A Little Sympathy

Blair brushed past his new neighbor with only an absentminded greeting as he hurried up the stairs to the loft.  Blair had been working on a bust with Megan for a couple of weeks.  They had finally caught their suspects.  Simon had tried to keep the Jim and Blair together most of the time, but occasionally he was forced to use Blair with other detectives.  Especially when Sandburg's expertise in some esoteric field came in handy. When Sandburg and Conner had returned to the station with their collars, Simon had told Blair that Jim had gone home not feeling well.

"I'm worried about him, Sandburg.  He's been strange the past couple of weeks.  He's always been a moody son of a bitch, but lately he's just not acting like Jim Ellison."

"He's been spending so much time at home while I've been working with Megan on this case.   Even with his own case load, he's had too much time on his hands.  He's been helping our new neighbors with their apartment."

"The Richardsons?"

"Jim tell you about them?"

"He seems very fond of Sarah."

"David tells me Jim treats her like fragile china while they have been working on the apartment.  I'm almost jealous."

"Get out of here and check on your partner," Simon had growled.

Blair found Jim sleeping, curled up on the couch, with the remains of a pizza strewn on the coffee table.  Blair frowned.  What was wrong with this picture?  He kneeled beside the couch and gently shook Jim awake.  Sleepy blue eyes opened reluctantly.

"Hey, Simon said you weren't feeling well?"

"Blair?"  Jim's eyes lit up joyfully for a moment and then his face lost all color.  He pushed Blair aside and sprinted toward the bathroom.  Blair followed and ministered to his sentinel as Jim lost the contents of his stomach.

Cool washcloths, toothpaste, and much soothing later, Blair tried to get to the bottom of this.

"You been eating anything weird lately?"

"Well, I have had these cravings."

"Yeah?"

"Last night I ordered pizza -- pepperoni with 30 weight motor oil."

"The usual, you mean."  Blair tossed a damp cloth at Jim's head.

"Actually, I really have been craving strange things  -- well for me anyway.  Except for the extra greasy pizza last night, I haven't been able to stomach the sight of my favorite foods.  I've been eating at your favorite haunts lately.  That veggie pita thing you swear by is about the only thing I've been able to keep down."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were pregnant, Jim."

"Considering that my partner has been busy with another woman lately, I don't see how," Jim shrugged, laughing.  He pulled Blair into his arms and kissed him.

*****

Jim and Blair were on way out of the loft when Sarah Richardson came out of #207.  Blair stopped abruptly on the stairs, nearly causing Jim to barrel into him.

"Good morning, Sarah.  That's a lovely outfit."

"Thank you, Blair.  I know it's a little soon for it, but David bought it for me when I told him about the baby yesterday.  He's such a proud father-to-be."  She looked down at the colorful tunic that enhanced her new maternal glow.

"A baby! Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"David has excellent taste, by the way."

"So do you."  She glanced up at Jim who blushed.

Blair tugged Jim by the hand and they continued down to the truck.

Jim slipped behind the wheel, blush still evident in his cheeks.  Blair sat in the passenger seat calmly for two minutes before turning to Jim with a twinkle in his eye.

"Wonderburger for lunch?"

"Hold the sympathy."

May 21, 2002