Disclaimer They aren't mine ... I can only wish! Nothing about The Sentinel
belongs to me. Everything about it belongs to UPN and Pet Fly Productions.
IMPORTANT -- this story has a high Cassie content. Those of you who can't stand her
should consider themselves warned! I guess this is my way of having Cassie and Jim come to
terms with each other ... if only, for Blair's sake! The sap is running pretty thick in this one.
Whatever your comments, I want to hear them.
Tara
Bayside Park - 12:30. Don't be late. ~ Blair The note was taped to her computer screen when she returned from the lab, but the anthropologist was nowhere to be seen. Cassie checked her watch: 12:10. The next person who came looking for her found an empty desk.
It was another gorgeous sunny day in Cascade and the patrons of Bayside Park were taking full advantage of it. A group of children were engaged in a rousing game of soccer off to her left. After a few minutes it became apparent to the forensic's chief that the grad student hadn't arrived yet, so she stopped to watch the game, cheering occasionally.
A slow, soft smile crept across his lips as the teaching fellow walked briskly down the path, his hand clutching tightly to the bouquet of freshly cut roses.
An almost predatory smile exploded across his face as he spied her. Her soft, silky curls gleamed in the sunlight. Slowly, his eyes travelled up and down the delicate curves of her body lurking beneath a crisp navy blue business suit. Blair licked his suddenly dry lips and moved closer.
Slipping one arm around the petite waist, he nuzzled her neck. Slowly he kissed and nipped his way down her jawline. Cassie moaned at the delicate touch and tilted her head back, exposing more of her throat. "Missed you ..." Blair murmured against her ear, his breath warm against the tender flesh. Well's couldn't suppress a groan of pleasure as he sucked the small, delicate lobe into his mouth. She trembled slightly as he blew gently across the moistened ear. "Happy birthday, Cass."
Smiling, the anthropologist held out the bouquet. Cassie reached for them, inhaling their sweet, rich fragrance. "Do you like them?" his voice was husky.
Cassie nodded and turned, pressing up against him. "I love them." she breathed happily. Blair saw his desire mirrored in her eyes. "I love you too." she added gently. Their lips met in a rush of heat, tongues duelling in an exquisite dance, the need for oxygen finally forcing them apart.
With a gentle laugh, Blair reached for her hand, capturing the slender wrist. He tugged on it gently, but insistently. "Come on." Cassie needed no further encouragement. Shivering with anticipation she followed him eagerly through the park.
This was his favourite spot -- warm, secluded and, best of all, private. A large, soft blanket waited invitingly. Blair had white wine on ice and a bulging wicker picnic basket was nestled into the corner of the blanket. Soft music permeated the air from a nearby portable CD player.
"Oh, it's perfect." Cassie breathed, cupping the anthropologist's face in her hands and kissed his lips softly. "Thank you."
Blair smiled, pulling her closer. "You're welcome." Agile hands caressed her back in a seductive journey as he kissed her again. Cassie moaned against him as he deepened the kiss.
Breaking off the kiss, Blair effortlessly scooped her off of the ground and into his arms. Setting her down tenderly on the blanket he kissed her forehead sweetly. From the basket he produced two crystal wine glasses. He uncorked the bottle slowly and poured one glass, handing it to Cassie, and then another for himself.
A soft smile lifted his lips as he raised the glass slightly. "To the most beautiful woman in Cascade." he said, gently clinking his glass against Cassie's.
The head of forensics practically vibrated with anticipation as she looked over the rim of her glass at the anthropologist. Seductively, Blair ran his fingers up her arm. When he held out his hand for the glass, Cassie surrendered it willingly, then snuggled close to him.
"What about lunch?" Blair murmured as she fastened hungry lips onto his throat, drawing gasps of pleasure from the young teaching fellow.
Cassie smiled against him. "In a bit." Playfully she pushed him backwards, following when Blair caught her around the waist. "You are way too much, Blair Sandburg." she whispered against his ear, toying with a stray curl of hair.
Softly, she kissed his forehead and nose, until claiming his mouth again. Blair moaned beneath her as he stroked her back.
