Disclaimer : The characters of the show The Sentinel, belong to Pet Fly Productions. We asked if they could come out and play and they were willing. We did have to promise Blair that there would be no owies and that he could play a few tricks on Jim. We had to offer Jim equal time for tricks on Blair. (Don't worry I think Blair came out ahead.) We would like to abuse (clearing throat) I mean use them again sometime, so we *must* stay in their good graces. We are not being paid for this, so I am going to be selfish and not let the people from Pet Fly use any of my ideas. My sister can if she wants, she is a little easier than I am. The toaster scene was written before Warriors aired.
Jim was awakened by an ungodly sound which assaulted his ears. He was furious that he had been pulled from a beautiful dream, one of few which he had, had in the last few weeks.
"Damn it Sandburg! Turn off that alarm!" After a minute going by without the alarm being silenced, Jim swung his legs over the side of the bed allowing his feet to softly touch the cold hard wood floor. Silently cursing, he padded out of his room and down the stairs. The stairs vibrated with the force of each step, as his anger flowed through his body and into the staircase, causing creaking sounds, which usually went unnoticed. This added noise only aggravated the situation further.
He headed directly to Blair's room. Opening the door he spoke, "Sandburg...." his words were cut short. His bed was empty and had not been slept in. He went to the alarm clock and shut it off. His ears were grateful for the silence. Looking around the room, he began to wonder where his partner was. Jim tried to remember the conversation from the night before. Truth was he had been so tired that he couldn't remember much. But he was sure that Blair had not said anything about going out.
Jim left the young man's room. He had been in such an angry state that he had not even noticed his young friend. There sat Sandburg at the kitchen table where Jim had left him last night. He was asleep. Face down on a stack of test papers that he had been grading. Jim's mood changed from anger and frustration to compassion at the blink of an eye. The poor guy had been working non stop for the last two days. Being his guide, partner, and teaching fellow at the university. He thought it was time Sandburg took a break. A little vacation was due. Since it was a weekend, maybe a nice little camping trip was what the doctor ordered. The more Jim thought about it, the more he liked the idea. It would give them a little extra time to spend together, away from the *work* enviroment. It would also give them time to unwind and get to know each other a little better. Even though they had now been together for the last two years, Jim just didn't know a whole lot about his young guide. Blair could be a fountain of knowledge when it came to a case that they were working on, or when it came to Jim's sentinel abilities. But when it came to his personal life, his past, the waters seemed to stop. Blair just didn't talk about his life. All Jim knew was what he could piece together from what Blair would slip up and say. Although he was able to get a few more pieces to the Sandburg mystery from Naomi, Blair's mother. He wasn't sure though if he really wanted to know all that she had offered. The part about Blair playing a super hero was cute though. He could almost picture Blair straddling the toilet, pretending it was his motorcycle. He often wondered if Blair still did it. That would explain the long periods of time spent in the bathroom. Jim's silent laugh brought him back to the present and the sight of his young friend sitting in front of him.
Jim walked over and placed his hand on Blair's shoulder. "Hey Chief, come on its time to wake up." Blair didn't move. Jim squeezed the kid's shoulder a little harder. "Come on buddy, wake up. Sleeping in this position can't be good for you."
Blair began to move beneath the pressure of Jim's hand. He sat up. Jim had to smile at the red flair pen, which was sticking to the side of the young man's face. Blair had been using the pen to grade tests.
"Oh man...Uhh hey Jim." Blair said sleepily while reaching up to brush the hair out of his eyes. He looked around the kitchen and realized what he had done. Then feeling the pen on the side of his face, he pulled it off, somewhat embarrassed, he smiled sheepishly at Jim. "Oh man." He glanced at the clock and after a moment, the time finally registered in his still foggy brain. He looked back at Jim creasing his brow. "Oh Jim, I'm really sorry man." He was standing now trying to gather the tests, placing them in a neat stack, while talking. "Look, let me get this mess cleaned up, and I'll get breakfast started. Okay? Why don't you get your shower and by the time you get out it will be ready." By this time Blair's hands were going ninty miles an hour, as he spoke.
Jim had to hold back a chuckle. 'This kid could teach sign language with moves like that.' He thought to himself. Gently, he grabbed Blair's arms to stop the young man and force Blair to face him. "No, no, Chief. Look its Saturday morning and there is no hurry. We don't have to be anywhere or rush for anyone. Why don't you calm down and get your things together while *I* make breakfast."
Blair looked up at Jim and asked, "Are you sure man?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm sure Chief." Now they were both smiling widely. "You can have the first shower this morning. Just relax, get cleaned up, and when you are finished breakfast will be ready."
"Cool, that sounds great." Blair finished gathering his paperwork and bounced to his room. Jim wondered where the kid got the energy. Just when he thought the kid was down for the count, Blair would bounce back ready for the next round. Blair was heading to the bathroom when Jim stopped him.
