Royal Child

Crossover Ironside – Streets of San Francisco, set in December 1970

WHN to Ironside Episode 3.8 "Seeing Is Believing"

Timeline slightly AU: 3.8 is set in June 1970 instead of October 1969:

"When a lowlife bookie is found severely beaten, five witnesses identify Ed as his attacker. Unable to provide an alibi, Ed finds himself having to prove his own innocence; and when the victim dies and Ed is arrested on a murder charge, the team have to find out who the real killer is." (Episode summary by tv dot com)

Challenge by Briroch: "Every Man Needs a Hobby" – Steve's and Mike's hobbies are her contribution!

Chapter 1

"Don't tell me you are reading Victory Magazine!" Steve Keller teased Mike Stone when he entered the office on Monday morning. "You can't have sunk that low!"

"Usually I don't, but this is an interesting article."

"Is it?"

As Mike was through reading, he didn't resist when Steve plucked the magazine out of his hands. The inspector whistled through his teeth. The title sounded interesting indeed: 'Robert T. Ironside – Cop and Human Being'.
"Who in the world would dare write such an article?"

"Look at the author."

There were only three letters, "EDB".

For a moment Steve looked baffled, then the penny dropped. "Of all people! Edward D. Brown, the Chief's right-hand man in person! I never thought that the department's model cop would sell himself that way."

Yet it turned out to be a surprisingly sensitive portrait of Chief Ironside, without giving away any details about his private life. Sgt. Brown had been careful enough. Yet between the lines the admiration and great affinity he felt for his boss shone through.

"Did you know that Ironside likes orchids? Maybe you should invite him to come to the garden center sometime."

Steve laughed. "As much as I love flowers - I'd rather miss a visit to the garden center than going there with the old grump!"

Mike shrugged but thought of his own secret hobby. He would talk to Ed about writing. It was a well-written text, something he would not have expected from this rather nondescript sergeant. It said maybe even more about the writer than about the person depicted. And it was a picture he liked.

The next day after work, while Steve was on a date with a spirited red-head, Mike took the elevator up to Ironside's office. As usual, the Chief's staff was still at work. For the experienced officer it was obvious that Ed and Eve had worked enough for the day. Whatever work they would get done tonight – it would take them less than half the time to do it tomorrow.

"Good evening! Bob – do you think you could lend me your Sergeant for a few hours?"
The Chief was usually very ready to help out when his help was needed, although he never thought of his staff as human beings, or so it seemed: the office hours he forced on them and on himself were known to be grueling.

"Evening, Mike! What's up? I've always thought that every emergency sooner or later comes to my desk anyway."

"You are exaggerating!"

"Maybe, but just a little!"

"Downstairs, we get some work done as well, you know."

"Yes, if you get help from upstairs!" answered the Chief acerbically, but Mike knew that his bite wasn't as bad as his bark.

He just laughed. "If you want to flatter yourself by believing so, be my guest!"

Assiduously, Brown had already stood up and put his files away. He was ready to always and instantly help out as well, but right now he didn't mind a change from the demanding Chief to the milder Lt. Stone. He picked up his jacket and hurried to follow Mike up the ramp, while Ironside grumbled something about always drawing the short straw.

"What's so urgent, Lieutenant?"

"Have you had dinner yet, Soldier?" queried Mike.

Of course the sergeant hadn't. He repeated his question.

"Having dinner. On me."

Ed held his step. "You didn't tear me away from the office to have dinner with me."

"Yes, I did exactly that. Let me buy you a steak." He knew how much the sergeant liked a good steak. "You could use it."

Ed shook his head. He couldn't admit that he was amused, could he? Sometimes even Chief Ironside let himself be fooled – by an old fox like Mike Stone.
Or maybe he wasn't fooled at all, but just let Stone have his will. You never knew with the Chief.

"What is it you want to talk about? Because there is something on your mind. Is everything all right with Steve?"

"Oh, yes, Steve's fine," Mike hurried to assure.

They ordered their steaks and Mike came out with his issue.

"You did a fine job with that article you wrote about the Chief."

Ed was genuinely pleased.

"You know," the seasoned detective hesitated. It took some courage to admit this to a much younger colleague. "I play around with a typewriter as well."

Brown, who had learned a lot from his poker-faced mentor, struggled to keep his facial features under control.

Mike explained that he wrote some love stories every now and then. "Sometimes Steve is a real inspiration to me. The best stories are actually written by real life!"

He also developed his intention of writing a Christmas story, but he didn't have a concept for it yet. If maybe the Sergeant could help him a little?

Ed was honored, yet with the hours he put in at the Chief's office, he didn't have much spare time. Actually he'd written his article while being in prison as a murder suspect. "Let's just hope that Steve's real life will make for a good Christmas story this time!" he laughed.

Yet Mike didn't get much ammunition for his writing hobby. Time until Christmas became awfully short, and this Sunday would hardly bring anything new.

Steve had finally invited Chief Ironside to a visit in the garden center - an early Christmas present. Kinda.
As was to be expected, the two smart and spirited men tried to impress each other with their knowledge about horticulture.

Actually both were impressed, but none of them was able to admit it.

Finally both were standing in front of a wonderful orchid, just admiring it. No words were needed, no superior knowledge. This was just plain beauty, and it touched both their souls similarly. Being so different, they still felt connected.

Until...

"Look at that girl!" whispered Ironside.

A heavily pregnant young woman was picking a small bottle of pesticide off a shelf, not far away from them.

"I know her. Stay here, let me handle this!"

Ironside advanced towards the girl. Her name was Julie Willis. Six months ago his assistant had been wrongly accused of beating Frankie Baum to death - the father of her child. It had turned out that her brother, who bore a vague resemblance to Ed, was the assailant. Originally he wanted Frankie "to do the right thing for once" - to marry his sister; but things got out of hand.

"Oh, you have just what I need," Ironside addressed her. "Please give me the bottle in your hand, will you? These products are out of the reach of children – and unfortunately also out of the reach of wheelchair drivers."

She acted like a sleepwalker. She dropped the bottle into Ironside's lap. Thensuddenly she recognized him. She clapped her hand over her mouth and fled.

Steve approached. "What was that all about, Chief?"

"This is ME 605. It contains parathion, which is highly toxic. A pregnant woman shouldn't work with it at all, if you ask me. Rather than not she intended to kill herself with it!"

Author's note:

As you know, I don't write anymore. This story was written for a dear friend for Christmas 2015.

Ps - Publishing this chapter I noticed that there are still some extremely loyal readers of my old stories around. I'm surprised and delighted. Thank you so much!