"Okay, now we can eat." Cassie grinned as she let him up for some much needed air. Happiness radiated from liquid blue depths as Blair began unpacking the picnic basket: fresh fruits, caesar salad and a mouth watering chicken stir fry.
The food disappeared quickly and they spent the next half hour nestled in each other's arms. Finally, with a reluctant moan, Cassie intertwined her fingers with Blair's. "I wish I could stay here with you for the rest of the day, Blair, but I need to get back to work."
Blair smiled. "I know, it's okay. Just give me a second to pack up and I'll walk you back to your car."
Hand in hand they walked back down the path, both excessively happy. Soft bells jingled from across the street as they reached her car and Blair turned large, expressive puppy dog eyes on her. "I don't suppose I could entice you to stay for some ice cream?"
Cassie melted, knowing she'd never been able to resist him like this. A wry smile lifted her lips. "Depends. Can I have sprinkles?"
Blair chuckled. "Whatever you want."
"I want sprinkles, lots of sprinkles."
Blair kissed her softly. "You got it. I'll be right back." He smiled before heading across the street.
From nowhere, a sleek, black Cadillac came barrelling down the road, completely ignoring the stop sign.
"BLAIR!" Cassie screamed as the anthropologist turned. It was much too late. Time seemed to go in slow motion.
The car slammed into him, vaulting him into the air. Cassie watched in horror as his head and shoulders ricocheted off of the Cadillac's windshield before his battered and broken body crumpled heavily to the ground.
His contact with the windshield had left an immense spider web like crack behind. Unable to see, the intoxicated driver panicked and felt the tires losing traction as he careened off the road into a nearby tree. The front of the car folded like an accordion as it connected with the large oak. The driver pitched forward into the steering wheel, hurt and unconscious.
Sobs racked her body as Cassie ran out into the street, dropping to her knees beside Blair's still, limp body. "Blair, oh, God, hold on!" Trembling, she yanked her cell phone out and dialed 911 with shaky fingers.
Very gently, Cassie checked his neck for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there and she let out a grateful pent up breath. Blood was seeping from the back of his head. Cassie quickly stripped off her outer jacket and draped it over his bruised body.
"Oh ... God ..." She whimpered to herself as she very gingerly fingered his arm. The white bone was protruding through the flesh. Dark blood oozed from the wound. Her small hands flew to her belt and fumbled with the clasp. Eventually she succeeded in removing it. Very gingerly, she slid it up his arm. After positioning it right above the injury, she tightened the belt. The flow of blood diminished some, and she took a deep, shaky breath.
A painful moan escaped his lips. Blair's eyes fluttered open, shifting back and forth rapidly. "Cassie ..." Each painful breath came as a gasp.
She winced at the fragile voice. Stroking his face gently she smoothed away the dark, matted curls. By some miracle of God she managed to keep her voice calm and steady. "Blair, listen to me. Please just try and relax, take it easy. Don't try to move. The ambulance is coming."
Blair locked eyes with her. "It hurts, Cass. God, it hurts." He gasped, sobbing softly, praying for some kind of release from the intense pain. Release came with unconsciousness.
Cassie lost it, her chest heaving with sobs. Desperation flowed out of her as she whimpered his name repeatedly. Then strong arms were on her shoulders, gently pulling her away. She turned, relieved to see the paramedics.
Gratefully she stepped aside with one of them, letting the paramedics do their jobs, and answered some questions about the accident.
Blair's neck was immobilized, and an oxygen mask was slipped over his face. The paramedics were starting an IV and applying a pressure bandage to his head when a second ambulance arrived to assist the driver of the Cadillac.
Enraged, Cassie screamed oaths at the unconscious driver as he was pulled from the car and attended to.
As Blair was wisked away to the ambulance, a paramedic stopped her from climbing aboard with him, saying that there wasn't enough room. Then, siren's screaming, the ambulance pulled away.
Tears ran unchecked down her face. Cassie dropped to her knees back on the grass and dialed up Simon's office number. Speaking rapidly, she explained what had happened, hicupping through her sobs.