"Hey Chief?"
Blair stopped, suddenly afraid Jim had changed his mind about the first shower thing. "Yeah Jim?"
"When you get out we have a little trip to plan."
Blair looked questioningly at the older man, but Jim cut him off before he could ask where they were going. "Oh and don't use all of the hot water Chief." Blair rolled his eyes. Forgetting the question he had wanted to ask, he walked into the bathroom.
Jim started to plan the details of the weekend as he prepared breakfast. After all his partner was working really hard and deserved a break. He wanted to make it a weekend they would both remember.
Blair leaned against the shower wall allowing the hot water to flow through his hair and down the tired aching muscles of his back. He could feel the tension fading. He thought about the test papers he had left to grade. 'There are only a few left and I can do them later this weekend.' He thought to himself. Slowly he decided to go ahead and finish up his duties in the shower, so he wouldn't use up all of the hot water. He reached up for his shampoo. It was empty. The only thing there was the bottle of kiddie shampoo that Jim had bought as a joke. Blair flipped the top on the bottle and brought it to his nose. 'Oh great! Its bubble gum.' He thought. ' This is all I need. Now instead of Jim bitching about the smell of apples and bananas, he'll be smelling bubble gum all day.' Blair giggled to himself. 'Serves him right.'
He quickly rinsed his hair and stepped out of the shower making sure to leave the water running just a little longer. 'Payback.' He toweled off and then began to towel dry his hair. When he had gotten most of the water from the long strands he wrapped the towel around his waist. Finding a bath cloth, he wiped the fog off of the mirror. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Hmm. No tangles. This stuff may not be so bad." He said smiling at his reflection and then he made a funny face at himself. The hot shower had done wonders, waking his tired body up and making him feel a little mischievous. He reached over to check the water still running in the shower. 'Oh yes, its cooling quite nicely.' He turned the water off. He knew he would have to wait a few minutes before leaving or else Jim would be suspicious. While he waited, he drew a little face on the mirror, which was now fogged up again. He wrote a little something there too. Knowing that when Jim took his shower later the face and message would reappear. He laughed out loud and left the bathroom.
The loft was a little cooler than the bathroom so Blair made a B line to his bedroom to avoid a chill. Shutting the door, Blair discarded his towel. He found his favorite boxers in the drawer and quickly pulled them on. They had been a gag gift from Jim last Christmas. Jim said he couldn't resist the lizard pattern. 'Now you can always have a lizard in your pants Chief.' He remembered Jim saying as he had held up the boxers that morning. The only thing he could think of as a reply to Jim's comment was ' Yeah right. Thanks Jim.'
Still smiling from the memory, Blair reached into the laundry bag and pulled out a fresh pair of jeans. He hadn't had time to put everything away. It didn't matter anyway. They were all his things, Jim's laundry had been done a few days before. Besides, Blair was use to living out of boxes and bags. Digging a little deeper in the bag he found his...Jim's Cascade P.D. sweatshirt. He never could remember to return it for some reason. As he pulled it over his head and allowed his arms to slip through the sleeves, he could feel himself warm instantly. He wasn't sure if it was the shirt, or if it was from a thought of the owner.
He decided he would wait until Jim gave him the details of the trip, before packing. He went back to the bathroom to throw his towel in the hamper and then went back to the kitchen. He was unaware of the sticking sounds his bare feet were making on the wood floor. Jim heard the sounds and smiled as Blair approached. Jim was staring at him and Blair knew it, finally, Blair stopped. "What!?!?!? Did I forget to zip up or something?" He looked down at his pants and back at Jim.
"No, Chief. I was just noticing how nice your hair looks this morning. You don't have that fly away frizzy look." He was laughing now. " And that bubble gum scent is kinda nice too."
"Very funny, Jim. Ha, Ha. You are just lucky I like you." Blair responded unamused, while rolling his eyes at his friend.
The smell of eggs and fresh coffee tickled his nose. Awakening senses that the shower had failed to. Blair realized suddenly he was hungry. He remembered that the last time he had actually stopped to eat had been the morning before. And that had been due to Jim's insistence. 'More like shoving me toward the kitchen table and *ordering* me to eat.'
Jim was dishing hot eggs onto their plates. As Blair made his way around the table, he glanced down to see how much toast Jim had made. There were only four slices, so he quickly rounded the island and plugged the toaster back in. Jim watched the young man coax the toaster into accepting the bread. With a forceful slap on the side, the bread stayed down. Blair didn't seem to complain about the fact that the toaster was worn out. He seemed to have gotten used to the morning ritual of abuse upon the old appliance.
