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by
( // = Indicates Jim-Blair thoughts) (/ = Indicates other people's thoughts) (>
"Come one Chief, Simon will have our asses in a sling if we're not on time the first day back from our vacation." Jim hollered from the kitchen.
"Yeah, Yeah. You'd think that he could have at least waited for us to get to the station before he gave us a case, but *No* he has to call an hour before the alarm even goes off." Blair grumbled as he walked out of the bathroom.
"Blair, this isn't like you. What's wrong? Let me guess... You're afraid of what might happen if the others find out about us, right?"
Blair hung his head as he walked over to Jim and leaned his head against Jim's shoulder. Wrapping his arms around his Guide, he kissed the top of the curly haired head and smiled.
"Everything will be fine, they're our friends. Besides we won't tell them everything until we have too, not even Simon...ok?"
Looking up at Jim he sighed. "Yeah, ok. I just feel kind of edgy today and I'm not sure why. I know we can trust our friends, especially Simon."
Moving his partner to the door, he handed him his coat as he got his own. "WE will be fine. Let's get moving."
Blair grabbed his back pack and they left the loft.
The truck came to a stop in front of the crime scene and they both got out since Simon had already told them that there wasn't much of anything to go on as far as the latest kidnapping was concerned.
Simon was already there and walked over to them as soon as they got there.
"What have we got Simon?"
"Well first off, welcome back, And second... we've got a whole lot of Nothing."
"What do you mean? And thanks Simon, it's good to be here." // In more ways than one.// Jim smiled when Blair sent to quiet message to him.
"Ok, Here's what we do have. One white male approximately 30 years of age was forced into an unmarked white van, after what appeared to be a tug of war between the kidnappers and a female, approximately 25 years of age, who jumped into a late model black car, make unknown, and proceeded to follow the van in fast pursuit. No Plate Number. Thats it, thats all we have." Taking off his glasses Simon rubbed his eyes. "This one really stinks guys."
"Ok, Simon. Jim and I will take a look around and see what he can see"
Placing a hand on Jim's back they walked to the taped off area, and Simon went in search of one of the other officers who had gotten to the scene first.
Blair started moving his hand slowly along Jim's back to help ground him. "Ok, Jim. Focus on the surrounding area and try to pick out what doesn't belong."
Jim nodded and turned his attention to the crime scene and opened up his senses. He had just started scanning the area with his sight when he felt Blair tense up and freeze in place. Quickly he turned his attention to his Guide, and swept his senses over him in concern. "Blair?"
The only thing unusual about Blair other than his tense, frozen state, was the fact that his pupils were blown wide open. Turning fully around to face him, Jim broke contact with him briefly. Suddenly Blair blinked repeatedly as his pupils readjusted, then swayed slightly before Jim grabbed his arms to steady him.
"Blair, are you ok? Blair? Come on, Chief. You're scaring me here."
Taking a deep cleansing breath, Blair finally looked up at Jim. "Wow, That was cool. Weird, but cool."
//Blair, what just happened. You tensed up and froze in place and wouldn't answer me. Are you alright? //
Looking off to the side, Blair could see Simon looking at them and decided to make everything look normal.
"Yeah, Jim. I'm fine. Do you have an extra glove and an evidence bag?" // Play nice Jim, Simon is watching us. //
Jim looked over at Simon then back at Blair. "Uh, Yeah sure. Here." Handing him the glove and bag he followed Blair through the crime scene.
// What happened to you, and what are you doing?//
Putting on the glove, Blair moved a piece of trash that covered what looked like a watch,(which is what it turned out to be.) and placed it in the bag.
// Well, don't freak or anything, but I think I zoned.//
Jim's entire body tensed briefly but he recovered quickly but just barely, as he asked with gritted teeth and spoke as calmly as possible.
"What have you got there, Chief?" //WHAT !!!! What do you mean you zoned??//
Blair looked at the watch, turning it over in his hands.
// We'll talk about it later, promise. Just not here and now, ok?// "Oh God. Jim ... look at this."
"Ok, buddy. Lets have a look." Jim took the watch and looked it over, and tried to relax completely. // I'm going to hold you to that promise, junior.//
Jim flipped the watch over and read the inscription on the back and nearly had and anxiety attack to rival one of Blair's.
"We better get this to Simon, preferably when he's alone in his office . Jim, you realize that this could mean big trouble for us...right?"
Jim laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and steering him towards the truck.
"When doesn't it?" // We will be fine, I promise. I love you too much to let anything happen to you. You know that...right?//
"Right Jim." // I love you too.//
Major Crimes: Simon's office********
"Ok, Guys what have you got?" Simon placed his unlit cigar in the ash tray and gave them his full attention.
"Blair found something, and it has us worried."
"Blair found? What did he find?"
Jim handed the bag to Blair and he got up and passed the bag to Simon.
"This is all that was found at the scene, sir."
"It's a watch Captain, but it's more than that." Blair said as he sat back down.
Simon turned the watch over and was glad that he was already sitting down.
The inscription on the back read:V 'To My Guardian, May this symbol of our love remind you that I'll always be there for you. Your Guide forever, Brice '
"Sweet Jesus. Tell me this isn't what I think this is."