"I'll get Jim and we'll meet you at the hospital." Simon instructed her. Cassie murmured that she understood, then hung up. Banks turned, taking a deep breath before heading out into the bullpen.
Jim looked up as his captain's shadow fell upon his desk. His sensitive ears picked up the rapid heartbeat. Something was definitely wrong. "Sir?"
Banks swallowed thickly, "I just got off the phone with Cassie ... there's been some trouble down at Bayside Park."
His face a carefully controlled iron mask, Jim inhaled deeply. Simon's words had set his mind reeling. He knew his guide was at the park ... that he was there with Cassie. The grad student had been planning this afternoon for weeks now. "And?" he prompted impatiently, his voice shaky.
"There's been an accident ... Blair's been hurt." Jim launched himself out of his chair, almost as though he'd been burned. Jaw and fists clenched he bolted downstairs to the parking garage, Simon trying to keep up with him.
The trauma team was waiting when the ambulance arrived, quickly wheeling the gurney into the ER.
One nurse inserted a saline IV line into the back of his hand as another blood sample was drawn and rushed down to the lab for more tests. The on-duty trauma surgeon meanwhile began a head-to-toe examination.
Pain ... incredible pain ... A strangled gasp escaped his lips as Blair awoke suddenly and struggled to sit up. A tortured, inhuman scream of agony ripped out of his lungs at the burning pain caused from the movement. Strong arms pushed him back gently, but firmly onto the bed.
"Easy, young man," the doctor soothed, "you've got a lot of injuries, the least of which is some broken ribs. I need you to calm down and relax." Blair whimpered incoherently, desperate to regain some type of control from the pain surging through his body. "Can you remember what happened?"
He struggled to remember, a look of total panic crossing his face as the memories began to surface. "Cassie. Is she OK? Where is she?"
"The young woman you were with is fine." Tears rolled down Blair's bruised cheeks in relief.
Jim had broken speed records on the way to the hospital. He rushed into the emergency room of Cascade General, almost at a dead run, Simon close on his heels. Both men froze at the sight of Cassie Wells.
Deep crimson stains were soaked into her pants where she'd knelt beside the young man and smeared down the front of her blouse. Blood also covered her hands. It was the eyes, however, that caught Jim's attention. They were so distant ... full of pain, grief and shock. She didn't seem to notice anything happening around her anymore.
"Cassie, where is he? Is he OK?" Jim blurted out, angrily. Swollen eyes welled up with tears again. Barely controlling his temper, Jim gripped her shoulders. "Damn it, Wells. What the HELL is going on?" The body beneath his fingers was shaking.
Smooth, Ellison. Simon told himself. Grabbing Jim's arm, he pulled his friend aside. "Look at her, Ellison. She's blaming herself. She wasn't the drunk driving that car who ran the stop sign and hit him. He was in the crosswalk. There was nothing she could do to prevent this. It was an ACCIDENT, for God's sake. There was nothing Blair, or Cassie, ... or YOU, could do about it. So back off. I know how much you're hurting. I'm sorry. I hurt for him, too. He doesn't deserve this. Hell. He doesn't deserve most of what happens to him. But you taking it out on Wells isn't going to help anyone. Least of all Blair. Do you think that he'd blame her, or you, for this?"
Silence. His fists were clenched tightly, turning his knuckles a pasty white. Angry, piercing blue eyes glared at the tall captain. His jaw was set in a determined expression. After a short pause, he sighed. "No."
Simon put his hands on the sentinel's shoulders. "I didn't think so. Jim, I'm just saying that you and Cassie need to be on the same side in this. Blair's the one who's injured, yes. But we're all hurting. You're tough, but I've noticed that you're leaning on the rest of the squad, and me, for support. Cassie doesn't have any of that. I think you need to let her lean on you, help her through this. Not for Cassie, not for you, but for Blair."
Blair was his friend, his best friend ... and for reasons Jim would never understand, he loved Cassie. He was silent for a long while then, solemnly, he padded back over to the distraught forensics chief.
Locking eyes with her, he held out his arms in a silent invitation. Hesitantly, Cassie folded herself into his embrace. "Sorry ..." he murmured against her as she sobbed.