Jim's thoughts were interrupted by the bread popping up. Blair examined the toast and decided that it was dark enough. He threw the hot slices onto his plate and unplugged the toaster. All he needed was to burn down the loft because of some dumb 'piece of crap' toaster. He walked over to the table and picked up his coffee cup. The smell of the fresh coffee had teased his nose long enough. Blair had been reusing the grounds during the night to keep himself going. Needless to say, the last pot had been like drinking water. 'That is probably why I fell asleep.' He mused. He brought the steaming cup to his lips, taking in deeply, the aroma with his eyes closed. He blew gently on the contents before allowing them to enter his mouth. His taste buds were in extacy as he rolled the coffee around in his mouth before swallowing. After a few more sips he topped off his cup and returned, with the pot in hand, to the table. Jim was smearing jelly on his toast and looking intently at the morning paper. He was frowning at the headline. Blair didn't have to ask, he knew it was the case they had been working on. Jim quickly opened the paper to the sports section. Smiling at the scores of last nights game. "Brown owes me fifty big ones." He said trying to decide what he could use the unexpected money on.
Jim's smile seemed to be infectious because Blair was smiling too. "That means Simon owes me a hundred." Blair said grinning evilly.
Jim looked over his paper at the grinning young man. He could have sworn he saw dollar signs flashing in those blue eyes. "You two made a bet on the game?"
Blair shook his head as he took another sip of coffee. Then pointing at his friend, "No, we bet on you taking Brown's bet. Thanks man. I needed the extra cash." Blair grinned again as he finished his eggs.
Jim tried to give Blair a disapproving glare. But his broadening smile wouldn't allow it. He turned his attention back to the paper, shaking his head.
'Jim is getting better at making breakfast.' Blair thought. 'The eggs didn't have that funny burnt taste that the last ones did.' He snagged the last piece of toast deciding to skip the jelly. He crunched loudly as he bit into it, distracting Jim. Blair smiled sheepishly. Deciding to take the opportunity to ask Jim about the trip he had mentioned earlier. Blair cleared his throat and began. "Hey, what were you talking about earlier?"
Jim looked up from his paper with a questioning look.
Blair sighed and rolled his eyes. "The trip?"
"Oh yeah, the trip." He laid the paper down and turned his attention to his friend and his own empty cup. While reaching for the pot to fill his cup he told Blair about his plains. He did not expect the reaction he would get from his room mate. "I thought we would head up to the mountains this weekend. Do a little fishing, hiking, you know....relax." He looked up at Blair as he emptied the remains of the pot into Blair's cup. Blair's blue eyes were as big as the plate he had dropped his half eaten toast onto. And his mouth was hanging open. 'Talk about shock.' Jim thought. 'The last time I saw anything like this was right before I hit that opossum that ran out in front of me.' Jim shook the thought out of his head, and looked back at Blair. He had closed his mouth but the look in his eyes had not changed. "What's wrong Chief? I thought you liked going camping." Jim knew he had made a big mistake with the last comment before he had even finished it.
"Yeah the camping part is okay. Its what goes along with it that I don't like."
Jim gave Blair a funny look,and furrowed his brow. "I don't follow Chief."
'HELLO!!!' "Lets see..." Blair began sarcastically. "The first time we went I wasn't in the condition to enjoy it too much." 'Because you attacked me and broke a few of my ribs.' "And then I thought you were zoning out on me again when that *test* came on the radio. So what did I do? I about killed myself trying to silence it." Jim flenched a little but Blair ignored it. Jim knew it wasn't his fault. " and the next time we went, we were trapped in the damn snow storm. My ankle was useless and you had injured your shoulder, or should I say dislocated your shoulder."
Jim raised an eyebrow at the raving young man.
"Yeah, I knew. Even though you felt you couldn't share that little tidbit of information with me. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. I noticed how much you were favoring your arm. And I could tell by your eyes that you were in pain man. We were almost human popsicles. I thought you wanted to relax. Lets just stay here." Blair was waving his hands around motioning to the loft. " I mean...it looks pretty safe to me. We can put the tent up on the balcony if you want to sleep under the stars." Blair was joking now.
Jim could see the twinkle in the young man's eyes. "Very funny. I was just wanting to get away from it all. But if you would rather stay here I guess we can." Jim said somberly, trying to turn the tables on the kid.
'Damn! Jim is learning my sad eyes trick.' "Okay...okay. We'll go." Blair said as he picked up the dishes and carried them to the sink to wash them off.
Jim smiled. "Do you think you can be ready in about twenty minutes?" He asked over his shoulder as he headed upstairs to his room.
"Sure man." Blair responded while turning off the coffee pot. Taking a dish towel from the sink, he cleaned the table off and added, "Maybe we can stop by the store. I think I am out of band-aids, gauze pads, tape, peroxide, pain killers, and splints. Maybe we can pick up some food too. Although we probably won't live long enough to eat it. Thank you very much!" Blair made sure he mumbled loud enough that Jim wouldn't have to strain to hear him.
