And to Think It All Started with a Baseball by Sammi M.
"Come on, Jim. If you didn't hear her before, she's not here. There's no need for another scan." The anthropologist pushed his way past his friend and headed for the kitchen. "Naomi can levitate, not suddenly appear in an empty room." He placed his bags on the counter and started putting them up. "Relax, man."
"That's easy for you to say. You're not *still* on her hit list for accidentally zoning on her 'purge'. I swear she's out to get me now."
Sandburg chuckled. "She's not *that* vindictive. She's a firm believer in detaching with love, remember. She's playing off your paranoia rather than actually doing anything."
"Yeah, well, I'll just be a lot happier when Schuy returns and she can stay with her." He glanced around the loft and shuddered at all of the "little" changes Naomi had done in her short time there. "When exactly is she coming home again? I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Blair laughed even more and grabbed two bottled waters out of the fridge and tossed one to the older man. "Last time I talked to her, she mentioned possibly adding an extra site onto the schedule. So, that would put her at five sites this visit. Now, if she did two last week and two this one, she probably won't get around to the last one until next week." Winking at his friend. "Looks like you're stuck for a while, buddy."
A soft groan pushed it's way out of the detective as he collapsed on the sofa and covered his head with one of the pillows. "If I give you my gun now, will you promise to shoot me before Naomi gets back. I'll owe you big time and I'll really make it up to you in the here-after."
"I don't know, Big Guy, don't you think that's a little extreme? It really hasn't been *that* bad." Stopping to think at his friend's glare. "But, now that you mention it, the loft has been smelling a touch more 'clean' since she's been staying with us. Those herbs have added a new 'air' to the place."
Jim threw the pillow at his partner as the younger man enjoyed his play on words. "Laugh all you want, Sandburg, but remember I can get to you at any time."
"I am like *so* shaking in my hikers here, man. Have you thought about the wrath you would incur from her if you so much as harmed one small curl on my head? You think this is bad, just think about how much worse it could be."
"Yeah, you're probably right, but..." The big man suddenly sprang from the sofa and took off after the startled anthropologist. "It would definitely be worth it."
They ran around the area with Blair dodging his partner at every turn until finally, Jim caught and held him in a mock wrestling hold. So engrossed were the men in their play, they almost missed the knock at the front door, but as soon as it registered, Jim stiffened.
Sandburg shook his head and disentangled himself. "Relax, man. It's not her; she has a key, remember?" He stood and headed for the door and checked out their visitor through the peephole. "Some guys obviously have all the luck," he muttered as he opened the door to another smiling face. "I know someone who is going to be eternally grateful that you're back."
As Schuy stepped into the loft and kissed her brother, she winked. "Mom still on the purge-path?"
"Well, Jim seems to think so. We were just *discussing* it when you showed up." He closed the door and turned to the spot he had left his terrified partner. Not seeing him, he returned confused eyes to the girl. "Did you see where he went?"
Two massive arms grabbed the perplexed grad student from behind and held him as he shrieked and struggled. "You should pay better attention to who you tease, Chief." Jim leaned over, with Blair still in his arms, and kissed the laughing Schuyler. "Welcome back, Precious. You don't *know* how much I've missed you."
The imp winked. "I think I have some idea." Nodding to her now quiet brother. "Aren't you worried that if you hold him like that for too long all of the blood's going to rush to his head?"
"Do I look worried? No, seriously, I was going to let him go ... eventually."
"Eventually! Man, do you know how embarrassing this is? Especially with my *little* sister watching?"
"And, why is that, Chief? I've seen her do worse to you than this." Walking over to the sofa and waiting for the girl to sit before dropping his bundle beside her. "There you go. Not one little curl damaged."
Blair glared at his friend. "Yeah, we'll see who gets the last laugh when we go in Monday and all that paperwork starts screaming your name."
"Boys, boys. That's enough. Let's take a few deep, cleansing breaths and step away." Trying to keep a straight face, she demonstrated the technique. "You know, the place does have a new 'air' to it."
It was Jim's turn to glare while Blair cracked up and Schuy just sat with the most innocent expression. "You're supposed to be on my side. Why do you think I was praying so hard for you to come home?"
"To get Mom out of your hai... home. I'm sure she's been her usual loving and helpful self and you're this close to 'purging' her with a baseball bat." Laughing. "I had to come home or face seeing you plastered all over the news for suffocating her in a mound of her own sage."
Pouting. "I wouldn't have hurt her ... much. Contrary to what you might believe, I like Naomi. I like her a lot ... when she's in another state ... or country ... or most preferable another continent." Jim walked to the kitchen and grabbed another water out of the refrigerator. He returned to the sofa and handed it to her as he sat. "I'm just not used to her ... ways of doing things."
Blair nodded and grinned, "She can be something of an acquired taste. But, she's still Mom and we wouldn't trade her..."
"Even if you guys wanted to." The detective chuckled at his little funny and took a long swallow of his drink. "So, how did things go in glorious Toronto? Were your owners pleased?"