Cassie pulled away, gulping in several calming mouthfuls of air. "... no ... my ... fault ..." she wheezed brokenly, fumbling in her purse for her inhaler. As the medication began to take effect, her breathing started to even out again.
Jim shook his head. "No. This wasn't your fault, you didn't do anything, Cassie. It was an accident."
Cassie clenched her fists into tight balls. "I'm the one who wanted the ice cream. He was in the street because of me ..."
"Stop, Cassie." Simon demanded, using his best 'do what I tell you, or else' voice, "It was an accident."
"Miss Wells?" Cassie whirled around at the sound of the doctor's voice.
"How is he? Is he OK? Can we see him?" The jumble of words tumbled out of her mouth.
Jim held out his hand, the doctor shook it. "I'm Detective Ellison. This is Captain Banks. Blair is my partner ... can you tell us anything?"
"I'm doctor Redge. Your partner is a very lucky man, Detective. His impact with the windshield of the car has left him with a concussion. There was also an extensive laceration on the back of his head. We removed the embedded glass fragments and stitched that up. There doesn't appear to be any indication of a brain injury, but just to be sure, I've ordered an MRI. He also has several broken ribs, a compound fracture in one of his arms, and a dislocated hip. Not to mention plenty of scrapes and bruises."
Professional demeanor now back in place, Simon let out a pent up breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. "The man who hit him ... how is he?" Cassie shot him a vile look, barely controlling the rage burning its way through her gut.
Doctor Redge sighed. "He's dead, I'm afraid. The rapid deceleration of the car when it hit the tree drove the steering wheel into his chest. It ruptured the pulmonary artery. He never regained consciousness."
Jim swore under his breath at the doctor's words. Dead? Good, saves me the trouble. His mind shifting back to his guide, the sentinel looked up. "Can we see him?"
The doctor nodded, gesturing with his hand down the hall. The trio fell into step beside him. "We've given him some medication for the pain, but he's going to be very sore all over for quite a while." Stopping at Blair's room, Doctor Redge smiled. "For now, please keep your visits short." They nodded. "I need to look in on some other patients, but if there's any problem, just have a nurse page me. I'll check back in when I have the MRI report."
"You'll keep us informed?" Simon asked. Jim smiled, Blair was almost a second son to his captain.
"Yes, of course."
Jim turned to Cassie as the doctor left. "It's okay, Simon and I will wait." Finally, she let a tiny smile creep onto her face.
"Are you sure?"
Jim smiled, "Yes. Go on." Simon nodded his agreement. Taking a deep breath, Cassie pushed the door open.
The gentle hiss of oxygen filled the room. Blair's still form lay supine on the stiff hospital mattress. IV lines dripped a combination of medications into his bloodstream. The injured arm was sporting a cast and his head was wrapped in a thick white bandage. Gently she took one of the pale hands into her own. His eyes fluttered open.
"Hey you." Her voice was soft as she settled into a chair beside his bed.
"Hey." Blair whispered back, his voice cracking from dis-use. The ordeal had drained his strength. His throat was painfully dry, as he smiled weakly at her. "Can I have some water, please?"
She found a pitcher on top of his bedside table and poured him a glass. Meanwhile Blair struggled to sit up so he could drink. Carefully she slipped her hand behind him, holding him up as the soothing water dribbled into his throat. "Thanks." He sighed as she eased him tenderly back down onto the bed.
"You're welcome." She smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Terrible." Blair muttered sleepily. "Everything hurts." Exhausted. His eyes fluttered closed as he fell back asleep.
"Is everything OK?" Jim asked softly as she emerged from the room.
She nodded. "He's asleep. It's probably better for him anyways." Glancing around, she noticed that they were alone. "Where's Captain Banks?"
"Checking in with the station." He laughed softly, then sobered. "He actually volunteered to tackle the paperwork so we could stay here with Blair." Cassie smiled at that.
Jim raised a hand to the bridge of his nose, trying to massage away the tension that lurked beneath his fingers. "Look, Cassie ... I'm sorry I came down on you earlier. You didn't deserve that."
Surprised. "It's OK. I know you were worried, scared. Hell. We both were. Are."
