Adjustments - Patt

~~~~~

This story is a sequel to What Were You Thinking, What Now?, Needing Sandburg and On The Road Again.

~~~~~

Jim looked at the clock and growled. They had only slept for two hours. Who was bugging them now? They had another two hours before they had to get ready for work. Getting up, he slipped his jeans on to answer the door. Halfway down, he knew who it was and smiled.

Opening up the door he growled, "What the hell are you doing? We're sleeping."

"I couldn't stand it anymore, Jim. I had to tell you." Bill Meyers stood in Jim's doorway looking happier than he ever had.

Thankfully, everyone loved Harper's better half and Jim stood aside to allow him in with his news. Jim pointed to the sofa, as if Mey didn't remember where it was. "So tell me, what is the big news?"

"Go and get Sandburg. I have to tell him too."

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you were pregnant." Jim smiled and then noticed the look on Mey's face and said, "You're pregnant?" Both men began to laugh and Jim said, "So who is?"

"Go get Sandburg." Mey ordered.

"I'm here. Geeze, try and sleep in this house. What's up, Mey? You look happy. You're glowing. Are you pregnant?" Blair snickered to himself.

"We went to see the lawyer you guys advised us to see and we asked about adoption while we were there. Come to find out they need parents for older children and we filled out all of the paperwork. They called us two weeks ago and said they have a family for us but we had to buy a house. So that's where we've been for the last two weeks. We found one two days ago and it's great. It's a big old three story house."

"So, you have to move?" A very shocked Jim asked quietly.

"Well, yeah. In order to have a family, you have to move into a home." Mey explained.

"Your loft was a wonderful home. I don't understand why they would make you move." Jim was unusually upset.

"The loft was too small, Jim." Meyers explained.

Blair had to cut Jim off at the pass, so he asked, "How big is the house and how many kids?"

"The house has five bedrooms and there are three kids. They all know we're gay and they don't care. They had no one else. The oldest child is 13, then 11 and the youngest is 6. Their names are Nadine, Nicolas and Natalie. They're all so cute. Wait until you see them."

"I have to take a shower." Jim growled as he left the room.

"What did I do, Sandburg?"

"Jim doesn't like to share. Unfortunately, that includes his friends with a new family." Blair explained.

"He'll come around, right? Because Harp has fishing trips planned with Nic already. And he told him his friend Jim was going to teach him some things." Mey beamed as he talked. He was so friggin' happy.

"Mey, I know how much you wanted to have children, so I'm so happy for you, but what about Harp? He never seemed that hot on the subject."

"He didn't want to at all. But he filled the papers out for me and then we had the interview with the kids and he was in love. I kid you not, they're really nice kids."

Blair grabbed Mey and hugged him and said, "I'm so happy. Come for dinner tonight."

"I think we should let Jim get over the shock first."

"No, come for dinner. I want to hear more about them." Blair pleaded.

"Okay, but see if you can talk Jim into being nice by tonight." Both men laughed as Mey left.

Jim came storming out of the bathroom and shouted, "Did both of you forget that I can hear you from any room?"

Blair pushed Jim up against the stair railing and yelled back, "Fuck you, Ellison."

Jim didn't even move. It scared him a little that Blair shoved him like that. Blair wasn't usually physical, unless they were in bed. This wasn't a good sort of physical. Jim slowly walked up the stairs, knowing he fucked up something else.

Blair got his things and took a shower, ignoring the sad looks Jim was giving him. When he was all ready, he walked out and went through the door without as much as a fuck you or goodbye. Jim looked around and knew that he was in deep shit. Damn it. Why does he always win? And why do I always think it's a competition? Sighing, the large man walked out the door to start another day.

"Hey, Ellison! Did you hear the news?" Harp asked as soon as he walked off of the elevator.

"Well, I hope so. He woke us both up to tell us." Jim said negatively.

"What is your fucking problem?" Harp growled.

"I'm sick of hearing about everyone's private life. Could we get some work done?" Jim headed towards his desk.