"Better. They were ecstatic. So ecstatic, in fact, I'm going to have to hire a new team of accountants just to handle the taxes I'm going to have to pay on this one." Taking a sip. "Brenda was teasing me about the IRS being my new best friends after this take when I was putting her and Matt on the plane."
"I didn't know Bren and Matt were planning a trip. I thought after the children fiasco, they had decided to postpone until later in the year."
Schuyler turned towards her brother with a mischievous air, "They weren't, but I decided since they didn't get a proper honeymoon with all the stuff with Hannah and me and Naomi, I'd give them one." She glanced at her watch. "In a few more hours, they'll be stepping off in glorious Jamaica to enjoy themselves for two weeks, all expenses paid. It was the least I could do ... especially after Mom's nasty trick."
Jim was impressed. "Man, I wish Simon was a boss like you. I could go for a vacation right now."
"Well, I can't do the vacation thing for you guys because of your work and school, but how about a little break from things?"
Blair's curiosity was piqued and the anticipated bounce appeared. "What kind of break?"
A megawatt smile cut across the younger Sandburg's face. "How does tickets to an InterLeague Game at the SkyDome between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos sound?"
"Depends. How good are the seats?"
"Skybox, 300 level with full bar, two large-screen televisions for close-ups and complete catering *or* we can use the corporate suites assigned to us for the night that overlook the field and provide an excellent view without leaving the privacy of our rooms."
Now, Jim was drooling. "You're not playing with our emotions are you? You really can do this, right? Cause, I mean, if you can't *I* can lock you up ... and throw away the key."
"Of course I can. The CEO of one of the companies I ... aided ... was really impressed with the package I offered him ... not to mention embarrassed when he realised I wasn't the Admin. Assist. So much, that he offered me a weekend, at his company's expense, to see the game. Provided we could get there, we would have full access to everything his company offers their VIP's."
"We *can* get there?"
Schuyler laughed at the piles of mush that used to be her brothers. "I've got the transportation covered." She sighed and tried the innocent thing again. "I'm just not too sure you guys'll want to hang out with your kid sister at a ballgame."
As if rehearsed, both men looked at each other and then back at the girl and moved in closer hugging her. Blair decided to add a little icing to the cake. "If we tell you we'll love you forever and we'll be like totally indebted to you, will you take us?"
Laughing as she tried to squirm out of the holds. "Okay! Okay! Just let me go so I can breathe!" They released her. "That's better. Geez, you'd think I just offered you a chance to date Gillian Anderson rather than a chance for a game."
More drool from Jim. "Could you do that?"
"Eeewwww! Don't be such a male! Go pack your bags!" She pushed them off the couch. "I'm gonna call Simon, Joel and Megan and see if they'd like to go. Since we've got boxes and suites we might as well pack the place. What are their numbers?"
Since she had been recovering, the younger Sandburg had found the chance to meet and get to know the people of Major Crimes pretty well. After no mention of harassment charges were brought up again, Simon and the rest of the gang had thawed toward the girl and they even included her in some of the get-togethers their department was famous for.
While Blair wrote their friends phone numbers down, Jim hurried upstairs and started throwing an overnight bag together. He was about midway through when he suddenly had a fearful thought. Looking over the railing he called down to Schuy, "What about Naomi?" He gulped. "She's not coming, right?"
"Mom is so *not* into baseball. Hockey, on the other hand, sends her into orbit. Go fig!" She continued her dialling. "I've already taken care of Mom for the next two nights. One of the Uncles is going to wine and dine her and take her back to my place. She'll have a blast!"
Jim took a deep breath of joy - almost choking from the smells in the loft - and returned to his task. By the time he was ready, Blair and Schuy were sprucing up a bit. "Well? Is anyone else joining us?"
His partner looked up from arranging the pillows and blew an errant curl from his face. "Joel's a no-go, but Daryl's coming with Simon and Megan sounded thrilled."
"Sounds like a good group." Checking out the place and returning excited eyes back to the pair. "So, are we ready to go cause I'm in the mood for some baseball?"
Jim, in his smiling benevolence, allowed the youngsters to proceed him out the loft as he happily hummed "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" under his breath.
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"I cannot believe you just reached out and grabbed the ball right out from in front of me, Sandburg. It was coming right to me; it had *my* name on it."
Blair chuckled as he carried his case in followed by Schuyler. "What I can't believe is you're still harping on it. That was last night ... get over it!"
Jim looked at his roommate like he'd just grown two heads. "You don't just get over having the winning Grand Slam ball by Jose Canseco off of Ugueth Urbina's only hit for the whole game snatched out of your waiting hands."
"I did not snatch it away from you. It was still in the air and it was fair game. Simon and Daryl both agreed when we parted at the airport that I had just as much right to that ball as you did."
The detective's jaw worked overtime as all of his muscles clenched. He turned away from the younger man and nailed the other Sandburg with his ice-blue eyes. "You've been awfully quiet about all of this. What do you have to say?"
"Me," she squeaked.
Together. "You."
