Okay, here it is, the long awaited prequel to "Teacher, Helper, Friend". I know I should have written this one first, but it just didn't happen that way!!
As usual, nothing about The Sentinel belongs to me. Everything about it belongs to UPN and Pet Fly Productions. Similarly, dueSouth and its characters are the property of Alliance and TNT. Extra big cyberhugs go out to TAE for all of her help and suggestions on this one ... somehow you got me back on track when I was ready to scream! More thanks to Jenny as well. You guys...girls :o) are the absolute best! I'd love to hear your comments, good or bad, good I hope, though!
Tara
"Ray, wouldn't it just be easier to let a mechanic do this?" Fraser asked, while the young man posing as Ray Vecchio busied himself under the hood of his beloved black GTO.
Vecchio groaned, annoyed. "Listen, Fraser. Some of the best times I had with my father were when we were out in the garage, rebuilding this car. There is nothing that I don't know about this car. I can do this, OK?" Still muttering, he stepped back, and reached for a nearby towel to wipe the grease off of his hands.
"Try it now."
Ben complied, turning the key. The engine whirred to life in a series of crisp, staccato beats, then proceeded to sputter and die. The mountie flinched, bomb blasts somehow coinciding with each timely beat.
Raising his hand to the bridge of his nose, Fraser massaged the growing tension he felt there. "...So ... loud ..." he whispered brokenly, noticing Ray's bemused expression.
Vecchio stifled a laugh. "Uh, Fraser, don't you think that you're exaggerating a bit?"
Ben shrugged. "I ... I don't know Ray." The voice was low and shaky. "It just seemed so loud." Coherent thought was becoming a challenge, especially with the pounding in his head.
Ray walked over, crouching by the open car door. "Hey, you OK, buddy?" Concerned, he reached for Fraser's arm.
The touch was electric, feeling as though a piece of sandpaper had been rubbed across his skin. The mountie recoiled almost instantly, knocking Vecchio off balance.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" The Chicagoan demanded of his partner. He steadied himself against the car.
Alarmed blue eyes gradually met the detective's. "I'm sorry, Ray. I didn't mean to ..." The voice trailed off weakly.
Ray's soft voice penetrated his shock. "You're starting to freak me out here, Fraser. Look, its been a long day, why don't I take you back to the Consulate ... we can talk or something, whatever you want." It was one of the more awkward speeches he'd ever made. Ben was silent for a moment, looking at the worried young man, then he conceded.
Arriving at the Consulate, Ray parked the department issued car and both men slipped quietly into the building. Fraser slumped down on the small cot in his tiny office. Ray leaned back against the desk.
"So, what's the deal here, Fraser?" He made a conscious effort to keep the emotion out of his voice, wanting to understand.
"I don't know if I can explain it." He looked away in avoidance.
"Try, OK?" Concerned. The mountie sighed, motioning with his hands as if trying to snatch an explanation out of the air for his odd behaviour.
"I feel like I'm going crazy, Ray." Ben said with a grimace. "I ... I can't control my senses. Last week, I turned on my desk lamp and nearly blinded myself. Today, when you touched me..." He shuddered involuntarily at the memory as Ray interrupted him.
"Just a minute. This has happened before?" Angry. "Have you seen a doctor, Ben?"
Ben couldn't meet his questioning gaze. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Stress, Ray. That's probably it. With Constable Turnbull on vacation I have been putting in a lot of extra hours. I just need some rest." His expression was bleak.
The detective raised an eyebrow, unsure. "Fraser ..."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Ray." The detective looked at the adamant man before him.
"OK, Ben," he said gently, "but we are going to talk some more about this, all right?" His jaw was set in a determined expression. Ben murmured in agreement.
Ray hit the light switch and left the office, closing the door almost all of the way. Actually contemplating sleeping at Turnbull's desk, he tousled Diefenbaker's thick fur. "Watch him, Dief, OK?" The wolf whined in response, padded over to Ben's office door and plunked himself down. Vecchio grinned as he left the Consulate.
Noticing Jim and Blair, who were just coming into the bullpen, Simon motioned the two men into his office. Holding up a steaming pot of java he smiled. "Coffee?"
"Sure, thanks." Jim smiled, taking a mug.
Blair chuckled. "I'd better not, Simon. These past three days I've downed enough coffee to float a boat."
Jim smiled over the rim of his mug. "Yeah, the loft looked like a damn papermill exploded for a while there. Thank, God, he's done grading those essays because we were about to have one hell of a bonfire." Simon laughed as Blair playfully slugged the sentinel in the shoulder.