Jim shot Blair a dirty look as he came back down the stairs. " I heard that Chief."
Blair shot the look back and smiled. "I'll just bet you did." He saw Ellison quicken his pace on the stairs, so he ran into his room and slammed the door.
Jim chuckled as he entered the bathroom. 'It's going to be a great weekend.' He thought to himself as he undressed for his shower.
Blair heard the shower come on and snuck out of his bedroom. Standing outside of the bathroom door he listened. After about five minutes the hot water ran out. "Son of a ....Sandburg!!!!"
Blair ran back to his room, howling with laughter. Still laughing he began to pack the rest of the things he knew he would need for the trip. Stopping for a moment, he ran into the kitchen to grab a box of band-aids. "Just in case." He said as he ran back into his room. He didn't want to give the big guy a chance to catch him.
Jim hurried out of the now cold shower and toweled off quickly. He looked into the mirror only to be greeted by a face that had its toungue sticking out and a hand on each side of its head where its ears would be. The water had been hot just long enough to cause the mirror to fog up slightly. At the bottom he noticed something else. Using his sentinel abilities he zoomed in on the print. It only took a moment before Jim was smiling. GOTCHA BACK MAN! And it was signed CHIEF.
'That little shit.' He thought to himself. Thankful he had brought his clothes with him, he dressed, brushed his teeth, and 'styled' his hair, which meant running a comb through the buzz cut. 'No muss, no fuss.'
After throwing the laundry into the proper hampers, he exited the bathroom. He found Blair sitting on the couch, channel surfing. The kid was trying hard to ignore him. Jim was going to make him sweat. Not knowing when it was going to happen. But he would get Blair back. It was like an ongoing game of tag between the two of them.
"You ready to go Chief?" Jim asked looking around for Blair's things and spotting them by the door.
"Yeah man." He clicked the television off and settled the remote back on the coffee table. Jim watched the kid walk around the couch to the front door, he flipped the strap on his backpack onto his shoulder and grabbed his sleeping bag. Jim shouldered his own pack, and reached for his own sleeping bag as Blair walked out of the loft. 'He is being too quiet.' Jim thought. 'He is probably up to something else.' But it was not that at all. Blair was still tired and it was beginning to catch up with him again.
At the truck, Jim let down the back seat allowing more cargo space. He arranged the items just so and then looked at Blair. "Lets go Chief." Blair walked around to the passenger side of the truck, and got in. Jim was taking inventory in his mind. Making sure he had remembered to bring everything. As well as turn off the lights, small appliances and locking the door. Satisfied he stepped into the cab of the truck, and within minutes they were on their way.
Jim stopped at a little mom and pop store to fill the tank up and to pick up a few supplies. Blair followed him into the store. "Hey Jim?" Ellison looked up from the canned goods to see Blair looking at him. "The bandages are over here. Should I pick up anything? This maybe our last chance." He said smiling and wiggling his eybrows.
"If you don't watch it you will be needing them sooner than you think." Jim sneered.
Blair gave him a mock look of shock, then held up his hand and exaggerated a nervous shake. Jim ignored Blair's little display and turned his attention back to the food.
Satisfied with his selections. He approached the register. A woman who appeared to be in her seventies smiled at him. She was a small woman with gray hair and a warm, loving smile. She began to look over his purchases. "Are you going camping?" She asked sweetly. He glanced at her name tag which read Nettie.
"Yes my friend and I are going to do a little fishing this weekend." Jim had glanced back at Blair, only to see him peep over a shelf and roll his eyes at him.
Nettie looked at the younger man. She thought he looked nice, although he *could* use a hair cut. She could tell by his eyes that he had to have a kind soul. She was not one to judge people by their appearances. She always tried to accept people as they were. And it was their actions that determined if they kept her respect or not. However, if he had been one of her grandsons, she would have to comment on the hair. She turned back to Jim. "Oh that sounds nice. My husband, James, says now is the perfect time for fishing. He went this morning and caught a nice mess of catfish. I guess I know what he expects for dinner tonight." She smiled back at Jim with a mischievous gleam in her smokey gray eyes, as she finished bagging his groceries. She accepted the twenty he offered her and pressed a few buttons on the old register. Slowly she counted the change back to him, and placed the receipt in the bag. Blair was standing by Jim now with a couple of bottles of water. Jim remembered the gas. "Oh, I almost forgot. I need to get twenty dollars worth of premium." Jim smiled at her apoligenticlly.
She returned the smile. "Why don't you go ahead and I will take care of your young friend. When you are finished we can settle up."
Jim agreed and left the store leaving Blair behind to pay for the water. "Will this be all sweetie?" She asked ringing up the sale.
"Yes ma'am." Blair answered.
