That Night at the Loft

"Hey, Simon, could you grab the door? The guys are coming up the stairs," Jim called from the bathroom. Simon paused halfway between the kitchen counter and the card table, his arms filled with bags of chips, pretzels and bottles of soda. Megan smiled at his predicament.

"I'll get it, Captain. Why don't you finish setting out the crisps and drinks?"

"Thanks, Connors. And how many times do I have to tell you it's Simon when we're off-duty."

"Of course, Capt...Simon."

"Hey, Jim, where'd you put the pepper?" Blair asked, not bothering to raise his voice while he stirred the pot of chilli.

"Middle cabinet, top shelf, where you put it, Sandburg."

"Ah, there it is." Blair grabbed it off the shelf letting the cabinet door bang closed. "I know. I know. Don't bang the cabinets."

Megan shook her head at their bantering. They really seemed like an old married couple sometimes. Smiling, she opened the door just as Chris raised his hand to knock. Oh my, she thought, looking at the assortment of handsome men standing in front of her. Before she could invite them in Jim came storming out of the bathroom.

"Jesus, Sandburg, do you think you could have at least cleaned the bathroom a little after your shower? You'd think I was living with Pigpen instead of one neo-hippie witch-doctor..."

"That's getting sooo old, man, and I was going to clean the bathroom. It's not my fault you waited until after we got home to tell me you hadn't had a chance to go shopping for tonight." Blair shook the spoon he'd been stirring with at Jim and watched in horror as some chilli went flying off, narrowly missing Jim but hitting Simon square in the chest.

"Sandburg!" Simon bellowed, taking a step forward.

"Uhm, boys? Company's here," Megan announced, smiling sweetly at the three men.

"Hi!" JD piped up cheerfully, while the other six snickered. Actually Chris was just shaking his head in sympathy. It reminded him of some of the Seven's own gatherings.

"Uh, hi, guys. C'mon in," Blair said, hurrying over to greet them before Simon could take the chance to pound him.

"Here, Simon. I think I have a sweatshirt that'll fit you," Jim said, leading him up to the loft.

As the guys filed in Buck sidled up to Megan, giving her his best smile as he smoothed the front of his blue denim shirt, "Well hello there, darlin'. Name's Buck. I sure wish the boys had told me there was gonna be such a fine lookin' woman here, cause I'd a worn my best set a clothes."

"Don't let him fool you, ma'am. Those are his best set of clothes," JD said in a stage whisper, then ducked as Buck swiped at him.

"I'm not from the States so I'm still a bit fuzzy on the way you Yanks phrase things, but was that a pick-up line?"

"No, my dear," Ezra spoke up as he folded the twenty Vin handed him, "that is what we call a come-on. Pick-up lines are usually more obvious, particularly when spouted by Mr. Wilmington. And for the record I am from Atlanta, Georgia. If anything I am a Reb, not a Yank, and technically Mr. Tanner would be a Texan. You have a most charming accent. What region of Australia do you hail from?"

"Oooo, I like him. He can stay, Sandy."

Blair just rolled his eyes. "Let me introduce everybody then I'll take jackets. I think I remember everyone's names. You met Buck, the Reb is Ezra, Vin is the one with long hair, Chris is the one in black, JD is the one by the CDs, Josiah is in the kitchen sampling my chilli, and Nathan is next to him. Did I get everybody right? Guys, this is Megan Connors, she's a Police Inspector from the New South Wales PD in Australia and is on semi-permanent loan to the Cascade Major Crimes unit."

"Hey, kinda like Ez, only we got him from the Fibbies. Oww, that hurt, Buck." JD rubbed the back of his head where he'd been smacked.

"I sincerely doubt she left her home under the same auspices I did."

Megan saw the slight grimace cross his features before settling back in to the carefully bland façade. Time to change the subject, she thought. "So do you always wear sunglasses at night?"

"No," he sighed, slipping them off to reveal the still fading bruise, "only on special occasions."

She blushed realizing she'd just put her foot in it. "You know," she said brightly, taking Ezra's jacket, "that reminds of the time me brother, Denny, told Missy Hayesben that girls couldn't throw a proper punch."

"Girls can't throw a good punch," JD said, coming back in to the kitchen area.

