The gay couple at the center of this story were characterized as domestic partners under California Law. Better know as AB205, The California Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003, this law allows same sex-couples to register as domestic partners. By doing so, they are guaranteed a range of rights typically reserved to married couples, including community property rights, tax benefits, parental rights, and health-care rights.
The small blue box Pope gives Brenda is from Tiffany and Co. jewelers. Among the most exclusive, and expensive, jewelers in the country, it specializes in platinum and silver jewelry set with stones. Gifts from Tiffany are readily identifiable by their characteristics blue box tied with a white ribbon.
The kittens that Chief Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) picks up from the veterinarian supposedly only a day or two after they're born are actually at least 6 weeks old. Kittens are born with neither their eyes or ears open and they are not mobile as in the scene where they are in the back seat of Agent Fritz's (Jon Tenney) car.