By: Denise James
Disclaimer: The Sentinel belongs to Petfly Productions, created by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo. Wonder can be heard on Natalie Merchant’s Tigerlily CD. Written and performed by Natalie Merchant.
Author’s note: I don’t normally do stories mixed with lyrics. However, there have been many songs that have influenced my stories. Even though this CD has been out since ’95, it still stirs my imagination. With every song, I visualize a scene featuring our guys. Much of this holds true with her newest venture Ophelia. I heard Wonder on the radio today and had to break out the CD when I got home. Again the following scenes played out and I finally sat about putting them down on paper/disk. I tried not to bore you too much with the lyrics, so I just put enough in there to let you get in the right frame of mind. Also, I’m not a writer by trade…if I were I would probably be pretty hungry by now. I enjoy putting my little daydreams on paper, so if you enjoy them too, then that’s payment enough.
You may want to watch the final episode "The Sentinel by Blair Sandburg", it will help understand the ending a bit.
This is dedicated to my son Aaron. Everyday you teach me the meaning of Love, Patience and Faith. I'll forever be thankful to you and for you.
Enjoy!!!!
Love, Patience and Faith
By: Denise James
29 years ago….
Naomi Sandburg screamed with all of her might, giving the final push that would give her son liberty from her body. Nine months of waiting and planning had paved the way to this moment in time, the moment that Blair Sandburg would make himself known to the world with a cry of his own.
The young woman sighed in awe, as they placed the small bundle in her arms. “Ten little fingers and ten little toes, bright blue eyes and a perfect little nose,” she whispered to the little wonder in her arms. “You are truly one of God’s creations; my perfect little angel.”
The baby turned vivid blue eyes toward the sound of his mother’s voice, and smiled for the first time. Again Naomi sighed.
I believe fate smiled and destiny laughed,
as she came to my cradle.
“Know this child will be able.”
Laughed as my body she lifted.
“Know this child will be gifted with love,
with patience and with faith; ”
Destiny walked into the small room and smiled down at Naomi. Her tie-died shirt almost matched the sky blue of her eyes, and her threadbare jeans just covered her bare feet. Her long blonde hair was braided in narrow cornrows, tied at the ends with thin strips of tie-died cloth.
“Welcome Des,” Naomi greeted the young woman cheerfully, happy that the young woman had taken time to visit. It was believed, throughout the commune, that Destiny had the gift of seeing the future and reading souls.
Naomi gestured to the small bassinette sitting in the corner next to her bed. “I would like you to meet my son, Christopher Blair Sandburg.”
The young hippy woman made her way to the sleeping child. Looking down, she smiled upon seeing the innocent face of the baby. Reaching in, she picked him up, causing him to wake.
The child blinked at the dark form, seeing for the first time her aura, which consisted of a rainbow of colors. Young Sandburg smiled brightly at the new vision.
Destiny laughed at the sight, and the vibes that she pulled from the child warmed her. Turning to Naomi, she said with the utmost confidence, “know this child will be able, and know this child will be gifted with love, with patience, and with faith. Be assured that he’ll make his way.” Destiny placed a gentle kiss to the baby’s forehead. “What shall he be called? Christopher or Blair?”
“Christopher is his father’s name, but my child will be his own man, so I will call him Blair.”
Destiny nodded in agreement. “Welcome to the world young Blair, and welcome to life. Make of it what you will, as you have it within you to go far.” Again she kissed the child, giving him her blessing before placing him back in his bed.
Turning to Naomi, Destiny smiled. “Your son has a gift that few possess. It will be up to you to help him reach his full potential, by letting him grow strong and independent. You must allow him to make his own choices and his own mistakes by which he’ll grow stronger. He will need this to stand strong in the face of future hardships.”
Naomi frowned, but nodded in understanding. Gone were the motherly dreams of spending time with her child. She would have to teach him independence at an early age, or jeopardize his future by mothering him too much. She vowed to give him everything in her power so that he could reach his full potential, that he may face whatever fate held for him.
Doctors have come from distant cities, just to see me.
Stand over my bed, disbelieving what they’re seeing.
They say I must be one of the wonders of God’s own creation.
And as far as they can see they can offer no explanation.
Five years later….
