Laughter and conversation overshadowed the Christmas music playing gently on the stereo. Anyone looking through the balcony window would not believe that a majority of the people in the room were dedicated, experienced public servants who had experienced many of the evils that man could devise.
Blair moved through the group with a new tray of food to replace the empty platter on the table next to the balcony windows. He stopped briefly to receive a soft kiss on the cheek from his mother when she paused in her conversation with Simon. The large Captain laughed heartily at the blush that appeared on his youngest detective's face, causing the young man to blush harder.
As he approached the table, Daryl jumped up from where he was perusing the CD collection to help shift things around so that Blair could set the platter down. "Great food, Blair. Think I could possibly get some of the leftovers to take back with me to dad's place?" the youth asked, grabbing some of the snacks with each hand.
"Sure, no problem. That is if you can keep certain bottomless pits around here from scarfing it all down." Blair threw glances at his partner and Henri Brown as they both moved up behind him.
"Who are you calling a bottomless pit, Hairboy? I'm taking care of my lovely lady by making sure she has sufficient nourishment for the evening," H. argued, reaching around the smaller man to fill the plate he carried.
"I happen to know that Lori likes the vegetables more that these little fat pills, H. Try another excuse."
"Ignore him, H. The fact that we've happily eaten everything he has placed out here has already made his head swell," Jim jumped in to defend the other detective.
"Since you mentioned swelling, Jim, how soon before you have to loosen your belt another notch?" Blair wasn't able to duck the hand that reached forward to swat him lightly on the back of his head. With a laugh, he grabbed up a couple of the empty dishes and started moving back toward the kitchen.
"Need a hand, Blair?" Steven Ellison asked, picking up some empty glasses and following the smaller man. "My brother takes the title of host to heart by the looks of it." Looking back at the subject of his words, he was rewarded with a tongue stuck out at him from his elder sibling.
"Only if you want to, Steven. I may be taking care of this portion of the party, but Jim gets to handle the clean up tomorrow. He doesn't think I can do it up to his standards." Blair answered.
"Jim was always so particular on how his bedroom had to be set up, that I used to see if I could fool him by moving just one thing around every now and then." Steven placed the glasses on the counter, then leaned back against it to look toward his brother.
"How often did you get away with it?"
"Never. Jim always knew that something was out of place the minute he stepped into the room. I never knew how he did it until recently." The two brothers' eyes met and the older set crinkled when Jim smiled. He nodded at his younger brother to agree with what he said.
Blair kept his attention toward the sink, not knowing his partner could hear his conversation. "It was probably perfect training for when he joined the Army. One day, he's going to make some woman a great wife with his housekeeping abilities."
Steven had just taken a drink when Blair made his statement and struggled not to choke when he saw his brother shoot a glare at the smaller man's back. Turning quickly, he regained his composure. "Well, I have to say you two throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me."
"No problem, man. I'm just sorry your lady couldn't come tonight."
"As you said, Christmas is a time for family and I'm glad she was able to go see hers."
Blair was about to ask a question when he thought he heard a knock on the front door. Looking over at Jim, his suspicion was confirmed when the larger man started moving through the group toward the entrance. Blair glanced around to see if he could notice anyone missing. He shrugged his shoulders at Jim as the large man passed, indicating that he couldn't think of anyone that hadn't yet arrived.
Opening the door, Jim was surprised to see his father standing in the opening. "Dad? I thought you were going to be out of town." Jim barely kept the anger out of his voice. He heard someone come up behind him and deciphered by the man's cologne that it was his brother.
"Hello, Jimmy. Steven. As you can see, I... I didn't go." The elder Ellison shifted nervously under the powerful gaze of his oldest son. "I didn't know you were having a party. Otherwise, I would have waited until tomorrow to speak with you. I don't want to intrude on your gathering." Turning around, the older man started to leave until he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
It was Jim, with Steven standing by his side. The door of the loft had been closed to allow the three men privacy. "What did you want to tell us, Dad?"
Taking a deep breath, the older man looked directly at his children. "First, I'm sorry. I was wrong in trying to deceive both of you about my trip. To be totally truthful, I was scared. You both know that I try to take the best care of my health and to have a doctor tell me the things that he did, well, I just panicked."
"You were wrong," Jim started, holding an arm out to prevent his brother from moving forward. The younger man's heart rate was elevated and Jim could almost feel the tension emanating from his brother. He didn't want a fight started tonight. "So why didn't you go see the specialist if you were that scared?"
