further adding to his regret at having to leave the Reeds’ home. But he knew that he couldn’t impose upon their hospitality anymore than he had. He cared for and respected Jim and Jean very much and he didn’t want to do anything to damage his friendship with either one of them which was why he didn’t want to wear out his welcome.

The sound of the front door opening brought Pete out of his musings and out into the living room. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched his partner carry his sleeping godson into the house.

“Looks like he had fun.” The redheaded officer commented as he gestured to the sleeping boy.

“Oh yeah, he was the life of the party.” Jim grinned.

“I can imagine.”

“You’d better get that little monkey to bed.” Jean commented with amusement. “He’s worn clean out.”

Jim smiled and complied. “Come on little man, let’s get you to bed.”

As Jim disappeared down the hall Pete looked at Jean curiously. “So what did my godson do that was so funny.”

Jean laughed and headed for the kitchen. Pete followed her. “What didn’t he do? He spent about twenty minutes going around the room tickling everybody on the feet. Then a little while later he went around the room looking at everybody through his legs and saying ‘h’woa’.” She chuckled as Pete grinned broadly. “He was just doing a whole bunch of silly things. He was in a really good mood tonight.”

“It sounds like it.” Pete chuckled once again regretting his decision to stay at home. He felt like he’d missed an important night of his godson’s life.

“Everyone was sorry that you didn’t come.” Jean told him as if reading his mind. “They were really hoping that you’d be there.”

“Why?” Pete’s brown knit together in confusion.

“Because they all wanted to express their gratitude to you for saving Jim’s life.”

“That’s not necessary.” He dismissed with obvious embarrassment. “I was only doing my job.”

“It was a lot more than that, Pete.” Jean said as she pulled an envelop out of her purse and handed it to him.

“What’s this?” He asked as he stared at it in surprise.

“It’s an envelope.” She told him cheekily. “You put things like cards and letters in it.” Pete rolled his eyes at her making her laugh. “It’s a letter from the family expressing their gratitude to you. Everyone signed it.”

Pete looked at the white envelope he held, a lump forming in his throat. He didn’t trust his voice to speak.

Jean, seeing the emotions playing across his face said softly as she slipped an arm around his waist. “I want to thank you personally for saving Jim’s life. I know that if it wasn’t for you I’d be a widow right now. You’re the best friend and partner that Jim could ever have and I hope you two are partnered together for a long, long time. I don’t worry about him near as much when he works with you as I do when he’s with someone else.”

“You still feel that way after last weekend?” He asked skeptically.

“Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I? After all this whole mess started while Jim was working with somebody else.” When Pete gave her a puzzled look she grinned mischievously. “Jerry Woods was Jim’s partner that day, not you.”

Pete couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. “And you believe that’s why this whole thing happened? Because Jim and I weren’t partners that day.”

“Exactly.” She nodded and moved away from him to fill the teakettle. “Want some tea?”

“No thank you.” He declined. “I think I’m just going to turn in. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Jean put the kettle on the stove and turned on the burner before looking at him. “Okay, Pete. I hope you have nothing but sweet dreams tonight.”

“Thanks.” He acknowledged though he didn’t believe that it would happen. “You too.” He bumped into his partner in the hallway before gaining his bedroom.

“You turning in?” Jim asked with surprise.

Pete nodded. “Yeah, I thought I’d better if I’m going to be in any shape to go back to work tomorrow morning.”

“Are you sure you should go back already, Pete? I mean I know the doctor cleared you for light duty but are you sure you feel up to it? I know that you haven’t been sleeping well.”

“Look who’s talking?” Pete gave his friend a knowing look. “That’s what I call the pot calling the kettle black.”

“That may be but at least I don’t look like something the cat dragged in…and then rejected.”

The redhead gave his partner a droll look. “We’ve got to work on that sense of humor of yours, partner. It definitely needs some help.”

“Pete…”

“I’m fine, Jim. Nothing the matter that a few hours of sleep won’t cure.”

Jim gave his best friend a dubious look but decided against pressing the issue. He didn’t want to risk making his partner sore at him. At least he’d have the next week of light duty to keep an eye on him. “Okay, well, I’ll see you in the morning than.”

“I’ll be here.” Pete assured him than disappeared inside his room, closing the door behind him.