"Uhh, would you believe me if I said I wasn't really paying attention?"
They looked at each other and then back at her and chorused, "No."
"Damn!" Schuy frowned as her mind computed, in the space of seconds, several different ways to get out of this. When none of the outcomes proved to be in her favour, she gave up. "Fine, but don't go getting all ticked at me if you don't like my answer." She glared at both of them. "Jim, the ball was up in the air, so it was fair game."
Blair grinned in triumph. "Ha!"
Jim was about to protest when Schuy raised her hand. "I'm. Not. Finished! Though the ball was in the air and allowing for the trajectory and the wind, if left unimpeded it would have landed squarely in Jim's glove."
Turning to his partner. "Ha. HA!" He held out his hand. "Pass it over, Sandburg. The judge has spoken."
"Yeah, but I never said I'd follow the judge's call." Walking towards his room. "The ball stays with me. You know, possession is nine-tenths of the law."
The older man watched speechless as Blair closed his door behind him. "Can you believe him? After I suggested we go out on the balcony area of the box to better see the action, this is how he repays me. If I hadn't set us up out there, he never would have come close to the ball!"
Chagrined. "And if I hadn't suggested this at all, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Please don't make me regret taking you guys out to play."
Jim stood for a minute just watching her, but, when he noticed she wasn't going to back down, he relented and released a heavy breath. "Okay, sorry. I just kinda had my heart set on that ball." He sat and started sorting the mail that was on the table. "Except for that, I really did enjoy our little field trip."
Schuy bent over, kissed the top of his head and draped her arms over his shoulders. "I'm glad. I wanted to make it a special time for you guys to make up for the 'purge' you took because of me." Watching him as he continued to sort. "What exactly is your system? Looks complicated."
"It's not really." The Sentinel was now at his anal best. "I have two sections ... Blair's and mine's ... and under each of those there are special stacks. We each have a stack for individual bills, magazines, junk mail, personal letters and business letters. I set aside any bills that we take care of between us and occupant stuff goes immediately in the round file."
She watched quietly as he demonstrated. "I'm either impressed or *really* worried about you right now." Jim knocked his head back into her. "Ouch!" She pushed his head back as something caught her eye. "Oh, hey! I think that one's in the wrong pile."
He held up the letter in question. "Are you sure? It's from a Tolliver Oncology Research Centre. They're probably looking for some donation not knowing that Mr. Sandburg is poorer than dirt."
"Umm, I don't think so." She held out her hand and stepped away from the seated man, heading towards her brother's room. "I think he might want to see this." Tapping on the door. "Blair, ya' decent?"
"Depends. Whadya consider decent?" He opened the door and stuck his head out. "What's up?"
"This came for you. It looks like something you might need to open." She handed the letter to him. "I think I recognised the name."
With a puzzled frown, he perused the return address. "Omigod." He quietly exited his room and dazedly walked to the sofa and sat. "Why would they be sending me a letter now?"
Jim had been watching the scene in confusion and offered, "I told Schuy they're probably looking for donations."
Blair shook his head sending curls everywhere and whispered, "Tolliver doesn't work that way. All of their funding comes from national grants and endowments. They don't have donation drives."
More confused than ever. "You sound like you know this place, Chief. What's going on?"
Without really hearing his friend, the young man gently opened the letter and started reading. As his eyes tracked the words down the page, the room seemed to fill with his surprise. "It's been twenty years."
Schuy dropped down beside him. "You're kidding?" She thought for a moment. "You're right, it has. Omigod! Twenty years!" Smiling and pointing to the letter. "So, what does it say?"
"They want me to come to Seattle for the Ceremony."
"That's great!" Catching his look. "You're gonna go, aren't you?"
"I don' know. I guess. I just never thought I'd get to this point." Thinking. "I do want to go, but I don't know if I can get everyone together on such short notice. And what about board? I can't provide sleeping arrangements for all the people I'd want there. And, travel - no way!" Shaking his head. "No, I'll just have to tell them to take care of it without me."
"Blair, if you want to do this, I'll take care of all of the arrangements." Holding his hand. "You know I'd do anything for you."
The Sandburg smile hit full force as he leaned over and kissed his sister. "Thanks, Snip."
Jim wanted answers. "Okay. I've waited patiently in the hopes that one or both of you would clue me in on what was going on, but that was obviously a mistake considering you've said nothing helpful. Would somebody mind letting me in on this?"
"Sorry, Jim, I ... I guess I was just so shocked to realise it's been twenty years and I'm still around. Back then," shaking his head, "I didn't think I'd have tomorrow and now ... I've had twenty years worth of tomorrows."
Schuy placed her head on his shoulder. "That's probably why they have the Friends and Family Ceremonies ... so no one will forget how lucky they all are."
"Excuse me. You're talking in Sandburg-speak again. Those of us outside that zone still need some explanations." Coming around the sofa. "Twenty years since what?"
Blair's blue eyes locked into the blue eyes of his friend as he softly whispered, "It's been twenty years since I was diagnosed with Leukemia."
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