"I noticed that your friend didn't by any snacks. And I know how my grandkids are when there aren't any sweets in the house." She reached over and grabbed a few Little Debbies from the display, which was sitting on the counter, and threw them into his bag. Before Blair could protest, she smiled at him, which made him feel warm all over. For a moment he was envious of her grandchildren. When she only charged him for the water he questioned her. She would not accept any money for the cakes, explaining that she hadn't seen her grandchildren in a few weeks and this gave her a chance to *do* for someone. Jim came back into the store as Blair was taking his bag. "Thanks Miss Nettie." He felt like a little kid again. He hoped that he and Jim could stop by and see her again on the way back. He planned to mention it when Jim returned to the truck.
Jim was paying for the gas when his nose detected something. He hadn't noticed it before. "Are you cooking something?" He asked still sniffing.
"Yes." She replied, as she accepted the money for the gas. "We also serve lunch. Today we are having chicken and dressing, purple hull peas, fresh cream corn, mashed potatoes, and rolls." She smiled, noticing the man smacking his lips.
"Sounds good. Almost makes me want to forget about fishing." He replied. "If it tastes as good as it smells, you should have a crowd in here at noon."
"We do fairly well at lunch." she continued. "Its all in the finger." she said holding her index finger up.
Jim cocked his head and looked at her.
"My grandkids always tell me to put my finger in what I am cooking. They say that it seasons everything to perfection." They both laughed.
Jim looked outside and noticed that the door of the truck was open and Blair was moving things around. "Well I guess I had better go and see what the kid is up too out there. It was really nice meeting you." He flashed one of those warm, charming, Ellison grins at her as he walked to the door.
"You boys be careful now. And come back to see us."
"Yes ma'am we will." He smiled once again as he left the store. That woman must be the greatest grandmother he thought. It was all he could do to keep from asking for a hug before he left, hoping to hang on the the warmth running through his heart for as long as he could. She was one of those few people that you just loved the moment you met them. Still smiling he walked up quietly behind Blair. "What are you doing Chief?" Jim asked intentionally loud. Hoping to freak the kid. Blair had pushed all of the equipment to one side of the truck. And was messing with his sleeping bag.
He jumped at Jim's voice and spun around to face its owner. "Damn Jim! You scared me. I thought that I would catch a quicky on the way to the camp sight. You don't mind do you?"
Jim was about to comment but noticed the circles under Blair's blue eyes and decided against it. "No, you go ahead Chief, and get some rest. I'm going to need you rested when we reach the site if you are going to get things set up before it gets dark."
Blair creased his brows at Jim. "Gee thanks man. Good to know you're always looking out for me."
"Someone has to." Jim shot back as he made his way around the truck to the drivers side. Blair sat on top of the sleeping bag, reaching out he shut the door and locked it. then he settled down for a much needed nap. He heard Jim start the engine and felt the truck slowly pull forward only to stop again. "Hey Jim?"
"MMM?" Jim mumbled as he was fishing around through his tapes before finding the one he was looking for.
"Do you think we can stop by here on the way back home?"
"I had planned on it buddy." Jim looked at the name on the store. 'Elliott's Country Store. I'll have to remember that.'
Blair smiled. "This may turn out to be a good trip after all." Then he heard the unmistakable sounds of Santana coming from the speakers. Crying Beast had begun to play. "Well maybe." He added sarcastically. It was Jim's turn to roll his eyes. Jim hit the fast forward button to cue up the next song. Black Magic Woman began as Jim turned the sound down, being careful to keep it loud enough so he wouldn't zone out. He knew that his partner would no longer be disturbed by his *excellent* taste in music.
Jim pulled back out onto the road, after a few minutes of driving he noticed something strange about the song that was playing. He listened a little closer...'it is Oye Como Va. But it sounds funny. Maybe I used a bad tape' He thought as he reached down and turned the volume up just a tad. 'No there is something different.' Then he realized that there was an extra beat to the song. It sounded just like that stuff Sandburg always bounced around the loft to. "Damn it Sandburg!" He exclaimed. Only to hear Blair trying to control a giggling fit unsuccessfully. 'Actually it doesn't sound half bad. I might just leave it this way. Although I won't tell Sandburg.'
An hour later Jim pulled into the state park. He turned his attentions to the back of the vehicle. He could here the rhythmic beating of Blair's heart and his even breathing. He knew the kid was sleeping soundly and hated more than anything to wake him up. But it had to be done. "Come on Chief, we're here." Jim called as he climbed out of the cab of the Explorer. Blair didn't even stir as Jim opened the tailgate. Jim looked in on his still sleeping partner. "I guess I'll have to do this the hard way." He said under his breath as he firmly gripped Blair's ankles and pulled them until Blair's butt was even with the edge of the tailgate.