"Won't hear another fucking word from me. No way. I won't tell you about Nicolas, who is eleven years old and dying to meet his Uncle Jim. He wants to learn to fish in the worst way. But I'm not gonna tell ya." Harp walked into the break room and leaned up against the wall. He felt like he was going to fall apart. Jim was his best friend. He had hoped he would be happy for them. But he seemed none-too-happy at this moment.

Blair walked into the room and shut the door. He pulled Harp into a firm but loving hug. "Don't mind him. He doesn't want to share you."

The door was thrown open and it slammed up against the wall. "Sandburg, don't tell him that shit. It's not true. I just think they're stupid for adopting someone elses children. They're too old. The problems are already there."

"Thanks for your support, Jim." Harp walked out looking sadder than he ever had.

"Way to go, dickhead." Blair stormed out and sat at his desk. He picked his phone up and dialed a number. Jim looked over to see what he was doing and Blair growled at him. Normally, this would have turned Jim on, but not today.

"Hey, what are you up to? Do you happen to have a spare room? You do? Great. Okay, I'll see you after work. I'll be packed by then." Blair hung up the phone and continued to type.

"It's not going to work, Sandburg. I'm not going to rush to your side and beg you to stay. So just forget it." Jim snarled.

"I didn't want you to. We're done, Jim. I'll continue working with you, but that's as far as it goes." Blair knocked on Simon's door and said, "See you tomorrow, Simon."

"Have a good night, Sandburg." Simon called out. Then he saw the sad look on Jim's face and knew that Jim had done something stupid once again.

"Want to come in and talk about it?" Simon offered.

"No thanks. I screwed up again and he left me."

"What do you mean he left you?"

"Just like it sounds. He's moving in with Harper and Meyers." Jim looked totally lost.

"Grow up, Ellison. Go and get him." Simon ordered.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm not the one that broke up with his lover in the middle of the bullpen. Everyone knows." Jim was torn between embarrassed and pissed off.

"Decide what's important and do it. I'm tired of this shit, Jim."

"Fuck you." Jim shouted and walked down the stairwell.

"Not on your luckiest day." Simon yelled down the stairs. He could hear Jim laughing, but knew he would be going home to get Blair.

When Jim arrived at the loft, he knew he was too late. Fuck...

When Simon's phone rang, he didn't want to answer it. He just knew it was Jim. Looking down at the caller ID, he saw that he was right. No way. Just stay out of this.

When the machine picked up, a pitiful sounding Jim asked, "Simon, do you know where Harp and Mey moved to? Call me when you get in. Bye."

Simon sat down to read a book and tried to relax. The phone rang again and he picked it up. "What?"

"Sorry, Simon. I was calling to add some to the last message. I'll call later." Jim got ready to hang up.

"What do you want, Ellison?"

"I want my life back. For crying out loud, I can't do the single life anymore. I'm worthless as a single male." Jim sounded so sad, but Simon couldn't help but laugh. "Are you laughing at me?"

"Why yes, I am. Here is Harp's address, but don't go over there yet. Let him cool down a bit. And while he's cooling down, maybe you can decide why you forced him to leave." Simon suggested nicely.

"Good idea, Simon. I'll do that. Thank you." Jim hung the phone up and decided he would make a list of things that he was happy about and sad about. Then Blair could help him work them out.

He got a notebook out of the desk and started to write.

I want us to have a house.

I want us to have kids.

I want us to smile like they did talking about those kids.

I want us to make love again.

I want you to not be angry at me all the time.

I need you.

I want you.

I love you.

Do you love me?

Do you still want me?

Do I still make you warm for my form?

Would you like to buy a house?

Would you like to have kids?

Would you smile for me, like they were smiling today?

Would you make love to me again?

Would you stop being angry and love me?

Would you need me?

Would you want me?

Would you love me?

Jim looked at the list and figured he was on the right track. He knew that he was jealous of Harp and Mey and he felt like shit. As he should.

At Harper and Meyers new house:

"So what do you think of the new house, Sandburg?" Mey asked.

"I love it. It's perfect in every way. I love the idea of having five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Very cool. I bet the kids love it."

"I know I do, Uncle Blair." Nadine said softly. She was 13, but a little shy.

