Crossed Conversations
"Where to, lady?" The cab driver caught his passenger’s eye and smiled. She was a real looker - short red hair and delicate features and with a twinkle in her eye that bespoke a nice tip.
"Airport," she responded then, just as he was pulling away from the curb, she laid a hand on his shoulder, "no, Cascade Police department." She nodded once when he again met her reflected gaze, assuring him or herself this was the right decision? He wasn’t sure but made the next right off Prospect and headed for her destination.
Naomi Sandburg concentrated on her breathing, slowing it down and finding her center. She knew it was wrong to interfere, but…….frozen corn and baseball bats! These boys didn’t have a clue and if she didn’t set them straight……so to speak, then someone might get hurt. She’d known almost from the beginning her son had fallen hard for his cop roommate, and known almost equally long that Jim adored her son. She’d had her own share of unusual sex but she was determined to make them see passed the superficial lust to the depth of their feelings. "It’s for their own good," Naomi said to the cabbie when he pulled to a stop before the station.
"I’m sure it is, lady," he winked, took the sizable tip and pulled away, wondering just what the hell was going on.
Naomi wondered the same thing. Stepping off the elevator and into Major Crime, she paused, took a deep breath and headed for Simon Banks’ office.
"Ms. Sandburg," Megan Connor called from her desk. "What are you doing here?" She smiled and waved Naomi over. "I thought you were in Cairo or Bengal or…..someplace."
"I was," Naomi breezed, "I just stopped by on my way to Kyoto."
"Jim and Blair aren’t……."
"I just came from there," Naomi confided in a quiet voice.
"How’s Jim doing?" Megan asked.
"You know?" Naomi regarded the Australian detective with round eyes. She knew her son and Jim considered their fellow detectives friends, she just hadn’t been aware of how close they all were.
"Everybody knows," Megan confided with a shrug. "It’s been the topic on everyone’s tongue since it happened yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Naomi asked. "You mean they’ve only been lovers since yesterday?"
"Lovers? Who?" Megan frowned, sensing somehow that she had lost all reference to their conversational objective.
"Jim and Blair."
"Jim and Blair!?" Megan hissed, lowering her voice when the entire squad glanced at her. "Jim and Blair are lovers?"
"I thought you said you knew," Naomi reminded her. "I know they’re new at it but they should be more careful. To be honest Jim was still pretty sore when I saw him this morning."
Megan stared unblinking, eyes taking on a glazed look. She opened her mouth but nothing came out save a gasping sound.
"Mom!"
Naomi whirled, "Blair!" Her son was hustling through the bullpen, a grin spread ear to ear on his face.
"Sandy!" Megan greeted him a look he couldn’t quite decipher, then proceeded to blush and stammer, "con-congratulations."
"Mom," Blair took his mother’s hand, "what are you doing here? I was going to call but Jim wasn’t feeling……"
"I know, sweetie," she interrupted, "I stopped by and talked to Jim. He told me everything, honey. That’s why I wanted to see you."
"Everything?" Blair’s wide blue eyes got even wider. Jim sharing this little mishap with his mother? The big guy was opening up - TO HIS MOTHER!!! Visions of Jim and Naomi up on his big comfortable bed, returned. What if his partner had not only told Naomi about his injury but shown it to her!? No, no, Jim wouldn’t do that. He could trust Jim, right?
But Jim was attracted to Naomi……..Damn! "What did he say, mom?" Blair asked, careful to keep his voice calm and reasonable.
"Sweetie," Naomi, chided, "I think this should be a private conversation."
"They all know," Blair explained dejectedly, indicating the other detectives, the civilian aids, the janitor, several criminals, Simon, and a reporter standing near Megan’s desk. Naomi smiled - when her son came out - he really came out.
"Ms. Sandburg!" Simon’s booming voice echoed from his office. "How are you?"
"Simon…..Captain Banks’", Naomi’s eyes sparkled at the big man. "I just stopped by to speak to Blair about Jim……"
"Yeah, poor guy," Banks’ said, "I think he’s a little embarrassed."
"Nonsense," Naomi declared. "I told him there was absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! We all knew this would happen, I mean I saw it the first time I met him."
"I for one had no idea," Megan piped in. "I mean, sure he growled at me for calling Sandy "Chief" and maybe being a little too friendly but……."
"Ellison just rushes in sometimes," Banks said, shaking his head.
"I’ve told him time after time, you’ve got to be prepared for anything. You know," Simon leaned close to confide, "Jim has a real reputation around here for this kind of thing. I’ve suggested Velcro straps but Jim gets really offended."
Naomi frowned, Velcro straps? Maybe her first instinct had been right. It was time to leave and let Nature run its course.
Megan, still slightly red, eyed Blair, "I’m happy for you, Blair, really."
"What?" Sandburg frowned, glancing sidelong at Connor. "Megan, what are you………"
"Are you staying, Naomi?" Simon asked, cutting off Blair’s question.
"Oh, no, I have to get going. That reminds me, honey," she told Blair, "I left your birthday present on the table. Jim said he’d make sure you got it. Oh, and sweetie, next time don’t use a bag of frozen corn like that, you’ll never get it out of the sheets. I’m surprised Jim didn’t get frostbite. And if Jim wants you to, I think you should wear a……mitten."
Megan began to cough uncontrollably, face a fiery red. Naomi patted her son’s cheek and stage whispered, "I know you’re new at this but - it’s suppose to swell." With a wave and a smile, she flounced out in a swirl of colour.
"Frozen corn?" Megan gasped aloud.
"It’s suppose to swell?" Blair shook his head and turned to look at Simon.
"Hey, it didn’t look right to me," Banks replied.
Connor’s watering eyes shifted between Banks and Sandburg, totally confused but unwilling to let them know her sexual expertise didn’t include frozen vegetables and winter wear. "You know, Sandy, you’re mother is too cool. She’s so happy for you and Jim," she leaned close and hugged Blair hard, "and so am I." With her own quick peck to his cheek Megan left Blair standing, looking after her in confusion.
"Happy for us?" Blair scratched his head. "Happy for us? They all act like…….." he trailed off, sudden understanding dawning in his brain. "Oh, my god! They think……."
"They think what?" Banks demanded, but it was too late, he was left alone in the middle of the bullpen as a Sandburg blur hit the elevator and was gone. Simon made his way back to his office, pondering the events he’d just witnessed. If he didn’t know better he would have thought Naomi was implying……nah, Jim and Sandburg? He fished out a cigar, lighting it thoughtfully. Jim and Sandburg, hmmmm? Of course, those two were extremely close, closer than anybody he knew. Blair had seemed pretty sure of himself last night when he’d…..ministered to Jim’s injury. And Jim didn’t seem at all bothered by what Blair was doing. Simon puffed his cigar.
And yet - a mother would know, wouldn’t she?