Blair worked hard in physical therapy and each day he swore he had a little more feeling in his legs. The doctor wanted him to have a week's worth of physical therapy under his belt before he let him leave the hospital.

Jim met MacGyver in the elevator on the day before Blair was scheduled to be released. "Hey Mac. I thought you were going to Blair's session with him."

"I was," MacGyver sighed. "But Pete called saying Jack Dalton was looking for me. We grew up together and he was one of the few people who knew about Blair. Anyway, he saw the news coverage and called Pete, who told him Blair was all right. He really didn't want to give Jack my new number."

"Why not?" Jim asked as the elevator stopped.

"Let's just say Jack has a knack for creating trouble," MacGyver laughed. "Anyway, Jack's going to come up in a couple of weeks to see how Blair's doing."

"Sounds like fun," Jim said as he stopped. He concentrated on the noise he had heard."

"Jim?" MacGyver asked. "What is it?"

"Blair," he said as started toward the therapy room. "His respiration is off."

They rushed into the room to see Blair struggling to walk along the parallel bars. He had just gotten out of his wheelchair and had only gone a step or two. They watched as he struggled to move the right leg. Jim could see the sweat forming on his friend's forehead.

MacGyver walked closer to the bars and watched his son. Blair caught the movement out of the corner of his eyes. "Hi Dad," he said as he tried to smile. "Hi Jim."

"Hey Chief," Jim said from where he was standing. "Looking good."

"He'll be ready to dance at his wedding before he knows it," Jack smiled as Blair completed his step. Jack was walking beside the bars so he was there if Blair needed him.

Blair went to move his left leg and lost his balance. Jim and MacGyver raced toward him as he started to fall. Jack caught him and put him back in his wheelchair.

"Blair, are you okay?" MacGyver asked as he knelt beside his son.

"Yeah," he said as he closed his eyes for a minute. Then he opened them and grabbed the bars and pulled himself back up.

"Chief," I think it might be time for a break," Jim said as Blair struggled to take that first step.

"I'm going to do this Jim," Blair said as he concentrated on what he was doing.

Jim looked at Jack. "Let him try," Jack said as they watched Blair.

He made it a few more small steps before his legs gave out again. MacGyver caught his son and held him while Jack retrieved his wheelchair. "You did great, Blair," he whispered in his son's ear. "You took your first steps on the bars. That's a big accomplishment after only a week. Take your time. Don't rush it."

"Your dad's right," Jack said as they got Blair settled in the wheelchair and gave him a look. "Don't rush it."

Blair just looked at him and nodded.

By Saturday, Blair had been home for four days and had been going to his physical therapy in the morning and doing his exercises in the afternoon. He called Simon on Friday and would be back to work on Monday on desk duty. He called Karen and asked her if she wanted to spend the day with him. She readily agreed.

They ate lunch at one of Blair's favorite restaurants. He smiled as he took her hand. "It's our second date."

"Officially, I guess so," she smiled. "But we have spent every day of the last week together."

"Yes, we have," he said as he looked at her left hand. "You know, your fiancé has neglected a very important detail, your ring."

"Well, he has been a little preoccupied," she said as he looked away for a minute. "Blair, what happened to you wasn't your fault. You were doing your job. As far as my ring is concerned, you'll get it when you can. The ring is just a symbol of our pledge to each other. You told me you want to be walking again in time for your father's birthday. That's in less than two weeks. Your physical therapy is an essential part of that. And if that means you don't have time to pick out an engagement ring, then I can wait."

"Well I can't wait anymore," he grinned. "Delmonico's Jewelry is just around the corner. They're supposed to have the best engagement rings in Cascade."

"That's why you wanted to eat here," she concluded.

"Yep," he said as he paid the bill. "And since it's just around the corner, we can walk. Well, you can walk, I can roll."

"You'll be walking soon enough," she said as they got their jackets and left.