"It's worse Simon." Blair said as Simon turned the watch over again.
"Look at the brand name on the watch face."
"Damn." He muttered under his breath as he read the name.
*Sentinel Time Pieces*®
"We don't think that it's a coincidence."
"Ok, so we know that we have a possible problem other than the actual kidnapping. What I want to know is why it was Sandburg that found this, and what the hell happened to him out there. And don't try to bull shit me here gentlemen, I'm pretty sure I know what I saw and I am NOT liking it one bit!!!"
Just as Blair was about to *try* to explain away what had happened, Rafe knocked on the door and entered without waiting for an invitation.
"Simon, Jim, Blair... There's been a break in over at the college."
//Damn, Jim...why us? Why is it always us?//
Jim's jaw clenched as Blair hung his head and groaned. //Easy Chief, relax. We're ok.//
"Let me take a guess, Hargrove Hall... My office."
"Bingo, got it in one. Will you guys need any help?"
Jim handed Blair his backpack as they both stood to leave. "No we can manage, thanks Rafe. Simon, we'll get back to you."
"You're damn right you will, and with an explanation to my previous question too."
Jim and Blair answered together. "Yes, sir."
Rainier College: Blair's office********
Blair entered his office and left Jim to talk to the campus security guard that had been standing watch outside his office door waiting for them.
The office was trashed, but Blair's important files were all still hidden under the floor board under an unimpressive clay pot in the corner. He heaved a sigh of relief as Jim walked into the office after having dismissed the security guard. Blair automatically checked the clock on the wall for the time, having almost lived at the college since he was sixteen his internal clock ran by and made him aware of when the classes ended and began. He had also subconsciously become more aware of when the class bells rang after the first disastrous time the bell just outside his office door had gone off, with Jim standing in the doorway, almost directly under the bell. With his back to Jim, he started to pick up the office and right fallen statues and furniture as the phone rang. Sitting down at his desk he answered it and turned to look at Jim.
"Hello? Hi Simon. No, the important stuff is still safe...ALL of it."
//Jim, it's almost noon time. Turn it down.//
Quickly looking at the clock then at Blair, he smiled a thank you. //Thanks, Chief. I forgot...again.//
"Ok, Simon. Sure. We'll be fine. Ok, ok, ok. I get the picture. Bye Simon." Hanging up the phone he looked at Jim. "Did you listen?"
Smiling "Nope, but I can guess what he said."
Blair laughed at him. "Yeah, he can be predictable."
A sharp rap on the door jam brought their attention to the young woman who entered Blair's office.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Professor Blair Sandburg?"
Blair looked up at Jim as he took a protective stance as close to him as possible.
Looking back at the woman, he noticed her nervous glances around the room and the fact that she was practically clinging to, or trying to bodily absorb the thin leather book she had clutched to her chest.
"I'm Blair Sandburg. Can I help you? Are you a new student?"
The woman looked nervously at Jim for a second before she spoke.
"No, I..."
The sound of the class bell shattered the air. Jim's slight wince from the noise was expected, however the woman's startled yelp was not, as she dropped the book she had seemed determined to protect only moments before and claspt her hands over her ears as she fell to the floor.
Blair's heart rate shot through the roof as he looked first at the woman in obvious pain on the floor, then at Jim.
// Oh, God !!! Not AGAIN !!!//
He stood shakily as Jim helped the woman into the chair next to her.
Jim moved aside as Blair knelt in front of the woman who he knew to have heightened hearing, at the very least he guessed, and then looked at Jim for some sign of permission to help her, unsure he'd be able to do it other wise.
Jim saw the nervousness and worry in his guides eyes, and nodded his head. He knew Blair wanted his permission to help this woman. Both of them fighting flashbacks of Alex Barnes.
Blair smiled slightly then turned back to the cringing figure in the chair and placed his hands over hers on either side of her head and began to talk softly.
The bell had long since stopped ringing, and it had taken him almost ten minutes to bring the woman back into control of herself.
When she finally opened her eyes, she was starring at Blair with a look of awe and relief. Clearing her throat, she darted nervous looks between Jim and Blair before she pulled away from Blair and spoke.
"Did you just...,You're..., Are you..., Are you a ... Guide?"
The last word was spoken so softly that Blair barely caught it and he was only a foot from her.
Jim's reaction however, was to go into full protection mode, and pulled Blair away from the woman, causing him to trip over the book the woman had dropped.
Reaching down, Blair picked up the book to hand it too her. Seconds later the room started to spin in front of his eyes.
"BLAIR!!!"
Jim shouted as he grabbed him before he could fall to the floor.
"NO!!!" the woman screamed, as she grabbed the book from him and clutched it to her chest again, eyes wide as she watched the larger man help Sandburg to the small couch to sit down, never taking his hand off his shoulder.
Blair shook his head, and looked at Jim. //You tell me chief, are you ok? How do you feel?//
//I'm ok... I think. It was just...//
Looking at the woman who stood, still holding the book, then back at Jim.
//Jim, I'm ok. But for some reason I have this overwhelming need to know what's in that book.//
//Ok, Chief. Lets find out what's going on.//
The woman had been looking back and forth between the two men, neither realizing that they were visibly expressing that they were communicating with each other,with nods and facial expressions.
