"Did you really have to get down on the floor? I'm not sure that is what the doctors meant when they said to rest".

"Yes", Pete looked up at Sally, flashing her a smile that destroyed all her arguments for why he shouldn't still be sitting on the floor surrounded by wooden blocks. "You can't crash cars into walls built on the coffee table. Didn't you ever play cars as a kid?"

"Sometimes, quietly around a dirt track we made outside. Will you please…" Whatever Sally said after that was drowned out by Jimmy, who ran down the hall, kicked the wall Pete had built and yelled "CRASH!"

Sally got down on one knee, grabbing the wiggling, Jimmy. "Wanna play!"

"Stand still young man. You can't run around with your pants halfway down." Sally tugged at the boy's elastic waistband, pulling his pants all the way up. "Did you wash your hands after going to the bathroom?"

Jimmy looked towards Pete; hoping for back-up, while he tried to rub his hands clean on his pants.

"You better do what she says Jimmy or your mom will make you do it later." Sally pointed the boy back down the hallway and lightly tapped his butt to get him started.

"Some Godfather you are. You would have let him play without washing his hands". Pete nodded his head and laughed. "If Jean ever finds out the things you've taught that kid, she'll revoke your visiting rights." Sally paused a moment before continuing. "Are you going to teach our kids to get into mischief too?"

Kids. It was the one thing they hadn't really decided on yet and here she blurted it out without meaning to.

"Nah, that's not a Dad's job. It's grandfathers and uncles who teach them all the fun stuff. Just be ready because Jim can get very creative when he wants to."

Just like that, the issue they both hesitated to bring up was settled.

O~O~O

By the time that Jim and Jean got back with dinner, Pete and Jimmy were back into full crashing mode. At least they were until the aroma of fried chicken and French fries put a halt to their play. Food was the only thing that would make Jimmy voluntarily stop playing. While the women were getting the table set, Jim stayed by Pete. Their eyes met and in the way it is with partners, the question didn't need to be asked or answered. Jim simply extended his hand to Pete in order to help him up.

"I'm surprised Sally didn't make you get off the floor before this." Pete shook off the helping hand as he walked towards the kitchen.

"She's not strong enough to pull me up, yet." Jim stopped walking, taking a close look at Pete, whose clothes were hanging on his once muscular frame. "You're so skinny that Jimmy could help you get up off the floor."

"It's not that bad. I'll get back in shape." Pete walked a little faster; trying to stay off the issues he didn't want to deal with on his first night home. He knew that food would distract the younger man for a while.

The truth was that Pete wasn't sure that he would ever be able to return to work. The thought of spending the rest of his time on the force on restricted duty turned his stomach into knots. Worse still would be retiring on a disability. His mother would be happy if he couldn't work, but she never understood that being a police officer isn't his job; it's what he is, deep down in his soul.

O~O~O

All of them sitting around the table having dinner felt so normal and right that no one brought up his future. They laughed, teased each other, and occasionally had to stop Jimmy from sneaking pickles to the dog Pete doesn't own.

"Jimmy", Jean admonished the boy. "Queenie isn't hiding under the table to eat your veggies." Jean picked up the pickle muttering as she did, "If I ever find out who taught him to ditch his veggies under the table, I'll strangle them." Pete and Jim exchanged glances but neither one spoke up to tell Jean the truth about that.

Once dinner was over, the Reeds, including a sleeping Jimmy, went home. Pete locked the door before sneaking up behind Sally as she washed the dishes. He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. "The dishes can wait. I've spent too many weeks sleeping alone in a single bed." He took her hand as he started down the hallway.

"Pete, Honey, it's not that I don't want to, but is it safe? I won't hurt you?" Whatever doubts she had didn't stop her from going to the bedroom with him.

"I cleared it with the doctor."

The two of them were lying on the bed when Pete stopped kissing her. "Uh, I think you need to close the curtains before we go any further."

"What? Why? We're not going to bother anyone."

"Trust me", Pete sighed. "Close the curtains."

"You don't mean that old bat is going to...?".

"I'd like to continue this before I fall asleep. Close the curtains…please."

Sally closed them, but she wasn't happy about it.

.

A/N: I think I've taken this story as far as it can go before it rivals "War and Peace" in length. Another reason is that the next logical point is to show Pete going through rehab. That sounds boring even to a diehard fan like me. Rest assured, I have already begun planning the next story. You will see the wedding and what Pete and Jim are doing. I'm just skipping the boring months.

As always, thank you for reading my stories and all the kind reviews. A writer is nothing without people reading their stories.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, the show or anything related to it. I'm just a fan.

~J~