After finishing his nightly routine and climbing into bed he reached for the white envelope that sat on his night stand. Pulling out the single sheet of paper that was inside he read the words that were written with great curiosity:

“Dear Pete,

Both Jim and Jean have told us just how much you hate people making a fuss over an action you took that some would view as heroic. In some cases we may be willing to comply with your desire for no praise or fuss, but in this case we can’t just let it go by unnoticed. We had to let you know just how much we appreciated your unselfish actions in rescuing Jim and those three children from a certain and horrific death.

You’re a very courageous and talented police officer and we are all very glad that Jim has you as his partner. And we’re also very proud to welcome you into the family. You’re no longer just an honorary member of Jim and Jean’s family but of ours as well. You’re a good man, Pete Malloy and we’re really proud to call you our friend.”

It was signed by every member of both Jean and Jim’s family.

Pete wiped at the tears that stung at the corners of his eyes at the heartfelt sentiments written on the page. It really made him feel good to know that he meant so much to Jim and Jean’s families. They were all very special people and he felt very honored to know them too.

Despite Jean’s bedtime wish and Pete’s high hopes he had anything but ‘sweet dreams’. If anything they were even more disturbing than before. This time after the house collapsed on Jim both his family and Jean’s had arrived on the scene to ridicule him for his unsuccessful efforts at saving Jim. They called him chicken and weak and helpless and blamed him for Jim’s untimely death.

Pete had woken up in even more of a panic than before. But just like all the other times Jean was there to comfort him and help him shake off the last bits of the nightmare that had disturbed him.

“Pete are you sure that you shouldn’t talk to someone about these nightmares? I can’t stand seeing you suffering like this. You have to do something, talk to someone. Promise me, Pete.”

“I can’t…”

Jean gave him a determined look and urged. “Promise me.”

Pete sighed and said. “Okay, okay I promise.”

“Good and I’m going to make sure that you keep that promise. After all, police officers don’t lie.”

I’m going to hold you to it too, partner. Jim thought to himself as he watched his wife and best friend from just outside the spare bedroom door. One way or another I’m going to get you to talk to me. That’s a promise.

“Pete, are you sure that you’re ready to go back home?” Jean asked her houseguest as he stood at the front door with his suitcase in hand. “I mean you still can’t do much with your right hand, so how are you going to take care of yourself?”

An amused smile tugged at the officer’s lips as he looked at her worried expression. He knew exactly how she felt. He was a little worried about going home too, but he wasn’t about to admit that to Jean. He knew she’d never let him go if she knew that. “I’ll be fine. I’m getting pretty adept at doing things left-handed. Cutting meat is still a bit of a problem and so is putting toothpaste on my toothbrush, but maybe I’ll just go back to the caveman approach for a while: I’ll eat my meat with my fingers and not brush my teeth. That would also solve the whole shaving problem too.” When Jean wrinkled her nose in disgust Pete laughed again. “I’ll be fine. I really should have gone home last week after I got my memory back and Jim came home but I let you talk me into staying for the weekend. I really think that for everyone’s sake it’s about time that I go back home.” He gave her a slight smile. “I think we all need to get things back to normal around here.”

“Okay.” Jean sighed with resignation. “But promise me that you’ll come back here if you need to. Our door is always open for you and we’re always here if you need any help.”

Pete grinned good-naturedly and set down his suitcase. Stepping towards the young woman he placed his good hand on her arm and said sincerely. “I promise.”

A soft smile tugged at her lips. “Okay.” Then slipping her arms around his waist she hugged him tightly. “You’re a good friend, Pete Malloy and we love you very much.” Unable to speak Pete just gave Jean a tight squeeze. “Thank you for finding Jim.” She said softly against the officer’s chest. “And for saving his life. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t have been there. I will always be grateful to you for that.”

“There’s no need for that.” He told her eagerly. “I was just doing my job. Besides, I’d say we’re even since I’ll always be grateful to you for all your patience and help during those first few days when I couldn’t remember anything. I know it must have been very difficult for you to have had to look after me while you were so worried about Jim. I can’t thank you enough for that.” Than borrowing her words he added sincerely. “You are a good friend, Jean Reed and I love you very much.”

Jean gave him a teary smile and leaned up to kiss him gently on the cheek.