She took a step forward as Jim turned his attention to her.
"Who are you?"
The icy glare that Jim shot at her told her no lie's would be tolerated.
"My name is Jaren Blake, and I need your help."
She took another step closer to them and Jim looked at Blair as he felt him tense under his hand.
//Jim, Look at her wrist!//
Jim looked back to the woman, and noticed the angry red area around her right wrist, and then spoke.
"You seemed to have lost something, Miss Blake."
Jaren looked down at where the larger man was pointing, then up again with suppressed tears in her eyes. Blinking to clear her eyes she said.
"I know. Thats part of what I need help with, but I wasn't expecting this."
Cautiously she walked over to the couch and sat cross legged on the floor in front of Blair, keeping her eyes on Jim the entire time.
"This is your city." It wasn't a question.
After a moment Jim nodded and Jaren turned her full attention to Blair.
"You are his guide."
Again, not a question and Blair looked to Jim for his answer.
//Go ahead, Blair. I don't know why, but I trust her..., this much.//
Looking back at Jaren, he also nodded.
Lowering the book into her lap, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths before opening them again and looked deep into Blair's eyes.
Jaren held out one hand to Blair, palm up and waited for him to accept her hand.
Blair looked at her hand and then pulled his legs up onto the couch, to sit in the half lotus position before slowly placing his hand on hers.
He felt a brief tingling sensation before Jaren gasped and pulled her hand away as if burned, and for a moment, he thought he saw fear in her eyes, but only a moment since she was now looking not at him but at the floor.
//What the heck? Jim?// //Don't ask me, Chief. This is her show.//
Still looking at the floor, she spoke again.
"You are the guide who is bonded to the sentinel of the great city,...."
Jim could see that she was now shaking slightly, and her heart rate was also elevated above normal.
"Are you a shaman?"
"How did..? What do you want? Why are you here?" Blair's own heart rate was starting to rise.
"Easy Chief."
After taking a few cleansing breaths he asked again, since no response was forthcoming from the woman on the floor.
"What do you want and why are you here?"
Jaren was shaking harder now, as she asked again. "Are you a shaman?"
Taking a deep breath, Blair answered. "Yes, I am Shaman of the great city."
Jaren stopped shaking and looked up into Blair's eyes and slowly held the book up to him.
"Will you accept the responsibility to protect the knowledge and the contence of this book, To hold sacred the teachings of those long since left this plain of existence, To use the information within for the good of others and to keep the darkness at bay? Do you accept this as shaman of the great city?"
Blair looked at the book, and answered. "Yes."
Jaren handed him the book with her left hand but didn't let go. "Do you except the circle of light into your heart?"
"I do."
Blair fully expected the dizzying sensation he had felt before and just as it started, it stopped as Jaren placed her right hand over his heart and the dizzy feeling was replaced with a tingling sensation that shot through his whole body.
Finally letting go of the book, Jaren steadied herself as her connection from the book was broken. Reaching a hand up to Jim, she silently asked for help up off the floor.
Jim helped her up off the floor and repeated Blair's earlier questions.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"I have done what I was sent here to do, I have given the Guardians book to the shaman of the great city, But now I need your help."
Blair's head snapped up.
"The Guardians book!"
//Holy SHIT, Jim!!! Literally!!!//
"How can we help you Miss Blake?"
Jaren looked at Jim with a very frightened look on her face. "I need you to help me find my guide...,"
Blair tensed up just before she added.
"He's been kidnapped, And they're hurting him." Jaren cried out in pain and crumpled to the floor.
Blair got up and went to hand the book to Jim, but the look of absolute panic on her face stopped him.
"What's wrong?"
Gasping for breath she managed to answer. "You can't give the book to anyone. Only you can read it or hold it. It's protected... Oh God, they're hurting him. BRICE!!!"
Breathing hard and fast she continued. "You're bonded right?"
Blair nodded "Then you know the rules, you can share each others feelings...good and bad. One mind, one heart, one soul. When one dies, so does the other. We can't live without each other."
Whimpering, pain flashed across Jaren's face again and Blair looked at Jim.
//Jim, she can't take much more of this. Will you put her out? You can do it faster than I could since you can feel the nerves. Please Jim.//
//Easy Blair, it's ok. I got her.//
Jim sat down on the floor behind Jaren and wrapped his right hand around her waist for support , speaking quietly to her.
"Relax Jaren, let go. We'll help you find him, I promise."
He said as he used his left hand to find the nerve hidden at the juncture between her neck and shoulder, and applied the correct pressure.
Jaren was out in seconds, welcoming the darkness.
The Loft:********************
Getting Jaren to the loft wasn't that difficult, and she was now asleep and laying on Blair's old bed, the strain of the attack on her Guide had taken it's toll on her and kept her in a deep sleep. Jim and Blair were sitting on the couch and hadn't spoken very much since Jim knocked Jaren out.
"I don't know weather to be relieved or terrified." Jim spoke, breaking the silence. Blair looked at him questioningly.
"What do you mean Jim?"
"The whole, one dies the other dies, thing. I mean, I'm relieved that I wont have to go on with out you, but knowing that if something happens to me..., Blair that scares me." Jim turned sad eyes towards his Guide.