Chris and Vin grinned at each other while Buck just shook his head. Megan smiled at him and patted his hand as she took his jacket. "Tell that to Denny and the shiner he sported for three weeks."

Vin looked over the munchies spread out and smiled. His voice was barely audible as he mumbled, "Can't believe he remembered."

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to find real mesquite flavored pork rinds in Cascade, Runt? Hell, in the state of Washington? You used to live on those things if I remember correctly." Jim smiled at Vin's blush as he came down the stairs, Simon right behind him. "Guys, this is Simon Banks, our Captain."

The seven introduced themselves as they got settled in with a beer and munchies, although Blair did look to Chris for permission before handing one to JD. Buck ruffled his hair at his young friend's disgruntled look.

"You have a truly magnificent view from here, Mr. Ellison. Your rent must be a fortune." Ezra commented from where he stood by the balcony doors.

"Actually I own this apartment, and the name is Jim. Every time I hear Mr. Ellison I turned around to look for my dad."

"As you wish, Mr...Jim."

"This is pretty good, Blair, but something's different. You changed the recipe?" Josiah indicated the pot of chilli still simmering on the stove.

"Ostrich meat. It's sooo much better for you, Tree," Blair grinned as he patted Josiah's ample middle.

"I thought I taught you to respect your elders, son?"

"That's it. Why in tarnation do you keep callin' him a tree?" Buck demanded, plopping down on to the couch. Blair grinned at Josiah, who just heaved a heavy sigh. "Go ahead and tell them."

"Well, ya see..."

"Is this going to be a long story, gentlemen?" Ezra interrupted before Blair could get started.

"Sorta."

"Then perhaps we should start the game before you begin?"

"Aw hell, Ezra, you're just lookin' to take our money sooner rather than later."

"Mr. Wilmington, how quickly I take your money depends solely upon how badly you play."

The others just snickered as Buck heaved himself off the couch, grumbling the entire time, and came to join them.

"Well, I don't know about you boys, but I don't intend to go home with less than what I started with. I must admit I'm a fair hand at the game." Megan smiled, neatly stacking her money in front of her.

"Well, well, the lady is a confident player. What about you, gentlemen? Are you as confident as the lovely Miss Connors?"

"Will you just deal the cards, Ezra, and no cheating. We're guests here," Chris said, munching on some pretzels.

"Mr. Larabee, I am deeply hurt be by your libelous remark. I never cheat, unless of course you can prove I do." He smiled smugly, quickly and easily manipulating the cards through his slim dexterous fingers.

Simon leaned in towards Chris and said conspiratorially, "Do you ever get the feeling that you're not leading highly trained law enforcement agents but unruly kids instead?"

"Every day. Every day."

"All right, gentlemen and one very lovely lady, its five card stud, nothing is wild. Time to lose your money to the superior player."

"So, why do you call Josiah Tree, Blair?" Nathan asked, picking up the cards he'd been dealt.

"It goes back to when we first met. I was about ten at the time and my mom, Naomi and I were living in this religious commune. I don't remember a whole lot of what the guy was spouting, just that it was this really funky take on the New Testament. I don't think Mom believed in it so much as it was a decent place to stay for a while and she had some old friends there. One of the 'rules' was that if you were over the age 15 you took on a new name to symbolize the beginning of your new life in the community. Mom was Summer Rain Falling Gently on Moonlight Waves, or Summer for short."

"You were part of a cult, Josiah?" Nathan looked at the large man in confusion. He was the last person Nathan would ever believe susceptible to being sucked in to one of those things.

"I wouldn't say I was really a part of it, Brother. Like Blair and Summer I found it a convenient place to rest for a time."

"So what were they callin' you?" Vin tossed his cards on the table, folding.

"He was Tall Tree Reaching Ever Upward to the Blue Sky."

Josiah heaved a resigned sigh as he listened to the snickers around the table. He knew he was in for a round of teasing and practical jokes once they got back to Denver.

"So you and Blair's mom were friends in this cult place?" JD asked, frowning thoughtfully at his cards.

"Something like that, son."

"Boy, I have got ta learn you some more about things between men and women."

"What? Oh!" JD blushed bright red as the realization dawned.