Blair's eyes jerked open. "What the hell are you doing Jim?" He demanded, while trying to pull his sweat shirt back into place. "I mean I enjoy getting rug burns man, but not like this, and definitely not with you." Blair bounced his eyebrows at Jim and grinned evilly.
Jim shook his head at Blair, deciding not to comment on the kids remarks. "Come on kid, we've got to get things set up quickly if we plan to get some fishin' in before dinner." He said as he reached past Blair to grab an arm load of gear. It didn't take long to get the camp set up. Blair was putting the finishing touches on the pit he had constructed for the fire. Jim walked up behind him, "Not bad, I couldn't have done a better job myself. I guess that about does it. Are you ready to get started?"
"I've still got to get the wood." Blair replied as he stood up brushing the dirt off of his hands and from the knees of his jeans.
"I'll take care of the wood Chief, I wouldn't want you to get a splinter. With your luck you'd wind up in ICU for a week." Jim teased. He had trouble containing a laugh as he turned to walk into the woods.
"I'll most likely wind up there after eating your cooking." Blair said under his breath.
"I heard that son." Jim scolded.
"If I didn't want you to hear it wouldn't have said it out loud...Dad!!" Blair shot back, sarcasm dripping from every word.
Ignoring Blair's remarks for now, Jim used his senses to locate wood dry enough to burn. The ground was still pretty wet from the rain that had fallen a few days before. He noticed a nice group of Oak trees that had grown close together. As he drew closer, he was greeted with the sight of enough wood to last all weekend. Jim gathered all he could carry and headed back to camp. After dropping the wood carefully near the pit, he retrieved his rod and reel from the truck. "Come on Blair, lets go."
Blair already had his cane pole and the tackle box. He followed Jim for a few steps before stopping, "Oh man, I almost forgot." he said, then went back to the truck to retrieve a red tupperware bowl.
Jim's curiosity was getting the better of him. "What have you got there?" He asked trying not to sound agitated at the fact the kid had brought some of the good stuff from home.
"Uhh, its bait Jim." Blair said smiling as he caught back up to Jim. "Here I won't be needing this." He said as he handed Jim the tackle box. Jim liked fishing with worms. Blair couldn't stand the way they squirmed when he put them on the hook. He preferred to fish with liver. But knowing that Jim couldn't stand the smell, Blair had decided to try something different. Once they had reached the lake Blair opened the bowl and began baiting his hook.
Jim was eyeing him suspiciously, he swore he could smell..."Hey Chief, what have you got there? I swear I smell cheese."
"You're right oh sentinel one. Actually its macaroni and cheese." Blair smiled.
"What?" Jim asked, looking at Blair as if he were crazy.
"You heard me. Its macaroni and cheese. One of my friends told me about it. He said the fish just love it. But you have to use a certain kind."
"Why does it stay on the hook better?"
"No, its just the cheesiest." Blair started laughing. Jim had stepped right into that one.
"How do you plan on keeping it on the hook?" Jim asked, not amused by the kids attempt at humor.
"I had wondered about that myself. My friend told me that if you let is set out for a while, it becomes kinda rubbery, and it will stay on the hook. I figured what the heck. I'll give it a try." Blair dropped the line into the water and watched the float bob up and down. He sat down on the bank taking his shoes and socks off, then allowed his feet to dangle in the cool water.
Jim had spotted a small cluster of fish feeding near a tree, which had fallen into the lake. He cast his line in that direction. Hitting his mark the first try. He didn't tell Blair what he had seen knowing the young anthropologist would only accuse him of cheating. Jim didn't think of it as cheating though. He thought of it as catching dinner.
It had only taken about ten minutes for Blair to get a nibble. He watched as his float bobbed violently. 'Oh so you want to play hummmmm? Take a big bite and I'll show you how the big boys play.' It was almost as if the fish had read Sandburg's mind. The force of the fish taking the bait almost jerked the pole out of his hand. " Alright! I think I've got a big one here Jim!"
Jim looked around just in time to see Blair fighting with the fish trying to pull it in toward the bank.
"Oh yeah!" The younger man exclaimed. "Look at it would you? We've got some big ones here. Man I am going to enjoy some serious eating tonight."
He knew the Park Commision kept the lake stocked with a nice variety of fish. Jim was curious as to what kind of fish Blair would catch with his *bait*. The kid seemed to be off to a good start. Jim was impressed at the size of the catfish. Someone had mentioned that the fish here were a good size, but he had taken it with a grain of salt. It would seem that they had been right. The one the kid had just caught had to be at least eight pounds. He focused his senses on the area where he had cast his hook. Wondering why he had not had a hit on his own line. ' Patience Ellison, patience. You won't be outdone by a kid using table scraps.' He thought. Smiling when he heard Blair still sweet talking his catch. Some how Jim didn't think the fish was too interested in finding out what his future held.