Blair moved to sit closer to Jim on the couch , wrapping his arms around his waist and laid his head on Jim's chest.
"I feel the same way you do..., to a point. I knew that if anything happened to me, that you would either zone out so bad you shut down, or... well, that you'd find another way to ...leave." Blair shivered, unable to think of Jim dead.
Jim hugged Blair to him and smiled. "Know me that well do you?"
"Jim, if anything happened to you, I ..."
"Shh. I know, I know. Then we'll both be relieved. No matter what happens, we go together."
After a few moments of snuggling, Jim's stomach growled loudly and they both laughed as Blair's answered back.
"Tell you what. Why don't you start in on reading that book, and I'll start lunch and call Simon. He'll have to know some of this stuff, just in case."
"But not all of it yet, right? Now 'how' we're bonded, just the consequences?"
Jim kissed him softly before he got off the couch and headed for the kitchen.
"Don't worry Blair, we will keep that part to ourselves a long as possible, but eventually he will have to know. At least now we have an excuse for why 'you' zoned. I hope that book can tell us 'why', or at least give us a set of directions."
"Ha, ha, very funny... NOT. You know he's not going to take this well. It was bad enough we were going to have to tell him about me zoning out and possibly about how we can communicate, but now this death pact thing we share..., Nope, he's definitely Not going to be a happy camper!"
The both laughed again and then quieted down as Jim started lunch and Blair became oblivious to the world as he became absorbed in the 'Guardians' book. He didn't even notice when Jim called Simon.
*Banks!*
" Hi Simon, it's Jim."
*Where the hell are you? I expected you back here an hour ago. I even called Sandburg's office but there was no answer, And Speaking of 'answers'...*
"Thats what I'm calling about, Do you think you could clock me out for the rest of the day, then when you're done doing that...do the same for yourself? We need to deal with this at the loft, all of it."
*All of what?*
"Well, the present case, the break in at Blair's office, and the answer to your question. Plus a few other things."
*I'm not going to like this, am I?*
"No sir, I don't think you will. Not one bit, but nothing can change the facts."
*Ok, how soon should I get there?*
"Uh, how about two hours, we still have a few things we need to figure out before you get here."
*Ok, will do.* (Click)
Jim shrugged as he hung up the phone and thought, some people just don't 'DO' good-bye's.
The Loft: Almost 2 Hours Later********************
Jim and Blair sat quietly on the couch, shoulder to shoulder after they had eaten a brief lunch, and were now looking over and discussing the contence of the book.
" I can't believe this Jim, everything I ever wanted to know about what you are... what WE are, is all right here!"
" I know Chief. It's kind of strange though, that this would just drop in our lap now. I'm still really concerned about who broke into your office and why."
"I think that maybe they were looking for this book. I mean think about it. Jaren had the book and her Guide was taken and she was coming to see me. It just makes sense."
"I think you're right."
Pointing to the book, Jim looked at Blair. "Does that mean what I think it means Blair?"
"Uh, What part?"
"Right there, where it says ' When the wolf dies and returns at the command of the Great Cat, the two souls will become one and join in ALL things.' Could that explain why you suddenly have access to my abilities ?"
A shocked gasp from behind them cut off Blair's answer as they both turned to see Jaren standing behind them in the kitchen supported by a chair.
"You,.. You can read the book?"
Jaren sat in the chair, shock clearly written on her face.
Jim and Blair looked at each other as the realized at the same time that Jim wasn't supposed to be able to read the book at all, let alone understand the language.
Blair smiled, the obvious delight of being able to share yet another thing with his Sentinel glowing in his eyes.
"I guess you were right Jim, we are joined in ALL things. That should be a good enough reason for Simon, don't you think?"
"It's perfect Chief. Speaking of which, he's on his way up. Maybe now that Jaren is awake and he's here we can get some answers. Jaren would you like something to eat?"
She just shook her head. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that she was in the presence of the Sentinel of the great city and his Guide who was the Shaman of the great city. It was just too much to deal with right now.
Getting up off the couch, Jim waited by the door for a few seconds before he quickly opened the door on a once again startled Simon.
"WHY must you DO that!!!??? It's bad enough trying to keep my poor old heart in my chest just working with the likes of you two."
Simon laughed as he entered the loft and removed his jacket. Jim took his coat and hung it up and motioned for his captain to have a seat.
Casting a glance at the woman seated at the kitchen table, he turned a concerned gaze to his two friends who now sat at opposite ends of the same couch.
"So, What have we got Jim?"
Blair and Jim looked at each other. // DO you want me to tell him or do you want to... He's Your boss.//
//Very funny Curly. Why don't you go ahead, I think you have more of the information than I do any way.//
Blair sighed and they both looked at Simon. "Simon, this (motioning to Jaren) is Jaren Blake. Jaren Blake, Simon Banks of the Cascade P.D. Major Crimes Unit"
"Ma'am."
Simon nodded his head in her direction, as Jaren just looked at the floor. Looking at Jim, he asked... "Is she ok?"
"She will be Simon, as soon as we find her Guide."
Both Simon and Jaren tensed at the mention of the word Guide. "Excuse me, .. What did you Just say?"
/Please not again!/ Simon thought to himself.