“And what pray-tell is going on here?” A stern-sounding voice demanded from behind Jean. The embracing pair turned to find Jim standing a few feet away, a deep scowl on his face. Only the twinkle in his eyes showed his true amusement at the scene before him. “I leave the two of you alone together for five minutes and look what happens! I certainly hope that none of this nonsense went on while I was missing those four days.”

“What can I say, partner. You’re wife just can’t keep her hands off of me.” Pete teased, giving Jim a wicked look. His look quickly changed however when Jean gave him a playful swat in the back of the head. Jim just laughed at the exchange.

When the merriment died down Jean turned to Jim and asked. “Do you have your lunches?”

Jim held up two paper sacks and said. “Check. Two Roast Beef sandwiches and two big pieces of your wonderful Apple pie.” Then with a sly look at his partner he asked innocently. “But what’s Pete going to have?”

His friend reached over and plucked one of the sacks from Jim’s hand. “I’ll take my lunch right now if you don’t mind. I don’t want you suddenly deciding mid-morning to make a snack of it.”

“That’s gratitude for you.” The dark-haired man muttered to his wife. “I let him sleep in my spare room, hug my wife and save my life and this is the thanks I get. Some partner he turned out to be.” He sent a mischievous look Pete’s way.

The older officer just shook his head and said good-naturedly. “Come on, partner. Let’s get going before I decide to trade you in when we get into the station. You’re really getting to be a handful these days.”

“Are you trying to say that you’re getting to old to keep up with me?”

“No, just too smart to put up with you.” Jim and Jean both laughed as Jim grabbed his jacket and keys. While he shrugged into his jacket Pete once again turned to Jean, taking one of her hands and saying sincerely. “Thanks again for everything, Jean. I’ll never forget it.”

“Neither will I.” She assured him earnestly as she sandwiched his hand between both of hers.

Pete nodded and gave her hand one final squeeze before turning and gathering up his suitcase and the paper lunch bag he’d set on top. Jean opened the front door for him and watched as he disappeared outside.

When he was gone Jean turned to Jim and gave him a warm smile. Sliding her arms around his waist she told him seriously. “You be careful out there today, okay? No more disappearing acts, promise me.”

Jim smiled patiently understanding her reasons for being concerned. “Honey, I’m going to be on desk duty for the next week. The worst thing that could happen to me is that I’ll fall off my stool or give myself a paper cut. I have my doubts that any criminal would be dumb enough to try and kidnap me right out of the police station. Especially not with dozens of other cops around.”

“Well, you never know.”

Jim just smiled and kissed her. “I’ll be fine.”

“Well, make sure that you stay that way. And be sure to keep an eye on that stubborn partner of yours. He’s still recovering from a pretty nasty blow to that thick head of his.”

“Yes, mother.” Her husband teased with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Then to silence her attempted protest he leaned down and gave her another kiss. “And you call Pete a worry wart.” He commented when he pulled back.

A mildly amused look appeared on Jean’s face. Giving him a playful shove she urged. “Get going before Pete decides to leave without you. And make sure that you tell him that I expect to see him here for supper tonight despite the fact that he insists on going home afterwards.”

“Why?” Jim grinned knowingly. “So you can check up on him?”

“Precisely.” She confirmed without guilt.

Leaning down he gave her one more kiss. “Worry wart.” He whispered when he pulled back.

Jean just laughed and gave him another playful shove. “Get going.” She smiled when Jim gave her a wink before turning and trotting down the front steps. She watched until Pete had pulled the car onto the street. As he drove by the front of the house Pete gave the horn a quick toot. Jean waved and continued to watch until the car had disappeared up the street. Then turning around she went back into the house, closing the front door behind her. Leaning her forehead against the wooden door she let out a deep sigh. “Please God, keep them safe. Please let them come home safely.”

“Hey, look who’s back!” Jerry Woods exclaimed eagerly when he stepped into the locker room and saw Pete and Jim getting changed.

“Hey Jerry.” Jim acknowledged as he finished buttoning up his shirt. Pete was already sitting on the bench trying to tie up his shoes but not having very much success. “How’s it going?”

“I’m fine.” Woods replied with a look of concern on his face. “How are you guys?” He looked from one to the other. “I understand that you both had quite the time of it last Thursday.”

Jim smirked at Pete and said. “It got a little hot there for a while, but Pete managed to pull my fat out of the fire – literally.”

“So I heard. Wells has been telling the whole story all over the station the last few days.”