Twenty minutes later Blair was dancing around with his third fish. Equally as impressive as the first. Jim had yet to catch any. And Blair was about to rub it in. "Hey Jim?" You wanna use my bait?" He said almost musically.
Jim shot Blair a dirty look. "No Chief I'm just being choosy."
"Well I think I am going to call it quits. I've got some heavy duty cooking to do here. I'll share if you want." Blair teased.
"Thank you for thinking of me. But I think I'll keep fishing a little while longer." Jim said, ignoring the giggling coming from his young friend.
Blair cleaned and gutted the fish. Being careful to put the unwanted items in a bucket. After all they didn't want any unwanted visitors coming into camp that night. When they were finished with dinner, he would add the bones to the bucket and throw the contents out somewhere in the woods, well away from camp, and hopefully down wind.
The skillet had been sitting on the fire for a while now and was just the perfect temperature for cooking the fish. The fish sizzled as he dropped them into the skillet, and the smell drifted from the campsite, toward the lake. Jim could smell them as they cooked and his stomach began to growl with anticipation. Finally, he got a hit. Breaking his concentration on the wonderful smell. Jim started reeling in his catch. "Its about time!" He exclaimed. This one was bigger than any of Blair's. He walked back to the camp as Blair was flipping dinner over in the pan.
"Hey Jim, I was beginning to think I was going to be eating all alone."
"Not a chance Chief." Jim said holding up his prize and grinning broadly.
After everything had been cleaned up from dinner. Jim and Blair sat back in front of the fire. Both men feeling full and quite satisfied with themselves. "You know Chief this is turning out to be a great weekend."
Blair nodded in agreement. "Yeah man, You're right. At first I didn't think I was going to have much fun. You know with our track record and all. But this time seems to be different. Its so peaceful here. I almost wish we could stay." He was looking up now watching the first stars appear in the black velvet sky. It was a clear night so before long the sky was full of bright twinkling lights. Blair was in awe of it all. " You know Jim, its a shame we don't have this kind of view from the balcony." He turned himself around and laid back on his sleeping bag to get a better look. Jim watched Blair and decided to do the same. It was almost mesmerizing, the combination of the night sky, and the various sounds of insects and frogs in the woods and by the lake. Jim had to turn the dial down on his senses to keep them from going into overload.
Blair spoke still deep in thought."Jim?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever wished on a star?" The tone in his voice was so innocent and childlike that it brought a smile to Jim's face.
"Once or twice." He replied.
"What did you wish for?"
"Don't you think you're getting a bit personal Chief? I mean.... I believe I heard somewhere that if you tell it won't come true."
"Oh hey man I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin your future." Blair laughed looking at Jim. Then he returned his attention to the sky and became very serious again. "Have any of them come true?"
"One or two. What about you Chief. Have any of yours come true?"
Blair smiled. "One or two." Blair looked over at Jim who was still gazing upward. How often had he wished for a place to call home, someone to call friend, or something that felt like family? The last two years had given him everything he had wished for. Well almost everything. He was still waiting on the date with a super model. But that was another story. Even though the last few years had not been perfect, he felt that he had some how changed. He knew he was a different person, and he owed it all to this man, his blessed protector. Jim had allowed Blair into his life. Acting as a guide, a partner, and most of all a friend. He had never known a relationship like this. He had hever allowed anyone this close to him. Now, when things got a little too crazy and something inside him told him to run, he ignored the voice. He had learned to stay and face the problems that arose. He now knew, that by sticking around and handling tough situations, you grew. You became more than before, stronger. He also had Jim to thank for this new piece of knowledge. Blair was pulled from his ponderings when Jim sat up and laid another log on the fire. Blair couldn't stop the smile that came to his face when he thought about how many of his wishes *had* come true.
"What are you smiling at?" Jim asked as he looked around trying to figure out what the kid was finding so amusing.
"Oh nothing," He replied still in thought. Then he decided to change the subject. "Hey man, did you hear what happened to Brown?"
Jim looked at Blair, concern filling his eyes. "No, what happened?"
It was all Blair could do to keep a straight face, even though obfuscation was something he prided himself on. "He was walking down Rosewood Ave. the other day....you know the *high* rent district? Anyway there was a crowd of people in one of the front yards. Well...as he got closer he was shocked to see that there was an orgy going on." Blair's eyes twinkled as he raised his eyebrows. His hands were getting into the act now.
Jim stared at Blair in his classic stone like fashion, wondering exactly where the kid was going with this.
Blair continued, "Well he walked up to the house and rang the door bell. The owner came to the door and asked if she could be of help. Brown said she wasn't even shocked about what was going on. Then he asked her to explaing why these people were having an orgy in her front yard. She said...." Blair cleared his throat and raised his voice to imitate that of a woman. " Oh yes officer. That is easy to explain. You see this is a whore house, and we are havin' a yard sale." He barely got the last sentence out before bursting into laughter.