Blair was slightly shocked that he has picked up Simon's heart felt plea, and was glad that both Jim and Simon were looking at Jaren at the time. Just what he needed... MORE stuff to sort out.
Clearing his throat Blair spoke again. "She's a Sentinel Simon. It was Brice Falon that was kidnapped, he's her Guide."
"Damn, I was afraid of that. Well at least that explains the watch."
Jaren looked up, hope, showing on her face. "You found my watch? Can I have it back?"
"Ma'am, right now it's in evidence lock up, but we can get it for you."
"Thank you."
"Anyone want a beer, cause I could sure use one about now." Simon asked as he got up and headed for the fridge.
Blair looked at Jim who had been sitting quietly on his end of the couch. Speaking Sentinel soft so that only Jaren and Jim could hear him, he looked over at her as he spoke.
"Jaren, please be careful about what you say in front of Captain Banks. He doesn't know just HOW close Jim and I are and we'd like to keep it that way."
Jaren looked at the surface of the table and Blair, sure that he could see her lips move, looked at Jim for conformation.
//She agrees Chief. Thanks for even thinking about that. As soon as you said that I realized that without telling her not to, she might have added that part of the bond to the discussion when we tell Simon about what happened earlier today. Good catch.//
Blair smiled at Jim then looked at Jaren.
"Well find him Jaren."
Simon sat next to her at the table after he had gotten his beer. "Well Miss Blake, Can you tell us why Mr. Falon was taken, and would you know why Sandburg's office was broken into this afternoon?"
"Yes, I can. My Grandfather was a Sentinel and did as all Sentinel's do. He found his Guide. Unfortunately after 15 years as a Sentinel and Guide pair, my Grandfathers Guide was in a car accident and he had a very long and hard recovery. Not that he ever really recovered. His legs were badly damaged and he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that he had become dependent upon his medication and that medication caused him to use poor judgment. "
"What does this have to do with what's happening now Jaren?"
Blair asked as he and Jim both got up off the couch to join her and Simon at the table.
"My Grandfathers Guide had a diary. A VERY explicitly written diary about how he was a Guide and my Grandfather was a Sentinel, and everything that they were able to do. How that it would most likely be hereditary and that if it wasn't, that it was easy enough to spot one. If he had been in full control of his mind he never would have written about any of this, using specific names, dates, or incidents. My Grandfather was a very healthy man for his age. So when he died suddenly two years ago while visiting us, we knew that his Guide had died in the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital to clear out his things, everything was gone, including the diary."
At this point, Simon interrupted with a question. "What do you mean when you say you KNEW that your Grandfather's Guide had died? What did that have to do with your Grandfather dying?"
Jaren looked at Jim and Blair for an answer, knowing full well that it was not her place to give out this part of the Sentinel - Guide bond.
"Simon, You know that Jim and I are connected. You've always known that, but I don't think you realize just how connected we really are."
"Sandburg, what are you babbling about?"
"Sir, I overheard you say once to Joel that if anything ever happened to Blair, that you didn't think that I'd be far behind him. Well, You're right."
"You guys are really starting to scare me here, speak plain english."
"Simon, if either Jim or I dies..., so does the other. We are a bonded pair. Part of that is the answer to what happened to me this morning but we'll get back to that in a minute, ok. I'd like to know more about why my office was trashed."
Simon had closed his eyes and just nodded his head. At least he knew that they would never have to grieve for the loss of each other. He could live with that.
"Go ahead Jaren, continue."
"OK. Well, we found out later that my Grandfather's Guide's grandson had been there when he died. He must have told his grandson everything. Mr. Bracket trusted family above all else."
Jaren noticed that Blair, Simon and Jim had all suddenly tensed. "Hey, are you guys ok?"
Blair's hands were shaking as he spoke. "Jim, you ask her. I can't."
Jim grabbed hold of Blair's hands and shook his head and looked pleadingly at Simon.
Breathing as calmly as possible Simon asked the question they all dreaded the answer too.
"Miss Blake, What was Mr. Bracket's grandsons name?"
"Oh, it was Lee,.. Lee Bracket."
Jim had to release Blair's hands as he rushed into the bathroom and threw up.
Jim stared at Simon and watched him pull out his cell phone. "He better still be there Simon, because if he's not, I'm going to take care of it my way this time."
Simon nodded his head. There was no way in hell Lee Bracket would survive if he was the cause of this. This time he would look the other way because it wasn't Dective Ellison speaking, it was the Sentinel of the great city.
Jim went into the bathroom to check on Blair as Simon paced the floor waiting to get conformation of the location of Lee Bracket.
"I take it you and your friends have had the pleasure of Lee's company"
Jaren spoke sarcastically and Simon knew that she had also had the displeasure of meeting Lee Bracket.
"And you say this because...?" Simon asked.
"Well we couldn't prove it at the time, but we think that Lee killed his grandfather to get the diary. It makes a lot more sense now though."
"I wouldn't put anything past that man."
In The Bathroom*******************************
"Blair?"
Jim had found Blair sitting on the floor in the corner of the bathroom, with his arms wrapped around himself, shaking.
"Shh, You're ok love. We'll get through this."