With a mischievous grin, the tall captain turned to Blair. "So, Teach, I take it you have some free time on your hands now? Say, maybe the better part of a week?"
"What do you want, Simon?" Two voices chorused at once.
"Stereo." Banks muttered, shaking his head. Jim and Blair exchanged a smile. "Anyway, as I'm sure you've both heard, the conference is this weekend."
Blair groaned. "Not again."
"You have a problem with that, Sandburg?" Banks asked, suppressing a laugh.
The teaching fellow nodded, gesturing with his hands. "That last one was so boring. The speaker almost put me into a coma by just talking. It was always that same annoying monotone. I'm telling you, watching paint dry would have been more exciting." His lower lip protruded in a pout.
Jim laughed, watching Blair sulk. "So, where is this conference?"
Simon reached into his desk drawer, handing over two plane tickets. "Chicago. You're both booked on flight two-oh-seven, at 11:45 this morning." He settled back into his chair, a wry grin on his face. "Enjoy the flight, gentlemen."
"I don't suppose there's any chance of you sending H and Brian?"
"They have the Donaldson case." Simon admonished his friend.
"Didn't think so." The sentinel sighed, taking the offered tickets and ushering Blair out of the office. "Come on, Chief. We have some packing to do."
"I'm going crazy." Ben thought. Every little stimulus was sending shock waves through his body. Routine and sheer determination got him through the sea of desks the next morning before he crumpled into the chair beside his partner's desk.
Ray looked at his immaculate friend. The man was trying to act as though nothing was wrong, but his eyes betrayed him. "Did you get any sleep?" He kept his voice low and gentle.
Ben shook his head. Ray scowled. "Get up." It was more of an order than a request. Fraser turned expressive blue eyes on him. "Get up. I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No, Ray, please. No hospital, no doctor. It's really not necessary." Fraser insisted, desperate to dissuade his friend.
His scowl deepened. "Fraser, I'm worried about you." He pleaded. "You're not sleeping, you can't concentrate ..." In frustration, he slammed his hands down on the desk.
Ben sat bolt upright. His hand flew to his forehead as he whimpered softly. Nonplussed, Ray opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by his superior officer.
"Are you alright, Constable?" Welsh's face held a look of concern, almost father like. Ben managed a slight smile.
"I'm fine, Leftenant, thank you." A belligerent look crossed Vecchio's face. Jaw clenched, he fixed his cold, steely gaze on the mountie.
"Good." Lieutenant Welsh said, a soft smile dancing across his lips. "Now as both of you know, our fair city is playing host to this weekend's conference. Someone from this district has to attend said conference. Huey and Dewey have the Munson stakeout, so you two are elected."
Pausing he turned to Fraser. "I've taken the liberty of talking with Thatcher. She seems to think that you deserve the time off."
Ray groaned. "Sir, I don't think ..."
"What Ray means to say, sir, is that we'll be happy to attend." Fraser interrupted, standing up.
Vecchio clenched his jaw even tighter, to the point of pain, grinding his teeth together. "That's not ..." Oh so expressive blue eyes shot him a pleading look. He trailed off.
Looking from his detective to the mountie, then back to Ray again, Welsh was confused. "Is there something I should know about, Detective?" He prompted impatiently.
With a reluctant sigh, Ray met his superior's gaze. "No, sir. Everything's fine." Inclining his head, Welsh resolved to accept that answer, for now. He headed into his office.
Muscles tensed, the agitated detective grabbed his partner and shoved him roughly towards the break room. Thankfully, it was empty.
"What the HELL are you thinking, Fraser?" He hissed.
"It's only a simple conference, Ray. I'll be fine."
Steely eyes glared back at him. "Oh? How do you figure that, Fraser?" He countered. "Are you a psychic? I don't know what you'd call your behaviour this past week, but you are definitely not fine. You're hearing things I can't hear, feeling things I can't ..." He trailed off, his expression softening. "Damn it, Ben. We're partners, and we're friends. I want to help you. Until we can figure out what is going on with you ..."
Ben reached out a shaky hand and placed it tentatively on a tense shoulder, ending Ray's tirade. "All right." He conceded softly. "I'll see a doctor. Will that help you to relax?" He watched a small victory smile flicker across his friend's face.