"You and Naomi were together, what, two years? I think that's still a record for her. Josiah was like a father to me. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here, in more ways than one." Suddenly Blair rose to his feet, folding his hand, and asked, "Anyone need another beer?"

There was a chorus of sures and why-nots as he moved into the kitchen. Jim followed, concerned for his younger friend. Even with all the progress they'd made in repairing their relationship there were still many things Blair kept to himself, letting them eat away at him until even Jim couldn't miss the fact that there was a problem.

"You okay, Chief?" he asked, opening the fridge to pull out the requested beers.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just...never mind."

"No, what is it? I thought we agreed to no secrets? If something is bothering you I'd like to know."

Blair thought a moment before answering. "When I said I looked up to Josiah like a father, I really meant it. Not because he was cool to be with, but because he *listened* to me. Naomi had a lot of boyfriends over the years. Some were nice, some weren't, and most of them just ignored me. Josiah, though, he paid attention to what I had to say and he encouraged my curiosity and my dreams. In a way he was my first mentor in anthropology. He started me on it, showing me his work and it was because of his love for it that I came to love anthropology. He's had to have heard about that damn press conference, or at the very least is wondering why I'm a cop instead of an anthropologist. I know he won't ask until we’re alone, but he will ask. I hate the thought of him being disappointed in me."

Jim heard the unspoken question and the unspoken promise that whatever Jim decided he would abide by it. "Do you trust him, Blair?"

"More than anything in this world. I've already trusted him with my life and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

"If he asks then tell him the truth."

"Are you sure, Jim?"

"Yes. If you trust him and it means this much to you, then yes, tell him."

"Thanks, Jim. This really means a lot to me."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't go getting all sappy on me," Jim smiled to take the bite out of his words. "C'mon, we better deliver these before the natives start getting restless."

"Uh, too late."

*********

"Now wait just a minute, Connors. I just threw out that card. How'd you get it?" Simon glared at her, then his cards and back again to her.

"You can't expect me ta believe you really prefer Mr. Fancypants here to me?"

"But he fills out those fancy pants so nicely," Megan said, winking at Ezra who promptly choked on his beer. This led Vin to start pounding on his back until Ezra glared at him. "Would you kindly cease and desist that, Mr. Tanner?"

"Are you telling me I don't fill out my jeans nicely?" Buck demanded, starting to rise from his chair.

"Buck, sit or so help me..." Chris growled.

Buck gave him a hurt look before sitting, although he didn't stay down long as JD said, "Yeah, Buck, sit. Good dog. Hey, you can't kill me here. We're guests."

The two of them went tumbling off their chairs as Buck grabbed him in a headlock.

"Just remember guys I'm off-duty tonight so if you hurt yourselves I ain't patchin' you up!" Nathan had to shout to be heard over the noise they were making.

"Get that odious thing off my plate, Mr. Tanner."

"Oh, come on, Ez, just one try. It ain't gonna kill you. Hey, you made me eat that damn es...es...those damn snails on our last undercover job. Least I ain't asking ya ta eat something slimy."

Conceding the point, Ezra gingerly placed the smallest mesquite BBQ pork rind he could find in his mouth. Jim handed him a beer as he slowly began to turn bright red and sweat formed on his brow from the effort not to gag. Instead he nearly choked as he tried to swallow as much beer as he could to wash down the vile taste.

"That was the foulest thing I have ever had the misfortune to put in my mouth. It is a miracle you have not expired from food poisoning or plain old indigestion yet, Mr. Tanner," Ezra finally managed to gasp out.

"Good ain't they?" Vin chuckled.

"Watch it, cowboy."

"Aw, it didn't do'im no harm."

Chris just raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, Ez."

"Your apology is accepted, but do not think for one minute you will escape retribution."

"Ezra."

"What? Why should I not seek retribution?"

"I said I was sorry."

"And Simon thinks we're bad," Blair commented to Jim. It was Josiah who finally brought everyone back to order.

"Are we playing poker or not?"

The others managed to settle back down although not everyone was a happy camper. After a moment of everyone carefully studying their cards, Chris looked over at Blair, "So why is Josiah responsible for your being here?"

"Why don't you tell them, Tree? You probably remember more about that night than I do."