Reaching down, Jim pulled him up into his embrace and held him, cupping the back of his head with one hand and the other hand easing up and down his back in a comforting gesture. Feeling his warm breath coming hard and fast against his neck, he listened to his Guide's heartbeat which was also going hard and fast.
"Blair, you have to relax. You don't want to have an anxiety attack do you? Try to concentrate on your breathing, that's it, I've got you. "
Feeling the shaking abate and the breathing and heart-rate of his Guide calm, he pulled back from him slightly and kissed him ever so lightly.
//I love you, Blair. We're home, we're safe for right now.//
Leaning his head back against Jim's shoulder he exhaled a shuddering breath.
//But for how long?//
"Come on, let's go see what Simon's found out."
Jim pulled back again and gave him another kiss before leading him back out into the loft.
The Loft: 30 minutes Later********************
Jim and Blair were once again on the couch, this time with their arms wrapped around them and Blair's head resting low on Jim's chest.
The sound of Simon snapping his phone shut caused Jim to look up at him.
"What did they say Simon?"
Sighing in relief Simon said. "Well, Lee Bracket is exactly where he's supposed to be, and I had them do a personal visual check. Is he ok Jim?"
Blair mumbled something against Jim's chest and he smiled. "Yeah, Simon. He's ok."
Suddenly Blair's head snapped up and he looked directly at Jaren.
"Jaren, did Mr. .., did your Grandfathers Guide write about the Guardians book in his diary?"
"It's very possible since just up until my Grandfather came to visit us it was always in his possession. It's mostly for the Guide to use to help guide the Sentinel and for the Guide to learn what he needs too. My Grandfather was bringing it to me to pass it on to Brice since Mr. Bracket couldn't leave the hospital. So, I'd have to say yes."
"And since the book is for the Guide to use, that's why they took Mr. Falon."
"Blair I hate to say this but since Mr. Falon didn't have the book and they trashed your office,... they may try to grab you next."
"There is no way in HELL I'm going to let that happen, Not in My city, Not My Guide. Guide hunting season is officially closed!"
"Ok, Jim. I've already put in a call to have some uniforms watch the loft and the university. Now how about I get an answer to an earlier asked question?"
Blair quickly buried his face into Jim's chest and tried not to smile. He had been waiting for this and knew that it was only a matter of time before Simon asked about it again.
Jim suppressed a chuckle as he saw the look on Simon's face. //Ya' know, Blair. Simon's not going to have to guess how closely we're bonded if you keep doing that. Although I think he may have already guessed that much.//
//No Fair, Jim. How much more will we have to deal with today?//
Blair groaned as he pushed himself away from Jim and looked at Simon. "Ok, Simon, Why don't you tell us what you think you know and we'll fill in the blanks."
Simon had on his 'no nonsense' face that he always wore at the office as he spoke. "Ok, Fine. This morning at the scene of the kidnapping I could have sworn that I saw you zone out and Jim trying to bring you out of it. Does that sound about right to you two?"
"My God!! But that would mean..."
Jaren's out burst drew all their attention.
"Is something wrong Miss Blake?"
Jaren looked at Simon and Jim and then directly at Blair.
"Did you,.. You Died?"
Jim grabbed Blair and pulled him into an embrace again the second he heard his heart rate start to spike. Blair was trying frantically to get away but he held him tight, softly crooning at him until he started to calm down and return the embrace just as tightly, and felt Blair's tears soak into his shirt as the flashbacks they had tried to avoid all day slowly started to fade.
"This just isn't our day. Simon, will you explain what happened, I don't think either of us can do this right now."
Simon briefly explained the incident at the fountain and Alex Barnes to Jaren as Jim kept a tight hold on Blair, who really just wanted to go hide under something.
Jaren looked at Jim as she chose her words carefully. "When this is all over, you both will have a long journey to take. I don't know when, I only know that when it's time you will both know it. The two of you have something very special and unique, even for people like us."
"I think I can also explain what happened to the two of you. Blair died and you called him back. Your souls merged and now you are showing signs that your gifts are also being shared with each other. How's that?"
Jim looked at his boss. "That sounds about right, Simon. Will you have a problem with this?"
"Do 'I' have a problem with this? Never mind ME, do YOU have a problem with this? Because honestly I have NO idea what I would do with two zoned out people at a crime scene."
Blair slowly leaned up away from Jim's tight embrace, and wiped his tear stained cheeks before he spoke.
"It's not like that. Not with Jim's side of it anyway. The book explained that much to me. It's impossible for both of us to zone out at the same time. Only one of us can have enough control of the abilities at one time to even be able to zone out. Eventually we will both be able to share my abilities though."
"Your ability's? What are Your ability's?" /This is nut's. I need a vacation. Maybe Darryl and I could go fishing/
//Jim, we were going to tell him this part any way, right?// //Go ahead Chief, Dazzle 'em!//
Both of them smiled before looking at Simon.
"So tell me Simon, just where would you take Darryl to go fishing? Oh, and NO you're not nuts."
Blair, Jim and Jaren all laughed as Simon almost fell out of his chair.
"Holy SHIT! Tell me you didn't just do what I think you did. No, better yet, tell me you DID so I know I'm not crazy."