"It's a start." Ray said, clasping him on the shoulder and steering him out of the break room. "Wait here. I'll go with you, but I have to clear it with Welsh first." He jogged over and knocked on the office door.
"Come in." Welsh looked up from his desk. "What's up, Vecchio?"
"Nothing much, sir. I just need to take some time off ... it's personal."
"Is everything okay, Detective?"
Ray grinned. "Yeah. I just need to take care of something."
"Well there's nothing much, besides paperwork, happening around here. Go ahead, take the afternoon off."
"Thanks, sir." Welsh dismissed him with a slight wave of his hand, and Ray left the office.
"Okay, let's go." Right to the point. Fraser fell solemnly into step beside him.
"SANDBURG! If you don't hurry up we're going to miss our flight." Ellison's booming voice filled the loft.
"Yeah, like that would be such a bad thing." The grad student grumbled from his room as he zipped his suitcase closed.
"Enough, Blair." Jim stood in the doorway, glaring. "There is no way I'm going to listen to you complain the entire time we're gone."
Blair raised his chin defiantly, trying to suppress a laugh. "Okay, fine. So, am I driving to the airport, or are you?"
Jim howled with laughter. "Be serious, Chief. Your navigating days are over."
Blair rolled his eyes in mock disgust. "One little mistake." He muttered, a smile creeping onto his face as they headed out to the elevator and down to the truck.
Ellison grunted. "ONE? Try again, Darwin." Blair threw his hands up and climbed into the truck, the passenger side. Still laughing, Jim joined him a few seconds later.
Ben shifted uncomfortably on the raised table. The ridiculously short, pale blue hospital gown covered little, if anything. Flushed, he shivered slightly as the exam continued. "Just a little longer, Constable." The doctor soothed. The voice was calm and relaxed, Ben tried to grasp that feeling.
Closing his eyes, he tried to calm down. The gown was pulled down off of his shoulders and something cold was pressed against his broad, exposed chest. Ben's eyes snapped open as he gasped with surprise. "It's alright," the doctor assured, holding out the instrument, "it's just a stethoscope." Embarrassed, Ben nodded.
Fifteen agonizing minutes later, the exam was over. "You can get dressed now, Constable." Handing Ben his red serge, he pointed to the thick privacy screen in the corner of the room. "I'll be back in just a few minutes with your test results."
Stepping behind the screen, he slid his trousers on and was just buttoning up the scarlet tunic when he heard the door open. Ben froze ... he couldn't explain it, but now his vision was penetrating the thick screen, revealing the crisp image of his partner. "Ray?" Clutching at the screen for support, his voice was barely audible. "Oh ... God ... it's happening again."
Wincing at the fragile sounding voice, Ray walked around the screen and gripped his friend's shoulders. "What? What is it, Fraser?"
Ben shivered, desperate to understand. "I ... I could see you." Vecchio had to strain to hear the words. "I was just standing here, and I could see you."
Ray risked a glance at the screen ... solid. Scowling, he maneuvered his shaking partner away from the screen just as the doctor reappeared.
"Well, Constable," he began, glancing over the file in his hands, "we'll have to analyse all of the data further, of course, but judging from these preliminary results - you're in perfect shape. There's no medical evidence to support any of the symptoms that you've described." He paused, adjusting his glasses. "I'll let you know if the lab finds anything more. For now, I'm afraid that's all I can do for you." He patted Ben's shoulder, and then he left to attend to other patients.
"Fraser ..."
"Ray ..." Two voices spoke at one time. "I know what you're going to say." Ben muttered. "You think I shouldn't attend the conference." He finished with the buttons on his tunic and did up his belt.
"Maybe that would be best, Fraser." Ray said softly, as the pair left the room and, eventually, the hospital.
"Ray, I want to go."
As they climbed into Ray's sedan, the detective turned to face his partner, unsure. "Ben, what if this happens again?" He questioned, pulling out of the parking lot.
It was a valid question. Ben closed his eyes, resting his head against the window. "You'll be there, won't you?"
The man posing as Ray Vecchio blinked at that, pleasantly surprised that Fraser would place so much trust in him. He'd been working so hard to maintain his cover, show Fraser that he was one of the good guys. "Watching you like a hawk." He replied, happy to see a smile lift Fraser's lips.
"Didn't Naomi ever teach you to go to the bathroom before a trip, Chief?" Jim smirked, watching his partner fidget and squirm in his seat.
"Ha ha, man." Blair said sarcastically. "Besides, I'm starving too. When is lunch going to be served?"
