Sighing, he sat down at his desk back at the precinct. He eyed his paperwork glumly. He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. Putting them back on he did an hour of paperwork with no interruption, he was closing in on two hours when he was finally interrupted, there was a knock on the door.

“Yeah,” He said blandly. The door opened it was Flass.

“Hi Jimbo, we missed you yesterday.”

He looked back down at the paperwork. “I’m sure.” He paused, “I see you did not do much of the paper work.” He eyed it before looking at the greasy form that was Flass.

“Well, you know how it is.” He chuckled, it was wet and thick sounding, making Jim’s stomach do a flip flop or was it Flass’s body odor, Jim couldn’t be sure.

“Yeah, so is there anything I can help you with?” He absently scrawled some data down on a piece of paper.

He watched as Flass’s eyes slid from side to side. “I heard you had dinner with that Dawes chick a few days ago.”

“Yeah, we did.” He told Flass in the curtest voice he could muster. “We ran into each other at the DA’s office. Why?”

“No reason. I guess, there’s just a bunch of us guys who are envious as all hell.”

“Really?” He said as blandly as possible. Inside though he could not stop laughing.

“Oh yeah, didn’t you notice what a sweet piece she is?”

He shrugged, he thought about how she would playfully tug on his tie and pull him into a kiss. He had to bit his tongue hard so as not to let the smirk that was itching to spread itself across his face. “Is there anything else you need?”

“No.” Flass he noticed tossed him one more look before leaving and closing the door behind him.

He waited a short while before finally allowed himself to snicker. Turning, in his chair he looked out the window. A sweet piece, he ended up chuckling. She was so much more than that. Looking at his watch, he saw that it was a few more short hours and they would be together again. The thought tickled him with delight.

Another ticked by and he was finally seeing the bottom of the pile.

A buzz from the intercom interrupted him this time. “Yes.” He pushed the button.

“Jimbo,” He could hesitation at the other end. “Someone errr…Barbara is here to see you.”

He felt like someone poured ice-cold water down his spine. He swallowed. “Tell her to come in.”

            He ran a hair through his hair. What could she possibly want, he asked himself. They had not talked since the day he decided to give her space and move into the hotel. That was well over six weeks now. He went over to his door and opened it. As he looked at her as she made her way over to his office he noticed that her brow her was furrowed, that only happened when she was really upset about something. I hope nothing is wrong with her family.

            “Hi Jim.” She said, when she was closer to him.

            “Hi Barbara.” He closed the door behind them.

He watched as she paced back and forth wringing her hands as she did so. She looked quite fretful. He came up behind her.

“What’s the matter?” He asked.

Stopped and looked at him wide-eyed. “I have something important to tell you. Can we sit down?”

“Sure of course.”

They both sat down on his sofa. She looked down at her hands.

“I know, I was the one who wanted the separation but well, I got some news.” Her voice trailed off.

“News?” he asked, he was puzzled, did she draw up divorce papers, he wondered.

“Yes,” She said fairly high pitched. “And now, I know how wrong I was.” She said in a rush, grabbed his hands, they were icy.

He looked at her knowing surprise was washing over his face.

“I want us to have the life we were planning on. The one we dreamed of when you were still a student at the academy.” She paused squeezing his hands. “And now we can be, we can be a real family. I found out I’m going to have a baby.”

“What!” He exclaimed. “That is fantastic!” He hugged her. He could feel her hesitation, and he pulled back, looking at her.

Her eyes were watery. “So you would want to work it out?” She asked.

An image of Rachel, popped into his head. He felt as if someone was wrenching his heart in two different directions.

“Of course, I want us to work it out.” This time he grabbed her hands. “And we will. Why don’t I come over tomorrow and we can talk about this.” He suggested.

“That sounds wonderful, I’ll make you your favorite. Call me to let me know when you can come over.”

“I will, I promise.”

“Oh, Jim.” She gushed. “I was being so foolish. I’m so sorry.” She hugged him, he hugged her back, he patted her back reassuringly.

Right now he didn’t know how he felt. He was at a loss for words, he didn’t even know how he was truly feeling especially since the initial joy of becoming a father was beginning to subside now, that he had to think about all of this. What was he going to do?

He felt her pull back. “Well,” She looked down for a moment. “I better let you go back to your work.”

“I better.” They both stood up. Trying to put their minds at ease, hers more than hers he hugged her again. It did little to ease his. “We are going to be parents. I’m going to be a dad, wow!” He squeezed her.

“And I’m going to be a mom.” She added cheerily. He had not heard her that happy since he made sergeant.

            “Let me walk you out.” With his around her, he opened his door. A hush had fallen over the precinct, a breath later the clatter of voices and papers being shuffled filled the air once again. He suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, these guys were more gossipy than his Aunt Trudie had been when he was going up on the south part of Gotham and she was infamous.

            “I would come over tonight but we have an organized arrest planned and I don’t know when or how long I’m going to be involved in it.” He told her once they were outside.

            “Oh, it’s ok. I know how busy you are. Gotham is lucky to have you fighting for her.”

            “Now, I’m not only fighting for her but for out family too.”

She opened her car door and she turned to look at him. She touched his cheek. “With you, I know Gotham will be a safe place to raise our family. I just wish now I would have never doubted it.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. He didn’t know how that made him feel. “Well, see you tomorrow, Jim. Good luck tonight.”

The kiss left him startled. “Thank you.”

She got into the car. “Good-bye.”

“Good-bye, Babs.” She smiled and started her engine.

He watched as she drove away. Walking back to the precinct a storm of emotions were raging through his mind. Once back in his office, he took out a small bottle of bourbon he kept in his bottom drawer, he had only opened it once. That was when he found out she wanted a separation, now it was because he knew that he was going to hurt Rachel. Opening it, he took out the glass that kept it company. Pouring a finger worth, it course a path of fire down his throat as he drank it. He had and never would be a drinker, he had seen it wreck families and men on the police force, but he kept it there, he mused for just one of those moments. Knowing he was about to hurt Rachel was one of them.