"It has great advantages Simon. I may only be able to pick up the odd stray though from other people so far, but I can TALK with Jim. If he tells me to stay back or in the truck, I wont be AS difficult about it because I'll be talking with him the whole time and I'll know what's going on, AND so will you."
Simon murmured under his breath and Jim laughed. //He thinks that I'll go crazy having your voice in my head.//
"HEY!!! Simon I'm not THAT bad."
Simon shot Jim a dirty look. "You weren't supposed to tell him I said that."
"Well you believe us now though right?"
"Yeah, But I should still have my head examined."
"Jim, I just though of something."
Getting up off the couch, he walked over to sit in the chair across from Jaren. Taking her hand in his he asked. "Jaren, do you trust me?"
"I.., Yes."
"Ok, good. I want you to do something for me. Close your eyes and relax. That's it, slow your breathing. Good. Now, I want you to think about Brice, but keep calm and relaxed. You're doing great."
Blair stood up slowly pulling her up out of her chair also. "Jaren, where is Brice. What direction do you feel him coming from?"
Releasing her hands, but keeping contact with her body the entire time, he slowly started turning her in a circle until her body stopped.
"He's in that direction."
Jaren pointed out straight in front of her, eyes still closed.
"That's good Jaren. Now how far away is he? You have felt him before, you can judge the distance. Remember when you have felt him before. One of you at work, while one of you is at home, or shopping. The connection is always there. How far away is he Jaren?"
Jaren stood still and Jim could hear her heart rate and breathing slow even more under the influence of Blair's hypnotic voice.
She whispered softly in her trance like state. "He's ten or fifteen miles away."
Blair had moved to stand behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist and started to bring her out of the trance when she suddenly screamed.
"NO! NO! Not again. Brice!"
Blair helped her to the chair just as her legs gave way. Jim rushed over to Blair's side and knocked her out once again. Scooping her up he walked into Blair's old room and placed her back on the bed.
//No one should have to suffer this pain.//
//I know, but at least we know where to look now.//
"I realize that you two are probably having a really good conversation right now, but do you mind telling me what the hell just happened?"
"Sorry Simon, unfortunately by putting her in a meditative state I amplified her connection to her Guide, which is what I was going for but I forgot about the other side effect. She can feel his pain if it's painful enough, and to get her to locate him I had her strengthen their connection. I'm glad it worked though, it was the first time I was able to try something like that."
"Blair, what did you mean when you said that we know where to look now?"
"Well, she said ten to fifteen miles in that direction." Pointing in the direction that Jaren had.
Simon glared, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Yeah, and...?"
Blair smiled. "Yeah Well, the waterfront warehouse district is twelve miles in that direction."
All three of them smiled.
"Ok, let's get on it and find out if any of the warehouse's have been rented out in the past few weeks. I'll call the station to get the ball rolling. Will she be ok?"
"Yeah, she'll wake up after they finish..., well, when they're done with Brice. Unless he dies, then she wont wake up at all... ever."
Simon's Car: Three hours Later********************
Jaren had finally woken up thirty minutes ago, abut she wasn't looking very well. Whatever they were doing to Brice Falon was starting to take it's toll on her and it was getting obvious that it wouldn't be much longer before there was permanent damage or death.
Simon, Jim, Blair, and Jaren were now all heading down towards the docks in Simon's car with back up right behind them. Blair was in the back seat calmly talking Jaren through another meditative trance and she was blindly giving Simon directions as to which way to go.
The Warehouse paper trail at the police station had turned up four different possibilities and Blair had suggested that they try to have Jaren lead them in the right direction as they went to check out all four of the locations. After about twenty minutes it was obvious to Jim and Simon just which warehouse they were headed to since the other three were in the other direction.
Jim informed the back up that they had conformation on the correct location and that they were to all go in silent.
"Ok, Jaren. I want you to come back up again. Bring yourself back to the surface. That's it, breathe. Ok, Great. How do you feel?"
Jaren looked around. "I feel fine. Is this where they have him? Did I do It?"
"You did good Jaren. Now I want you to do one more thing for me. I want you to listen for Brice. Locate his heart beat. We need you to tell us where he is in the building, can you hear him?"
Jaren cocked her head in the same manner that he had seen Jim do a thousand times, and noticed that Jim was also doing exactly that. A few seconds later she smiled for the first time since she met them.
"He knows I'm here. He asked me what took me so long. He's in a room on the first floor, one guard...armed. There are other's but I can't tell how many."
"Good Job Jaren."
Blair looked at Jim. "How many Jim?"
"There are five in the back room upstairs. They're playing cards. All Armed. We don't have much time. They're going to finish their hands and them go back to..., they're going to 'TALK' to Brice again."
Jaren's face went white at Jim's statement and tried to get out of the car, thankfully Simon had expected that and had locked the door. Thank heaven for child proof door locks.
"Jaren, You need to calm down. Jim will get him out. They already have the place surrounded. I know you have an overwhelming urge to do this but you have to let the police do this."
"NO, he's MY Guide, I have to go get him, it's MY JOB!!"
"JAREN!!"
Everyone in the car froze in place and looked at Jim.
"This is MY city, MY territory. You WILL stay in this car. Do you understand me?"
Jaren hung her head in defeat. "Yes."
"Chief, keep an eye on her."