Jim felt his own stomach grumble at the question. "Don't know, Chief, but I hope it's soon though." He looked at Blair, smiling wickedly, eyes glinting with mischief. "At least we know it'll be edible since you're not cooking."
Blair flashed him a devilish grin, remembering the salsa incident earlier in the week. "Jim, come on, how else am I supposed to keep your senses sharp if I don't surprise you every so often?"
Jim laughed. "You're just lucky you got out of the kitchen alive, Sandburg." Teasing.
Flashing large, puppy dog eyes, Blair snickered. "Oh, you wouldn't have hurt me, Jim. And besides, the salsa was good, wasn't it?"
"Oh, yeah. Really good." Jim admitted with a chuckle. "If you like that scorching, burning kind of feeling." Jim ducked a playful swat to his head as his partner got out of his seat and headed towards the bathroom.
Letting his mind wander, Jim's gaze came to rest on a beautiful, leggy, red headed flight attendant. He sniffed her delicate perfume as Blair returned to his seat and whistled his approval.
"Oh ... my ... God." He mused softly.
"She's okay."
Blair smacked him. "Okay? Jim, that is like the understatement of the year!"
"Sandburg, is there any table leg you won't climb?" Jim admonished him. Blair gave him a sour look.
"So what do you think we're in for this time?" The anthropologist asked, pulling out his conference information sheet.
"Chief," Jim grinned, "it's a conference on different tactics and strategies. They have to make it boring. I think it's a rule or something."
Blair laughed. "Tell me about it. I had to keep pinching myself every ten seconds last time to stay awake. Another half hour of that monotone and I would have gone officially insane."
"What do you mean, 'would have'?" Jim teased. Blair smirked and kicked him.
He was queasy, nervous. Staring at his plate, he toyed mindlessly with the food. Finally, he pushed the plate aside. Ray slid it right back in front of him.
"Fraser, you haven't had a decent meal in two days. Eat." Ray insisted.
"Ray, I'm just not that hungry."
"Enough, Fraser. The way I see it, you have two options. One, you can eat this right now on your own, all of it. Or, two, I can cram it down your throat. Either way, you're eating."
Fraser stared at the adamant man sitting across from him, managing to eat a few additional mouthfuls.
Ray shook his head. "You're going to have to do better then that."
"I'm trying." Ben muttered. Sighing, Ray's expression softened ... the mountie was trying.
"Ray?" The voice was soft. "I'm going crazy, aren't I?" He sighed. "How else can you explain what's happening to me?"
"Listen to me, Fraser." Ray said, careful to keep his voice level and calm. "I don't know what's going on anymore than you do. But there has to be an explanation. Is it so hard for you to believe that?"
"I don't want it to be."
Ray reached across the table and touched the older man's hand. "Look, whatever happens, I'm your friend. You won't have to go through this alone. I promise, OK?"
A soft smile lifted the mountie's lips. Gently, he covered Ray's hand with his own. "Okay, Ray ... and thank you."
Blair stretched as they cleared security at the airport. The pair collected their baggage, then walked out of the bustling airport. Once outside they were treated to their first taste of Chicago's smog filled air.
At the assault on his senses, Jim dialed them all down. He glanced at his watch: 6:11 pm. Blair looked up as Jim nudged him. "The torture doesn't officially start until tomorrow, Chief. How about we check into the hotel, drop our stuff off, then grab some dinner?"
"Sounds good." The young man bounced happily. "Maybe afterward we can check out a movie. I've been dying to see Armageddon for a few weeks now, but I haven't had the time."
Jim grinned. "I have no problem with that, provided I get fed first."
They went to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. Blair providing most of the conversation. Jim sighed, wondering where his partner found the energy. The food was delicious.
After dinner, Jim pulled a small map of Chicago out of his pocket as they left the restaurant. "There's a theatre a few blocks from here." He started walking at a brisk clip, Blair bounded along beside him.
By the end of the movie, both men were ready to call it a night. They headed up to their room after the cab dropped them off at the hotel.
Blair shrugged out of his clothes, and tossed them haphazardly to the floor. With a groan, Jim swiftly retrieved the clothes and folded them, neatly. Half playfully he smacked the laughing grad student in the back of his head. "You need a keeper." The words came out as a growl, but he really wasn't that angry. No matter how many times he'd reminded Blair to pick up after himself, the grad student seemed incapable of remembering to put his clothes away.
Blair chuckled as he dove beneath the covers of his bed. "Night, man."