"Oh Sandburg, that was pretty bad...*funny*, but bad." Jim could only keep a straight face for just a few seconds and then busted out laughing as well.
After they had calmed down from their laughter, Jim started rubbing his stomach. "Man, I sure wish I would have brought something sweet for dessert."
Blair agreed. Then remembering the nice woman at the store, he jumped up and ran into the tent. His actions startled Jim. He watched as Blair came back out of the tent holding two nutty bars. One on each side of his face. He was shaking the cakes and grinning mischievously at the older man. "Be nice and I'll share."
"Gimme or die!"
Blair shrugged his shoulders. "That sounds nice enough." He threw one of the cakes to Jim grinning. Jim watched as Blair ate the nutty bar. Sometimes he was just a big kid. He laughed as Blair pulled off one layer of the wafer and licked the peanut butter from each side.
"What?!?!....It lasts longer when you eat it this way." Jim shook his head wondering if the kid would ever grow up. Deep in his heart he hoped not.
Blair was trying to keep his eyes open, willing himself to stay awake just a little while longer.He was unsuccessful. Jim was looking at the stars again, when he heard his guide softly snore. Thinking about what Blair had asked him earlier, he began to reflect on his life. He had to admit that he more of a normal life than Blair had. No matter how bad it had been at times with his father. Blair never even had the chance to know his own father. He thought about the wishes he had made as a child, and those he had made as a man. He looked over at the young man, the flickering flames from the campfire, created the illusion of innocence on Blair's peaceful face. He couldn't believe how much he enjoyed spending time with this kid. It gave him a chance to share something of himself that he wouldn't normally share with anyone else. He had always wished for a brotherly relationship with Stephen. But thanks to his father, that had been taken away. Maybe that wish had come true. Well at least part of it. He had often thought of the relationship between Blair and himself as kind of brotherly. Blair also added something to the relationship. He gave Jim something...' What is it?' He thought. Finding it hard to put his finget on it. 'Strength? Security? Hope? Hell maybe it was all three.' Blair never seemed to judge. When Jim had a problem, Blair acted as though Jim were the only person that mattered. He did everything that he could to help resolve the matter. Even putting his own life on hold. Carolyn hadn't even been there for him like that. The more Jim thought about it, the more he realized that he and Blair had a very special relationship. It was more than friendship. It was deeper. If anything ever happened to the kid...if he...died, then part of himself would die too. The thought made Jim's stomach flench. He would be lost. When did he start to feel this way about the young man? Geez, they had only known each other for two years. Yet they lived together, and worked together. But he realized that this had started before Blair had moved in with him. He wasn't sure exactly when or how it happened. Only that it had. And for that he was thankful. This thing, whatever it was, exceeded anything he had ever felt before. Maybe they were brothers after all. Not bound by blood, but by something stronger. Their souls were bound together by some unseen force. Jim would die for Blair and he knew the kid would do the same for him. He had seen the kid do things Jim would have never imagined him doing. Just because he had asked Blair to. Jim was proud of him. He was a good kid, guide, friend...brother. With that thought still dancing in his mind he looked back at Blair. "Yeah, Chief. I would have to say that I have had several of my wishes come true recently."
Blair mumbled something incoherently as he rolled over onto his side.
Jim smiled and closed his eyes. He soon joined his guide in a peaceful sleep.
They had made it back home around three p. m. "Oh man," Blair began, 'I feel like so totally dirty. I can't wait to get cleaned up." He took his things into his room. Jim was still in the living room when Blair came thorugh the double doors.
"Why don't you go ahead and get a shower. How does Chinese sound for dinner?"
"Sounds great!" Blair exclaimed heading toward the bathroom. 'I'll be out in a few."
"Take your time." Jim said as he busied himself putting the gear away.
Within minutes the shower was running and Blair was in heaven. He didn't hear the door open or Ellison sneaking into the bathroom. His mind was too busy thinking of how wonderful the shower felt, and how grateful he was to still be in one piece to enjoy it. Jim had no trouble reaching over the curtain rod to spill the contents of the bucket into the shower. Blair screamed suddenly as the ice water hit him. "Ahhhhgggg!!!! Oh man, oh man. God what was that!" Shaking he was looking around the shower trying to figure out what had just happened. He saw bits of ice swirling around the drain. Then he heard it.
"Tag!!!!" Followed by laughter and the slamming of the bathroom door.
"Oh man, this means war!!!!" He yelled. While thinking of the ultimate payback.
Feel free to let us know how you liked it. I am alot like Blair, in the fact that I need lots of love and praises and an occassional slap on the wrist. Be gentle (sad Blair eyes here.) This our first *finished* piece, and we have others in the works. So please don't scar our phyche.
"This is just like *so* much work man!!!!"