"All right. Well, as seems to be the trend with most 'cult' leaders, Brother Star saw fit to supplement the wealth of our ‘community', and I say that loosely since we never knew about or saw this extra wealth, with several illegal ventures, including the sale of drugs and weapons. I had only been in the commune about a month at that point. Blair and Summer had been there closer to two months. One evening, despite the curfew that we were expected to follow, I had gone for a walk. This is how I came to hear a most enlightening conversation between Brother Star and unknown man, who was apparently his accomplice. The FBI were on to Star and his activities and were set to raid the commune in a couple of days. Rather than go down for his crimes and be disgraced in the eyes of his followers he decided to pull a Jonestown, spiked fruit punch and all. I talked Summer into leaving the next day, but we weren't allowed to leave the grounds. Apparently Star didn't want to take the chance of anyone getting out and warning the local authorities of what was about to happen.

"What I was unaware of was that there was an agent already undercover in the commune. He had warned the FBI and they moved up the raid catching Star by surprise. The man snapped completely. Started firing on anyone and everything that got in his sights. Didn't matter to him who it was; follower or FBI, man, woman or child. I took a bullet in the side when he turned his gun on Blair." Josiah expression had grown dark at the memories; so many innocents had died that night.

"Jesus, Blair, even as a kid you were a trouble magnet. Why didn't you ever say anything about this?" Jim's eyes had turned an icy blue at the thought that a madman's bullet had nearly prevented him from ever meeting his best friend and Guide.

"Wasn't much to tell, Jim. I really don't remember a whole lot from that night. Just darkness, the sound of gunfire, people screaming, and being absolutely terrified. Most of that are just things I remember from my nightmares."

"I don't understand how people can do something like that? How can you take a gun and aim it at a defenseless child?" There were times when JD just couldn't grasp the concept of the evil that lurked beneath the surface of man.

Buck patted his back comfortingly; "There really ain't an easy answer to that, kid. Some people don't have no respect for the gift of life and how precious it is."

"It really is amazing how one moment can have such an impact on our lives. I'd hate to think what things would be like if you hadn't done what you did, Josiah. And as exasperating as Sandburg can be, I for one am glad he's around." Simon said, the last part spoken with his chin tucked down against his chest as if he was embarrassed by what he'd said.

Josiah smiled and said, "You and me both, Brother. You and me both. Once I was released from the hospital and the FBI decided they wouldn't need us to testify we headed east to Kentucky where a friend of mine had a small farm outside of Lexington. I started working on my doctoral thesis again. About a year and a half later I was asked to go on an expedition to Africa. I asked Summer and Blair to come with me, but Summer decided it was time to move on. Where'd you two head off too? Montana I think it was."

"Yeah, Mom has friends near Missoula. We were only there a couple of months before heading to California. We pretty much criss-crossed around the country after that. We never really stayed in one place for too long. Although there were a few times Naomi would leave me with friends of hers while she disappeared off to wherever. When I was sixteen I passed the entrance exams to Rainier University and stayed on there. Naomi stuck around for a few months, but then she was off again."

"You mean she just left you there, all by yourself?" JD asked, ignoring Ezra's snort.

"It wasn't really any different than any other kid going off to college."

"Yeah, but you were only sixteen? How could your ma just leave you with complete strangers?"

"Pardon me, gentlemen, while I use the lavatory." Ezra tossed his cards on the table as he rose from his chair. Vin watched him go then turned and glared at JD.

"What?"

"You know his ma used ta leave him with strangers all the time."

"Yeah, but it's not like I'm saying that was right neither. I just don't understand how someone could just leave their kid like that is all."

"Kid," Buck said, the exasperation clear in his voice, "some moms have got a real strong maternal instinct and some don't. Maude definitely don't, and it sounds like Blair's mom's instinct took a vacation every now and then. It's just the way the world goes."

"Naomi wasn't a bad mom, JD, just a little flighty."

"Think you're being a little generous there, aren't you, Chief?"

"Shut up, Jim."

Josiah shook his head, "How is she doing now anyway? Lord, it's been a long time since I saw her."

"Hey, Chief, why don't you go show Josiah the pictures you took of her last year?"

"Sure," Blair nodded, "they're in my bedroom."

Part 6