"Night, Chief." Quickly he divested his own clothing and hit the light switch. Crawling into his own bed, he fell asleep quickly.
Jim woke early the next morning. Hearing Blair's soft snores, he granted the young man a small reprieve and let him sleep. Stretching, he padded into the bathroom to shower.
Blair was still asleep by the time he'd finished dressing. Gently, Jim shook him awake. "C'mon, Sleepyhead," he chuckled, "it's time to rejoin the land of the living."
Grumbling, Blair complied. After his typical hot, and extra long, shower, he emerged from the bathroom in a better mood. Pulling out a grey sweater and his black jeans, he dressed quickly. Then he set about dragging a wide toothed comb through the wet mass of curls on his head.
When Blair had finished his grooming rituals, they decided on a local cafe for breakfast. Jim ordered an omelet and Blair ordered a stack of pancakes.
Breakfast disappeared quickly and both men soon found themselves back in the hotel lobby. They stopped briefly at the registration desk.
Jim grinned as he pinned his own name tag on his emerald turtleneck. "Okaaay, we look like dorks now. What's next on the agenda?" Blair smirked as he did the same.
"Speak for yourself, Sandburg."
"Uh, Jim?" Blair spoke slowly. "We are in Chicago. The good old United States of America, right?" Surprised.
Jim nodded, giving him a curious look. Blair motioned to his right and the sentinel followed his line of vision, raising an eyebrow. "What is a mountie doing here?"
"His name is Constable Benton Fraser." The voice came from behind them, and both men spun around. "His father was a mountie, too; hell a legend. Fraser tracked the killer here when his dad was murdered and decided to stick around."
Blair grinned sheepishly. "And you are?"
"Ray Vecchio. Fraser's my partner." He offered his hand to both men.
Jim shook the outstretched hand. "Jim Ellison. This is my partner, Blair Sandburg."
From across the room, Ben was thinking, concentrating on nothing in particular when he froze. "We're from Cascade." The voice had been crystal clear, but he was alone.
"Oh, really. Where is that, exactly?" He recognized the voice as his partner's. Scanning the crowd, he noticed Ray standing with two other men. A bit unnerved, he walked towards them.
"It's in Washington, Ray." Fraser said softly as he approached.
The small curly haired man gave him a deep, searching look. Ray cleared his throat, nervously. "Uh, he's got ears like a bat. Remember, Ben, the Alderman?" With that, he grabbed Ben's arm and yanked him into the conference hall.
Blair and Jim exchanged puzzled looks. The mountie had been all of the way across the room and there must have been half a dozen other conversations going on. They only knew one other person with hearing that good.
"What do you make of that, Jim?" Blair asked softly.
"I don't know, Chief. One thing's for sure though. Vecchio almost had a coronary when the mountie came over."
"This may just be interesting after all, man." The scientist in Blair said, excited at the prospect of finding a new sentinel. Jim remained silent as they walked inside and sat down.
Constable Benton Fraser had an almost unstoppable urge to squirm. He could practically feel the younger man's eyes burning into the side of his head as he tried to concentrate on what the speaker was saying.
Jim nudged his partner. "Chief, stop it. If you stare at him any longer, you'll start to bore holes in the poor man's head. And stop fidgeting. Don't make me handcuff you to that chair."
Blair gave him an indignant look. "That is so not funny, Jim."
The sentinel patted his pocket. "I can make it happen, Blair." He warned. Grumbling, Blair returned his attention, the tiny part of his mind that remained coherent throughout, to the speaker.
Jim Ellison, ex military ranger, wasn't about to tell his guide just how uneasy he was feeling. "A new sentinel?" Blair was barely containing his excitement at the discovery. For a moment he watched his guide's animated face, curious to know what was going on behind those sparkling blue depths. As the speaker continued, he slid deeper into his brutish mood.
The lecture seemed to go on forever, but finally they broke for lunch. Blair turned to his partner, whose eyes seemed to be staring at nothing.
"Jim are you zoning on me? Jim?" Blair gently shook his sentinel. Jim snapped his mind back to the present. "Lunch time, man." They both noticed the mountie leaving with the Chicago cop and, for a brief moment, Blair watched a million dark emotions flood across Jim's face.
"What's wrong?"
Jim shrugged. "Nothing, Chief. You know, I'm really not that hungry. You go, I'll stay here." Trying to hold onto his temper.
Blair started to settle back into his chair and Jim growled. "I meant alone, Sandburg."