Jim smiled gently. "Well, with the drugs they're pumping into Blair, he should sleep for a while. How about I buy you some coffee or something? Are you hungry?"
"Coffee sounds great." Soon after, both of them were sharing a small table in the hospital cafeteria.
Cassie closed her eyes as the warm liquid soothed her nerves. She'd been running on adrenaline since this nightmare had happened. Jim was staring off into space when she opened her eyes again. "Jim? Jim?"
Ellison snapped his mind back to the present. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I guess I'm just not very good company right now. I..."
She reached across the table and touched his hand. "Oh, I know, Jim. You're worried about Blair. So am I." She chuckled dryly. "I have to admit, I envy you two."
"Huh? Why?" Totally confused by the non-sequitor.
"You have a friendship that goes beyond mere words. You're partners, too." She shrugged. "I don't understand. He's not even a cop, but everyone in Major Crimes treats him like he is. It drives me nuts, sometimes, trying to figure out just what is going on. I mean, there must be a reason why he's around."
Jim smiled. "Blair's working on his Doctoral Thesis. I'm his subject ..."
"I've heard that. Closed societies. It goes beyond that. I've heard the stories about how you were before Blair came along. How do you explain the changes, huh?"
"I sometimes wonder about that, myself." He paused to take a sip of his coffee. Swallowing and trying to formulate an explanation. "I admit, it was pretty strange at first. But ... something just clicked between us. I think in a lot of ways that Blair's taken the place of Steven in my life. It's OK for me to care about him the way I wanted to care about my brother, but was never allowed. I wouldn't change what I have with him for anything. Not even the frequent visits to the hospital. I mean, I would love to never have to go to another hospital, but if it meant having to give up what I have, having to give up Blair ... I'd never trade. It isn't worth it."
She stared at him in awe. She'd never heard anyone so, "passionate" about a friend, before. And realized that she probably never would.
"Wow. That makes me even more envious. You're both lucky guys, Jim. I hope ... I hope it all works out, OK." She shook her head in amazement. She smiled, "If I ever had that kind of relationship with anyone, I'd marry them."
Jim laughed. "It's not like that. Everything else, maybe, but not that." Cassie smiled.
The doctor met them as they were returning from the cafeteria. Jim smiled. "Any news?"
The doctor nodded, smiling. "The MRI went quite well. We'll analyse the data further of course, but there doesn't appear to be any injury to the brain. There was a slight skull fracture, but no displacement of the bone. With as hard as Mr. Sandburg hit his head, he's an incredibly lucky young man." Cassie and Jim smiled, an identical expression of relief washing over both of their faces.
As the doctor left, Cassie glanced at her watch. "Oh, wow." She breathed. "It's almost seven o'clock. Visiting hours are almost over. You should probably go in there and see him before we both get kicked out of here." Jim smiled, then disappeared into the room. Cassie settled into one of the chairs in the hallway, grateful for the new hope blossoming in her heart.
"Chief?" Soft. Gentle. Blair smiled.
"Nice mess I got myself into, huh, Jim?" Blair smirked. Oddly quiet, Jim sat down in the chair beside the bed, unable to look at his guide. "Jim?" Silence. Slowly, tentatively, Blair raised his hand to the sentinel's cheek, shocked at the sudden wetness he felt there. "Jim, you're ... oh, God, you're crying."
The warmth of Blair's hand was reassuring. It still amazed him at how familiar this touch had become. Slowly he raised glistening eyes to meet Blair's. "Crying. No, Chief, I'm ..." Jim trailed off lamely as the guide dropped his hand to cover his friend's. "Damn. I don't know what this is." He closed his eyes, mentally willing the tears to stop. Men just weren't supposed to cry.
"Jim, it's OK." Blair soothed quietly. "Come on, man. Talk to me."
Embarrassed, Jim pulled away from his guide. "Sorry, Blair." He muttered. "...Didn't see that coming."
Blair groaned. "Jim, stop apologizing. It is all right to cry. You have to release the stuff inside, sometimes. You're only human." He stopped. Listening. Waiting.