They had just started down the street when Blair saw someone he hadn't seen in a long time. "Carolyn?" he called.

She turned and smiled at him. "Blair1"

She went over, bent down and hugged him. "I heard about what happened. I'm glad you're going to be okay."

"Thanks," he said as he took Karen's hand. "Carolyn Plummer, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Karen Davis."

"Nice to meet you," Karen said as they shook hands.

"Blair forgot to mention that I'm Jim's ex-wife," Carolyn said as she smiled.

"Carolyn was in charge of the technical division at Central when I met Jim," Blair explained. "Then she abandoned us for San Francisco. What brings you back to Cascade?"

"My sister is supposed to be getting married," she said with a weary look on his face. "My parents have vowed that if she doesn't go through it with, they're not paying for the next one."

"Isn't that what they said the last time," Blair grinned.

"Pretty much," Carolyn laughed. "So, what are you two up to today?"

"I owe this pretty lady an engagement ring. So we're on our way to Delmonico's."

"Sounds great," Carolyn said as she looked at her watch. "Listen, I've got to go. Tell Jim I said hello and I'm staying at my sister's if he wants to call me."

"I will, Carolyn," he said as she walked away.

They entered the jewelry store and the sales clerk approached them. "How may I help you today?"

"We're looking for an engagement ring," Blair said as he held Karen's hand.

"Right this way," he said as he led them to a case."

"They'll all so beautiful," Karen said as she looked at the rings. "I don't know which one to pick."

"I do," Blair smiled as he pointed to a ring. "That one."

The clerk pulled it out and placed it where they could get a better look at it. "That's the one," Blair grinned. "Can she try it on?"

"Let me size it," the clerk said as he sized the ring to her finger. It was just a little bigger than she needed, but she could try it on.

"Oh, Blair, it's beautiful," she gasped.

Blair got out his wallet and handed his credit card to the clerk. "It's perfect."

Monday rolled around and Blair got ready to go to work for the first time since his shooting. He wasn't wild about riding a desk, but he knew he couldn't go out in the streets in a wheelchair. He smiled when he entered Major Crimes and saw the banner that read "Welcome Back Blair."

He continued his physical therapy but kept his progress a secret. He wanted to be able to surprise his father on his birthday.

Sam and Blair took MacGyver to lunch on the day of his birthday. "You know, you guys don't have to make a big deal out of today," MacGyver said after they had ordered.

"It's not every day a man turns 50, Dad," Sam observed.

"It's just another birthday," MacGyver argued.

"But it is the first time we've been together on your birthday," Blair pointed out.

"Yeah, you're right about that," MacGyver said as he looked at his oldest son.

MacGyver still had nightmares about that fateful night three weeks ago when his son had been shot. Only in his dreams, Blair died in his arms.

"Dad?" Blair asked as he touched the older man's arm. "You okay? You looked like you were a million miles away."

"I guess I was," he sighed then he smiled. "So, what else do you two have planned for today?"

"Just lunch," Sam sighed. "I've got a staff meeting."

"I've got my physical therapy session this afternoon," Blair said as he looked down at this wheelchair. "Jack says I should be out of this thing in time for the wedding."

"Blair, you're not getting married until April," MacGyver said as he tried not to sound disappointed. "I thought that with as hard as you've been working, you'd be walking long before that."

"Apparently the swelling hasn't gone down as quickly as they thought it would," Blair shrugged. "Jack says I can't give up though. If we stop and wait for the swelling to totally go down it will take longer for me to get back on my feet."

MacGyver just nodded as they started to eat lunch.

That night, Sam told MacGyver that Blair had planned a quiet dinner for the family, Jim and William at the loft. He followed his youngest son across the hall and tried not to dwell on the fact that he hadn't heard from any of his friends.

Jim opened the door. "Come on in, guys. Everyone's here."

MacGyver heard the yell of "Surprise!" as he walked in and saw his friends standing in front of the balcony doors.