"Okay, I know something is wrong, man. Talk to me."
"Damn it, Blair. Just leave me alone!" Jim snapped, almost spitting venom. Blair's jaw dropped, and Jim was immediately sorry for his tone.
"Sorry." He mumbled. "Look, just go to lunch, please."
Blair raised concerned blue eyes to meet Jim's. "You want me to bring you back something?"
Jim shook his head. "No thanks, Chief." The sentinel's eyes grew distant again and Blair reluctantly left him alone to his thoughts.
Jim paced the deserted conference hall, finally stopping and sitting down cross legged in a back corner. Taking a few deep cleansing breaths, he concentrated on bringing his breathing under control. Closing his eyes, he tuned out all of his surroundings and when he looked again, the room had vanished, melting into the Peruvian jungle. A lone, smiling figure stood before him, waiting. "It's good to see you again, Enqueri."
Jim smiled as the elder Chopec sat down opposite him. "It's good to see you too, Incacha." He tried to keep the fear out of his voice.
The Shaman studied the controlled iron mask, one that he knew inside and out, before him. "You are afraid, Enqueri." Direct, wasting no time. The voice was calm and reasonable.
Jim nodded sadly. He and Blair were closer than lovers, not that they were, mind you. Sandburg had managed to walk through every single one of the barriers that he'd erected to keep people out of his life as though they weren't there. Even Carolyn had never gotten as close to the sentinel. And Jim would protect that young man from anything, in an instant, even his own friends if necessary. What had begun as a week, soon turned into years. They shared everything; secrets, hopes, dreams and yes, even their fears. Now he sat here, desperately afraid to voice his own worst fear. "Blair ... Blair's found a new sentinel."
Incacha smiled, encouraging him. "I don't want to lose him. I can't handle this sentinel thing on my own, Incacha."
"Who is he to you?"
Jim blinked. "He ... he's my friend ... my guide ..."
"And do you trust him?"
"Implicitly." The admission slipped easily from his lips.
Incacha nodded, reaching out to put a hand on the sentinel's tense shoulder. "You are two hearts, but one soul, Enqueri. When one life ends, the other does as well. You have always followed the same path. No one knows their future, but destiny has always meant for you to face it together."
Eyes moist and glistening in the sunlight, Jim smiled.
Blair's mind was already in scientific mode. His thoughts whirling around him as he stepped carelessly off of the curb. He never even heard the car coming. Now he stood microns from the front bumper, eyes wide.
Frightened, his legs would not respond. As the irate driver blew his horn, Blair felt strong, steady hands grip his shoulders and push him gently, but firmly out of the road.
"Are you alright?"
The anthropologist shivered at the near miss, looking up with surprise into the gentle blue eyes of the mountie. "Geez, this blessed protector thing must come naturally to you guys, huh?" The voice was barely audible.
Ben blinked at him. "Blessed protector? I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about."
A grin crept onto Blair's face. "I knew it, you're one too!" He was practically vibrating with excitement. "So what else can you do?"
The words tumbled quickly out of his mouth as he turned to face the Chicago detective. "Are you his guide?"
Ray looked at him as though he'd lost his mind, consciously backing away from the enigmatic young man. "I already told you he was my partner, kid."
A gentle laugh escaped Blair's lips. "That's not what I meant." He bounced excitedly on his heels, looking back at Ben. "Your senses are off the map right? You can smell and hear stuff that no one else ever could, stuff like that. Am I right? I AM, aren't I?!" He didn't mention the other senses.
Now Ben backed away. "Yes. But how could you know that?" Unsure.
Blair smiled sheepishly, his brain screaming that the three of them were standing on a very public street corner. "It's sort of my area of expertise. Uh, could we go somewhere a little more private to talk about this?"
They went to a nearby cafe. Ray ordered a pastrami sandwich, Blair and Ben both opting for salads. "So, talk." Ray said dryly, carefully, watching the curly haired grad student.
Blair swallowed, looking at Ben. "Tell me about your abilities. How developed are they?"
Ben took a deep breath. "Developed is not the word that I'd use. I can't seem to control anything."
Blair smiled reassuringly. "Well, yeah. Have you ever practised using them?" Ben shook his head. Blair chewed his food thoughtfully, formulating an explanation. "I guess you could think of your abilities as muscles that need to be exercised and stimulated. It doesn't even have to be something hard, just start off small. Experiment with your senses. The more you use them, the stronger they'll get."