Pete and Jim both groaned and exchanged knowing looks. “What’s he been saying?” The redhead asked with a slight grimace.

“That you ran into a burning house and saved Jim and about seven or eight kids that were being held hostage as well.”

Another look passed between the partners before Pete corrected. “It was only three kids, Jer.”

“But there was still a burning house.” Jim added as he looked meaningfully at his partner. “So he did save our lives.”

“You’d have done the same for me, partner.” The redheaded officer said solemnly to Jim.

“Absolutely.”

Before anything else could be said the locker room door opened and several more Mid-Day Watch officers came streaming in.

Upon spying Pete and Jim seated on the bench by their lockers Bob Brinkman suddenly started to applaud enthusiastically. The other officers in the room quickly followed suit, all coming and standing around the two seated officers.

Pete and Jim soon found themselves the recipients of a rather boisterous standing ovation. The ruckus immediately drew the attention of others and more officers began pouring into the room, curious to see what was going on. Soon they too had joined in the cheering.

“Okay, okay that’s enough.” A deeply embarrassed Pete rose to his feet and tried to stifle the cacophony. It took several minutes for the large group to obey his request and stop clapping. After glancing momentarily at his partner who was now standing by his side the redheaded man addressed their friends and comrades. “Jim and I both appreciate your warm welcome back and all the help and support that you showed while we were out last week. Mac told us about all the double shifts that you guys pulled to help cover our beat and look for Jim.”

“Not to mention all of you who stopped by to check on Jean and Pete at the house while I was missing.” Jim added, looking appreciatively at all of their friends. “I can’t thank you guys enough for all your support and I know that Jean really appreciated it too. It was a very difficult time for all of us.”

“It was our pleasure.” Jerry Woods told the two officers sincerely. “We’re just glad to have the both of you back in one piece.”

“Well, its good to be back.” Jim assured him as he fastened his equipment belt around his waist.

“And we’d better get moving.” Pete commented as he picked up his hat and briefcase. “Unless we want to be late for work on our first day back.”

“No thanks.” His partner replied as he closed his locker door and gathered up his own gear. Together the two men made their way to the Roll Call room.

Jerry Woods held open the locker room door and watched the pair as they walked down the hall, the sound of amused laughter emanating from their lips. Glancing at Brinkman he commented. “Now there is a sight that I was so worried that I would never see again.”

“I’ll tell you it was touch and go there for a while.” Bob told his friend seriously. “When the explosion first shook that house I was sure that Jim was a goner. Then when Pete took off inside I was scared that we were going to loose him too. The house went up in flames so quickly that I was sure that if the fire itself didn’t get them that the smoke would. I was never more relieved in my life than I was when I saw both Pete and Jim stagger out of that house with those three kids in tow.”

“Speaking of those kids, have you heard anything more about them?” Woods asked curiously as he and Brinkman left the locker room and headed for Roll Call.

“I think their parents came by Thursday night to pick them up. I heard that Dougan and Gibson kidnapped them from a park about a month ago. They used the little girl to force the boys to pull the 211s. The boys never wanted to do the robberies but they pulled them to try and keep their sister safe.”

“That explains the notes.”

“Yeah. According to the oldest boy as soon as they realized that Dougan and Gibson were getting ready to move on they decided they had to do something. They didn’t know if Dougan was planning on taking them with him or if he was going to do away with them but either way they wanted no part of it. Especially since they knew for sure that they were going to kill Jim regardless.”

“But why didn’t they give us some more useful information. Like an address or something?”

“They didn’t know it. Apparently Dougan would blindfold them so they couldn’t see where they were. That way they couldn’t tell someone where to find him if they got caught.”

“But why didn’t the boys just tell someone what was going on? I’m sure the store clerks would have called the cops for them.”

“They couldn’t risk it.” Bob replied. “Dougan always left the little girl at home with his partner saying that if the boys botched up any of the jobs he had line up for them their sister would get it.”

Jerry shook his head sorrowfully. “Those poor kids. Something tells me that there’s going to be a lot of shrink visits in their future.” Brinkman nodded in solemn agreement as they entered the Roll Call room just moments before Mac started the meeting.

“Ahh.”

Jim grinned broadly as he watched his partner lean back in his chair and let out another contented sigh. “I take it you enjoyed your lunch.”

Pete nodded and patted his stomach as he said. “That wife of yours is definitely