"I decided to reschedule the appointment after we had that little... discussion at the hospital, Jimmy. After you left, I took a walk around the grounds and started thinking about what you said. You were right to be angry with me and I thought that I should call you and apologize, but I knew that you were really angry and probably wouldn't even hear me."
Steven spoke up. "He's got you there, Jim. Your hearing does tend to get a little selective when you allow the Ellison temper to rise."
Jim's gaze softened as he realized his brother was right. "Okay, I'll admit that I wouldn't have been the most receptive person then."
"So, as I was walking around, I met this very strange young man working in the garden. He was taking the gentlest care with the area despite the fact that it is winter and nothing was growing in it." As he paused, William didn't notice that with his words, Jim stood up straight and listened carefully. "When I asked him why he was working on the garden now, he looked up at me and said the strangest thing."
"Did he have red hair and a goatee, Dad?" Jim asked, knowing the answer before his father gave it.
"Yes, but it didn't look like he'd had a haircut or trimmed his face for a long time. How did you know?"
"I'll explain in a minute. What did he tell you?"
Giving his elder son a confused look, William continued. "Well, he said that no matter what season of the year or time in something's life, you should always take care of those things that are entrusted to you. He also said that I should listen to my heart, that it was stronger than I thought. Strange, eh?"
Steven nodded his head in agreement, but Jim gazed over his father's head thinking about what he said. He brought his attention back when William deliberately cleared his throat. "Sorry, Dad. But I'm pretty sure I know the man you met. He's a little... eccentric in some ways."
"Maybe so and maybe not. But after I left him, I started thinking about the check up I just had and why did I need to travel all the way down to San Francisco when we have other doctors around here or in Seattle who could give me the same second opinion. So, I got a referral to see one yesterday and he thinks what I might have is a circulatory problem. Something that is not allowing the proper flow of my blood."
Relief flooded across Steven's face at the news, then he quickly schooled it to match his brothers' calm expression. "Does he know what it is or what you might have to do? Will it require surgery?"
William gave his younger son a gentle smile. "At this time, no surgery is needed since he's pretty sure it is not my heart that is the main problem. I'm going to have to take some medicine for my circulation and see the doctor again in a couple of weeks for more tests."
Jim listened to his father's heart and could tell that the man was telling the truth. He wasn't holding anything back this time.
"Well, I guess I'd better take off and let you two get back to your party," William said, stepping forward in hesitation. His arms twitched outward, indicating his desire to give Steven a hug. The younger man moved forward stiffly, embraced his father lightly, then shuffled back to his original position. Sticking his hands into his pockets, Steven allowed his gaze to wander anywhere but toward his father.
When William looked up at Jim, his eldest son surprised him.
"You don't have to leave, Dad. It is Christmas and we did plan on spending time together." Jim offered.
William looked wistfully at the apartment door, then back up at his son as he shook his head in the negative. "Thank you for the offer, but I left Sally at the house and told her I would be back tonight. But I know she would be very happy if you two would still come over and have dinner with us tomorrow. I... I'd be very happy, too."
Jim gave his father a smile as he stepped forward to give the man a hug. "We'll see you tomorrow, Dad. Steve, want to ride with me?"
"Yeah, sure," Steven answered, his voice neutral.
The two brothers watched the older man walk down the corridor to the stairs. He wasn't sure if it was due to the man's confession to his sons or relief over his medical condition, but to Jim it seemed as if the older man's gait was lighter and less stiff.
When William disappeared down the stairs, Jim turned to Steven. "Come on, little brother. There's still a party going on and probably a million questions ready to be asked."
Steven laughed at the resignation in his brother's voice, knowing exactly who would be asking most, if not all of the questions. Accepting Jim's arm across his shoulders, the two walked back to the door and re-entered the loft.
As the two men moved through the room and started fielding the questions being thrown at them, no one noticed the lone figure standing just in the shadows out on the balcony. He was watching the party and the interaction of all who were inside. With a gentle smile at the peace and joy that was obvious in the room, he turned and walked into the darkness and was gone.
Author's Notes: Sometimes the holiday season doesn't turn out as you would expect it to, unless there is a special someone with the ability to change that. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and peace and joy to all throughout this blessed season.
All rights for this story are reserved. Please do not use any newly developed character or any part of this story without written permission of the author.
Like this episode? Email the writer: shallan@mho.net
Want to comment on production? Contact Black Panther Productions: bpproductions@wildmail.com
Stay tuned in three weeks when Cascade prepares to ring in the New Year and an old adversary appears as a technology conference prepares to get under way and makes life complicated for Major Crimes. in "Happy New Years, Cascade Style" an all new The Sentinel.
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