Ben was oddly quiet. "OK, example. Close your eyes for a minute and focus on the sound of my voice." Fraser followed instructions. "Now, concentrate, Fraser, what do you hear?"
"Ahh, birds ... breathing ..." he looked shyly at the anthropologist.
"Okay, concentrate on just one of those sounds at a time and filter them all out." Blair watched the mountie's face. "Now, focus, can you hear my heartbeat?"
Startled blue eyes snapped open in awe. "Yes." He took a shaky breath and looked at the beaming young man.
Ray suddenly cleared his throat. "Uh, guys, we need to get back." He stood up abruptly.
Fraser looked at his watch. "Oh dear," he muttered, "you're absolutely right, Ray." He looked over when he felt Blair tugging at his sleeve."
"Can we talk some more later? Maybe we could meet for dinner. Please?"
Ben thought about it. He liked this energetic young man. "I'd like that, Blair. Ray would you care to join us?"
"Sure, Fraser. Look, we can talk about this after the conference tonight, OK?" Ray smiled.
"Great!" Blair enthused, now if only he could convince a certain other sentinel to join them.
The next three hours passed quickly. The lectures had actually been interesting, for a change. Jim at least was smiling, even if he wasn't talking much. Blair toyed with the hem of his shirt as a short break was called.
"Can we talk now?" He asked tentatively, quietly.
"I'm sorry for coming down on you earlier, Chief. I just wasn't prepared to deal with a new sentinel." He trailed off uneasily. Blair reached over to touch his hand.
Jim sighed, closing his eyes. "I'm not easy to live with, Chief, I know that. But I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. It's just reassuring to have you with me, by my side. I can't do this alone, Blair. And what's more, I don't want to."
Blair smiled. "Jim Ellison, you are my best friend. I wouldn't give up what I have with you for anything, man. I'm always going to be by your side, it's where I belong, Jim. You know that, don't you? Please tell me you know that."
"Yeah, I just needed to hear you say it, I think." A warm smile lifted his lips.
Grinning, the anthropologist's aquamarine eyes sparkled. "I'll remember that." He promised softly.
"So, do you want to hear about him or not?"
"Just tell me you didn't go chasing after the man, Blair."
Sandburg rolled his eyes. "Come on, man. Give me a little credit. I have some class. No. After he pulled me out of the street we started talking and ..."
Jim's hand was suddenly vising his shoulder. "Out of the STREET?" Shocked. "What the hell happened? Are you OK?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Blair assured, smiling. He was still amazed that he inspired this type of concern in his sentinel. Jim's concentration was focused on his guide as he looked for any indication of an injury. Blair chuckled. "Jim, you're not zoning on me, are you? Come on, do you want to hear about Ben or not?"
Jim smiled. "Okay, okay, let's have it."
"He's definitely a full sentinel, but he doesn't have too much confidence in his abilities yet. Frankly, I think they're scaring the shit out of him."
Jim laughed. "Been there, felt that."
"I haven't told him about you. At least, not yet." Blair said quietly.
"Oh?" Surprised.
Blair smiled wistfully. "I was hoping that you'd tell him. He could learn so much from you, man."
Jim grinned. "What do you want, Chief?"
"Well, I kind of made us dinner plans tonight."
"Kind of?"
Blair looked nervous. "We're supposed to meet them after we get out for the evening to decide on where."
"And if I say no?" Smothering a smile.
Blair's blue eyes were pleading. "Come on, Jim ... please?"
"Just kidding, Blair. I'll go. Who knows, it may even be fun." Blair smiled as the lecture hall was called back to order. He couldn't wait to get the two men together.
As their torture ended for the evening, Blair bounced happily in his seat. Only a few people clapped, most looked as though they were asleep, or just waking up.
The hyperactive young man bounded out of his seat, almost dragging Jim along behind him.
Ben smiled shyly at Blair, and the man he'd met only briefly earlier, extending his hand. Jim grinned, impressed by the firm grip. Blair was beaming at all three of them. "So where do you guys want to go?" The teaching fellow asked.
They ended up having dinner in a small, cozy Italian restaurant. The food was wonderful, but the conversation was sporadic. Blair nudged his sentinel, eyes pleading.
"So, Ben ... you and Sandburg had a good talk, I hear." Jim spoke slowly, watching the reaction. He smothered a smile when Ben almost choked on his food. "Relax. I know all about it."
Blair smiled. "Jim's like you, Ben. He has enhanced senses too."