"What is this?" he asked as he looked from Sam to Blair. "I thought you two said you didn't have anything planned."

"We obfuscated," Blair grinned as two people came up with Karen.

MacGyver grinned. "Ben," he said as he embraced his friend. "Julia. It's great to see both of you."

"It's great to see you too, Mac," Ben said as he looked at his friend. "So, how does 50 feel? I only have a couple of months before I get there myself."

"Not bad so far," he sighed. "Have you guys met everyone?"

"Blair and Karen made the introductions," Julia said as she looked at her friend's sons. "I can see Kate in them."

"Yeah, me too," MacGyver said as he smiled a little. "Ben, did you tell them about what Kate and I asked you to do?"

"Not yet," he answered.

MacGyver turned to the young couple. "I think we have yet another sign that you two were meant to be together."

"What's that Dad?" Blair asked.

"Your mother and I asked Ben and Julia to be your godparents when you were born," MacGyver stated.

"I guess it was fate, Chief," Jim said as the guests started to mingle.

Jack Dalton approached his best friend. "Blair's a great kid. So's Sam. You and Kate made good boys. I'm just glad Naomi got what was coming to her."

"You never did like her," MacGyver sighed. "You tried to warn me about her."

"Yeah, well, the one time you should have listened to me," Jack shrugged. "I'm glad you found them."

"Thanks Jack," he said as he hugged his friend.

They had a buffet style dinner then went into the living room where MacGyver started opening his presents. He laughed when he opened Pete's book on golf. He was glad that all his friends were getting to know each other. Mama Colton was doting over Sam and Blair, much to the relief of her sons who were usually on the receiving end.

Sam handed MacGyver his present. "I hope you like it."

MacGyver opened the present and noticed it was a new photo album. He opened the album to find pictures of both his sons from the time they were babies. The last page was a copy of the picture of him and Kate the last time they went hiking.

Then he looked under the album and found a framed picture and smiled. Sam had taken pictures of MacGyver, Blair, Harry and himself and put them together through photo manipulation onto an 8X10. "This is great, Sam. I love it."

"I'm glad," Sam grinned. "You don't know how hard it was to sneak those pictures out of the apartment. I think it's Blair's turn."

Blair smiled as he looked at his father. His wheelchair was positioned in front of where MacGyver sat. "I have to confess, I didn't buy you anything. But I thought this might make up for it."

He looked over at Jim who bent down and moved the foot rests out of the way as Blair put his feet on the floor. Sam grinned as Blair pushed himself into a standing position. He stood still for a minute to make sure he had his balance.

MacGyver stood up when he realized what was going on and stood there as Blair took his first unaided steps since he had been shot. Blair slowly made his way to where his father was standing. He stood in front of MacGyver and smiled at his father. "Happy Birthday Dad."

MacGyver pulled him into a hug as the room broke into applause. "Way to go Hairboy!" Henri called as MacGyver pulled Sam into the hug.

"You two have made today my best birthday ever just by being here," he said as Jim set the wheelchair behind Blair so he could sit back down. "That was preset enough, but I won't say I don't love the presents you did give me. Let's have some cake."

Jack went over to the cake and got out the fake machete he had used at MacGyver's last surprise party. MacGyver gave him a look and he laughed as he got out a regular knife to cut the cake with after MacGyver made his wish.

Jim looked around the loft at his friends and family and thought about the events of the last year. He looked at his guide and smiled. A year ago, Blair hadn't known who his family was. Now he had a father and brother who would, and had, do anything for him. He had a fiancée that loved him with all her heart and a partner who would die for him.

Jim knew that last thought was true. If it came to it, he would lay down his life for Blair. He blinked away any morbid thoughts and joined the party.

Three weeks later, Blair was back on the job with a cane. Jack said it would be another couple of weeks or so before he could give the cane up. But he was able to do some field work. He looked forward to the future he had in front of him. Life was finally starting to shape up for Blair Sandburg.