Simon and Jim exited the car quietly and joined the others to get ready to enter the building.
//Be careful, Jim. // //I will. We'll put a stop to this and destroy any evidence they might have about us.//
Outside the Warehouse: 20 Minutes Later********************
The retrieval of Brice Falon had gone down quietly. Only the man guarding him had been shot, and the others were overtaken quickly and had never managed to even draw their weapons. Jaren Blake was sitting in the back of an ambulance with Brice Falon holding his hand.
Sitting on top of the ambulance unseen by everyone but Blair, was a white owl and a hawk, cautiously watching over their humans.
Inside the Warehouse: ********************
Jim and Simon were going through all the papers that they could find. Destroying some, hiding others in Jim's jacket. The men that they had captured had been the last of a group or mercenaries that had been commanded by Lee Bracket.
It had been a last ditch effort to get enough information on Sentinel's and Guides to try to blackmail Jim and Blair to do whatever they wanted them too. Jim was just thankful that it was real bad guys and not the government, or M.I.B.'s as Blair would say. Other than loosing his Guide, that was his greatest fear. Using his senses Jim scanned the entire building until he was positive that there was nothing else that could be connected to Sentinel's or Guides.
//Jim, can we go home now?//
Jim looked over at Simon. "Simon, Blair wants to know if we can go home yet. I really don't think it would be a good Idea for me to fill out any paper work on this case. I don't want anything that could possibly connect us to this. Give it to Rafe and Brown."
"Yeah, Jim I think you're right. Although I think this is just a way for you to get out of the paper work. Have you got everything? You're sure that there is nothing else here that can be connected to you or Blair?"
Simon looked around the room to see if there was anything that they had missed.
"Yeah, we got it all Simon, trust me."
He looked at Jim and smiled. "Now how can you be sure about that without Blair here to back you up?"
//Jim?//
Jim laughed as he headed for the door. "He is here Simon. Just because you can't hear him, doesn't mean I can't."
//I'm on my way. How's Jaren and Brice?//
"Are you sure that's a good thing Jim? Ya' know they lock up people who hear voices."
Simon started laughing at the thought of Jim having to hear Blair in his head.
Blair, having heard what Simon was thinking since he was purposefully listening, decided to play nasty.
// Jim hold on, watch Simon for a second and let me know what happens.//
// Ok, what are you going to do?//
Jim turned in the doorway and looked at the Captain of major Crimes and waited.
//Oh, Siiiiiiimonnnn. You better be nice to me, or you could end up being in there yourself.//
Jim started laughing when he saw the shock on Simon's face. Blair's getting better at this.
"Jim, please tell me he did that on purpose?"
//How's he taking it? And can we go now?//
//He doesn't look too good, what did you say Chief?//
//Only that if he kept it up that he could end up in a rubber room too. *Snicker*//
"Yeah, Simon. He did."
"Jim, go home, and take him with you. And tell him that if he does that again, I'll call his mother and tell her that she should come for a visit."
"But Simon, that would punish me, not him."
"Then I guess you better learn how to control your Guide. Bye, Jim."
"Yeah, Right. Night Simon."
Jim left the building and was surprised to see that at some point Blair had gone home and gotten the truck and he didn't even notice.
Blair tossed him the keys and hopped into the passenger side of the truck.
"Did you find anything?"
Jim got in and started the truck, handing him the papers that would never make it into the evidence lock up. "Simon and I got everything there was that was connected to us or Jaren and Brice. Thankfully they had guns and some drugs so the bust will reflect that more that why Brice was taken hostage."
"That's good. Jaren called from the hospital. Brice has some broken ribs, and a severe concussion, and major bruising, but he'll be fine. I think Brice having a concussion is what made her feel sick. It could have been a lot worse."
"I know, but we survived... again. Oh, and Simon says that if you do that to him again, he's going to tell your mother on you."
They both laughed as they thought of how funny Jim as said that. The rest of the trip to the loft was made in silence as they each sorted through their own thoughts.
The Loft: Four Hours Later*******************
The loft was locked up tight and all the lights were out and only the sounds of breathing could be heard in the darkness. Blair lay half on top of his Sentinel under the blankets of the bed they shared, his head resting on Jim's chest, snuggled warm and secure in his embrace. The papers from the bust tucked safely with their other Sentinel papers, and the book of the Guardians was hidden in a space behind a wall panel wall that Jim had shown him just that night. The other documents hidden behind the panel were things that Jim had kept hidden even from his ex-wife. Tomorrow Jim had promised to share everything with Blair, including an emergency code system that he felt it was time to install in their life. Just in case anything close to what happened tonight ever happened again. It could have been worse, it could have been the government, and that still really scared Jim. Unfortunately by tomorrow , Blair would be just as scared. Their life was about to take some drastic changes. They needed to be much more prepared for what could happen. Blair needed to be more prepared, or it could cost them their lives.
Jim listened to Blair's heart beat and let it lull him to sleep. As he drifted off, he had a niggling feeling that he had forgotten something important.
A voice drifted up from the floor below as the panther paced through the darkness of the loft.
>You must prepare yourself and your Guide, Sentinel. Your long journey is close at hand.
To Be Continued in... *****The Path Across Worlds*****
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