Ben looked at Jim ... at his brother sentinel ... envying the quiet confidence the man exuded. "Can you control them?" He asked softly.
Jim chuckled. "Sometimes, but not always."
Blair smiled. "Jim and I have been working with his senses for a while now. Honing and focusing his abilities." His confidence and pride in the man seated beside him was obvious.
"Before I met Blair, I was just like you, Ben. No matter how many doctors I saw, no one could ever find a thing wrong with me. I thought eventually that I'd end up in a padded cell. Hell. I might have sent myself there. I thought I was going crazy." He saw the immediate understanding in Ben's eyes.
Ray looked at Blair. "You asked me if I was Ben's guide earlier. Is that what you are?"
"Yes!" Blair enthused. "It takes a second person to help the sentinel practise and hone his abilities."
Ben paused, then looked at the detective. He still missed the real Ray Vecchio, his Ray, but this man had also become close to him. He was proud to consider the detective his friend. The man was trying to understand him, wanting to help. He hadn't expressed any doubt or disbelief ... only offered encouragement.
"Ray, I can't do this alone, and I wouldn't want to try." He paused for a moment, then continued. "I need you, please. Will you be my guide?"
A smile played at his lips as he lifted his eyes to his sentinel's. "That's what friends do for each other, Fraser."
Epilogue
Jim and Blair had gone straight up to their room to pack and get some rest before Ray and Fraser arrived to take them to the airport.
Ben was coming along nicely. He wasn't fighting his abilities anymore, and Blair had spent some time with him, teaching him meditation techniques to help him relax. He was even accepting help from Ray. The two were learning to rely and experiment together. Jim smiled, looking at the sleeping lump in the bed next to him. Like you and me, Chief. he thought.
Jim fell asleep a few minutes later, the rhythmic lull of Blair's heartbeat washing over him. Now, some three hours later, he woke to a knock at their door. He padded over and opened it, then turned back to Blair.
The anthropologist had buried himself under the blankets. Jim chuckled and shook him. "Time to go, Sleeping Beauty."
Blair muttered something unintelligible. With a wicked grin, Jim chuckled. In one fluid movement he grabbed the blanket and sent it flying across the room.
Blair didn't have a chance as his larger, heavier partner sat on top of his legs, pining him down. Torturous fingers began to tickle him relentlessly.
"St - t- tttttop!" Blair giggled, tears leaking out of his eyes. "I'm up! Jiiiiiiimmmmm!!" Finally, the sentinel released his wriggling captive.
Ray and Ben tried to smother their own laughter as Blair stalked off to the bathroom to dress.
Vecchio looked at Jim, smiling. "Your flight's at 9:00, right?"
"Last time I checked." Smiling himself.
"Cool. Well, it's a little after six now. Ben and I were thinking about taking you and Blair out to dinner before we drop you off at the airport."
"Sounds good." Jim said, scowling at the closed bathroom door. "Sandburg, you've got five minutes, or we leave without you."
Blair came out of the bathroom, smirking. "Oh, right, like I really believe you'd do that, Jim."
Jim winked at their companions. They followed his lead as he grabbed his suitcase and marched out of the room and down the hall. When they didn't return, Blair jammed his feet into his shoes, grabbed his own suitcase and scurried out of the room after them.
The three men were at the end of the hallway, leaning casually against the wall, talking. They smiled as Blair stormed up to them. "Oh, very, funny!" Blair mused, smothering a smile of his own.
They had a lovely dinner at a Chinese restaurant, then they headed to the airport.
Jim smiled and shook his brother sentinel's hand. "It was nice meeting you, Ben. You too, Ray."
Blair echoed the sentiment and handed Ray some of his notes. "Jim hates taking tests, but maybe Ben isn't so anal." He ducked a playful swat to his head. "I wrote out a list of some things you might want to try. If you start getting on each other's nerves, stop for a while. Just remember to start simple and work from there."
"Thanks." Ray took the list, glancing over it. "You know, Fraser's pretty incredible already. I'm sure this will help him, though." Blair returned the smile.
The announcement of their flight sounded. Having said goodbye, Jim and Blair headed to their plane.
"He's going to be OK, Chief." Jim said to his quiet guide. "He's got Ray, and we gave him our address and phone number in Cascade."
Blair smiled. "I know. Wouldn't it be interesting to see them a month or two from now, though? Do you think ..."
Jim laughed. "We'll see, Blair."
The End