"Who picked your furniture out? I love every single room." Blair said happily.

"Mey picked out mine and Harp picked out Nic and Natalie's." Nadine said.

"Uncle Blair?" Nic called out.

"Yes, Nic. What can I do ya for?" Blair answered.

"Will your hair be just like Mey's when you get old?"

Blair burst out laughing and said, "Honey, his hair is white blond, not gray. And he's six months younger than me."

"Cool. I like that. Will my hair be like yours, Mey?"

"I don't think so. Yours is dark brown, mine is white blond. You do the coloring." Everyone in the room started to laugh.

Natalie went and sat on Blair's lap. "Will you take us fishing some day? Harp says you and Uncle Jim fish good."

"How old are you, Natalie?" Blair asked smiling.

"I'm six. Six and a half. I'm short, but I'm really smart."

All the men started to laugh and Harp picked her up from Blair's lap and said, "I need some loving."

Blair watched as the kids crawled all over both men and kissed and hugged them until they were exhausted. The picture before him made him very sad. He had wanted kids so bad. Every time he brought it up, Jim wouldn't discuss it. Now it looked like he would have a chance with someone else.

"Uncle Blair? Can we go fishing this weekend? Can we?" Nic said as he crawled onto Blair's lap.

"I don't see why not. That sounds good to me." Blair hugged him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Uncle Blair, where is Uncle Jim? And why are you so sad?"

"Because his boyfriend is a jerk." Jim said from the doorway.

All three of the kids went and stood before Jim and asked, "Are you Uncle Jim?"

"I am. And I won't be doing this ever again. If he forgives me I want to be in your lives. Harper and Meyers, I'm truly sorry."

Harp gave Jim a huge hug and said, "Go make up with him. He's sad."

Jim pulled Blair into his arms and said, "Would you like to marry me?"

"Yes." Blair said softly.

"Would you like to buy a house? A big house?" Jim asked.

"I would love to."

"Would you like to be put on that waiting list for adoption?"

"More than anything, Jim."

"Do you think you could still love me?" Jim asked sadly.

"You are such a dumb butt. I love you. I will always love you. Do you understand?" Blair pulled him down for a kiss. "Now go and talk with the boys. First of all, I want you to ask them to go fishing this weekend. The kids have never been fishing."

"I love you, Blair. I'm sorry I was an ass. I'll go and invite them now."

Blair watched his man walk away and felt himself getting hard. Shit... but he has a fantastic ass.

Jim walked up to the two new daddies and asked, "Who would like to go fishing this weekend?"

"I would." Nic answered quickly.

"I would." Natalie followed suit.

"I guess I could." Nadine answered and smiled sweetly at Jim.

Harp leaned into Jim and said, "She thinks you're very cute."

Jim blushed and looked around for Blair.

"I'm here, big man. Don't you worry. So what day are we going?"

"Mey has to work on Saturday, so could we do it on Sunday?" Harp inquired.

"Sounds good to me. We need to get them set up for fishing. How about we go tomorrow night?" Jim asked Harp.

"Sounds okay to me. Did I hear you say you might sell the loft?" Mey asked.

"Yup. I'm getting married and we're going to have a family. We need one. Well, okay, I need one. And I need Blair. So we're doing it together." Jim knew he was rambling.

Jim and Blair stayed and visited with the new family and finally left at 10:00 o'clock. They each drove their vehicles home and parked and walked up to the loft.

"You're okay with selling this?" Blair asked as he started taking his clothing off.

"Yeah, I'm fine with it. I want a family, babe. I want us to have more room. I want you... right now." Jim ordered in a very husky voice.

"You got it, big man." Blair stripped as he ran up the stairs. Jim enjoyed the view following behind him. Now this is what Jim had in mind for tonight.

Blair was wonderful. Jim had to keep reminding himself not to fuck this up.

And hot damn, we're uncles now. Life is good.

The End.

[ Tell the author what you thought. ] [ Back to Index! ]

Main Story Index

Acknowledgments: Thank you to Mary for the beta. Does anyone else hear the cracking of that whip?