Naomi Sandburg silently screamed in fear and helpless frustration, as she watched her child lying at deaths door, looking so small and motionless in his hospital bed. Doctors worked around the clock, to no avail trying to discover a cure, for the unknown illness that had taken hold of Blair’s body. No one could explain why he was now in a coma. No one could explain why his body was threatening to shut down, even though the doctors desperately searched for answers.
For what seemed like the hundredth time, Naomi swept sweat soaked curls away from her child’s face. Gently caressing a pale cheek, she questioned God and why he would allow this to happen to her child. “He has a bright future here, I know it. I feel it. Why must he suffer so? He’s just a baby.” Soft sobs escaped with the questions. Her silent pleas were answered with a memory from the past. In her mind, she could hear Destiny’s words, as if the woman were in the room with her.
Be assured, that he’ll make his way.
The memory of those words, gave Naomi renewed hope that her son would indeed make his way back to health and to her. She wiped at her eyes and looked up, whispering her thanks to the heavens above.
Two days later found the fifth floor staff standing around room 505 in joyous shock and amazement. Whispers floated around the west wing, carrying news of a young child’s miraculous healing. No one had expected him to live past the next few hours, but instead of finding the child knocking at deaths door, the doctor in charge found Blair Sandburg sitting in bed, sipping chicken broth from a Styrofoam cup, with aid from his mother. The news spread quickly, bringing doctors from other cities to look in on the miracle child. Again, they had no explanation as to Blair’s sudden health. They begged for more tests, in the name of science, much to Naomi’s displeasure. She vowed that as soon as her child was well enough, she would rescue him from this unwanted spotlight, so that he could get back to a normal life.
Newspapers ask intimate questions, want confessions.
They reach into my head, to steal the glory of my story.
24 years later….
Naomi Sandburg’s heart screamed in rage, frustrated by her own pigheaded stupidity. Suddenly, for reasons unknown to her, she found the need to take control over her son’s life…making choices for him without his knowledge, sneaking around his back…basically medalling. But Blair had been the same person he had always been, even with the added stress of her actions. Love and patience had shown through even though she knew he would have liked nothing more than to put her on the next flight to anywhere USA. Even now, as she watched her son stand before the media that circled like vultures, she couldn’t help but be proud of him, and ashamed of her actions. She only prayed that this would be one of those occasions that made him stronger.
Blair finished his speech; his final words were choked out, as tears threatened. His emotions demanded freedom after days of being held in check. His whole world was in ciaos at the moment, trying to maintain some form of friendship with his sentinel and putting on a calm, controlled front for his mother, while inside his strength crumbled.
Running through the feeding frenzy of reporters, Blair finally found sanctuary within the confines of his old Volvo. After taking a few moments to regain his composure, the young student cranked his beloved classic, steering it in the direction of Cascade General. He needed to check on his friends, to make sure they were going to be all right. After all, he felt that Simon and Megan’s injuries were partly his fault. Because of the leak to the press about his sentinel research, Blair found Jim unwilling to work with him and no matter how much the young guide tried to talk to his sentinel; Jim couldn’t believe that the whole thing was an accident, thus letting the Ice Man get away, only to strike again at the station, injuring the two officers. The student hadn’t planned on his dissertation being publicized, or Jim’s abilities being placed under public scrutiny. He hadn’t planned on his own career receiving the death sentence by lying to the press about the validity of his own work, or confessing himself a fraud in order to protect his closest friend. Somehow he had to set things right, make Jim understand that the last few years were about friendship, not the brass ring.
That night….
Blair sat in quiet reflection in Megan’s room, keeping a silent vigil at her side. Holding her hand, he thought back to earlier that afternoon when Jim had approached him in the hallway of the hospital. The older man mentioned having seen his press conference, among other things; his words still echoed through the young man’s head. The older man had actually told Blair that he was proud to have him as a partner. Blair smiled at the remembered words and the meaning behind them. In those few words, the sentinel revealed that he still trusted his guide and wanted him as his partner. Added to that, Blair also learned that Simon and Megan were going to be fine with time.
Reflecting back on the events of the past few days, the young man could still feel the weight of misguided guilt, but decided that he too would be fine. He would make the most of the salvaged pieces of his broken career, knowing that he would eventually make his way with a little patience, love and faith.
The end. Back to the fiction menu