There was a long pause. "When Simon told me about the accident ... I thought ... I thought that maybe this was it, you know?" He paused, trying to sort out his emotions. "I ... I know I'm hard to live with, but I don't think ... No. I know that I couldn't handle losing you." Absentmindedly he toyed with the edge of the blanket on his guide's bed. "I'm just glad you're going to be OK, Chief."
Blair smiled. Talking about emotions was just not something that came easily to his partner. "I really am going to be okay, Jim." He replied softly. Jim chuckled in spite of his mood. Gently he grabbed the fingers which weren't connected to IVs and squeezed it. "It's good to have you back, Chief."
The grad student laughed, then sobered, thinking of the stitches in his head. "Yeah, even if I am missing most of my hair."
"Don't worry it'll grow back."
Blair grinned. "It better!"
There was a knock at the door and Jim turned, waving Cassie inside. "Uh, the nurse said that we could only have five more minutes." Ellison grunted his disapproval.
"I'll be back tomorrow, Chief, OK? First thing. If you need anything in the meantime, call me. I mean it ... call, anytime."
Cassie smiled. "Same goes for me, Blair." Leaning over the bed, she planted a soft, gentle kiss on his lips.
Between the two of them, they eased Blair into a more comfortable position for sleeping. They smoothed out his sheets and blanket as the young man groaned in disbelief at the notion of being "tucked in".
Just before leaving, Jim hugged his friend as best he could without hurting the younger man. Blair sighed happily against him. He chuckled when the older man glanced at his bedside chair. "Jim, it's OK for you to leave."
He wanted them to stay, but his body craved rest. Wearily, he drifted back to sleep. Ellison stopped briefly to hit the light switch and then left the room, Cassie on his heels.
Epilogue
Blair was going to make a cautious driver of him yet. Mindful of his guide's injuries, he was driving extra slow back to the loft. It had been three weeks and the young man was anxious to get home.
With a wicked smile, Blair turned to Jim. "Could we make a stop?"
Jim raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
"My office at the university. I've missed so much time, I need to start getting caught up, man."
I am calm ... I am calm Jim stifled a groan as he stopped at a red light. Using his most menacing look, he glared at his guide. "Sandburg, you have been out of the hospital a grand total of half an hour. Doctor Redge must have had you on some pretty interesting drugs, if you think that for one minute ..." A sudden, agitated honk from behind snapped him out of his tirade. The light had turned green again.
Blair laughed gently, wincing at the pain the movement caused. "I take it, that's a no, then?" Another smirk.
Jim scowled. "Damn right, Sandburg. You have a problem with that?"
Blair held up his good hand in mock surrender. "No problem, Mr. Blessed Protector, sir!" He couldn't suppress a giggle. His jovial expression indicating he'd been joking.
Ellison shook his head as he pulled into 852 Prospect. Parking he turned to his guide. "Sandburg, I swear to God ..." His voice trailed off as he hopped out of the truck and walked around to Blair's door.
Jim opened the passenger door and smiled. "Come on, Chief. Let's get you upstairs."
"Ow, ow, ow ..." Blair mumbled a little mantra as the sentinel gingerly untangled him from his seatbelt and helped him out of the truck. Sighing, he leaned heavily on his friend, keeping as much of his weight off of his injured hip as he could. Jim took his weight without complaint and together they started up to the loft.
As soon as Jim had flipped on the lights, Blair knew something was up. Cassie and Megan had really enjoyed setting up decorations, the loft looked great. "SURPRISE!"
Blair stood there dumbfounded. Jim chuckled, his face beaming with a delighted grin. "I couldn't stop them, Chief." The fact that he hadn't bothered to try was left unspoken, but his topaz blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
Practically everyone from Major Crimes was standing in the living room. Even Joel Taggert from the bomb squad was there. Blair blinked back the sudden moisture in his eyes and flashed them all the patented Sandburg smile. "Wow. I can't believe you guys did this. This is just ... wow!" He trailed off, at a loss for words.
Simon laughed. "Blair Sandburg, speechless. So it is possible!" The entire room started to snicker as the young grad student blushed.
They partied until well after midnight. The last remaining guests headed out around 2 am, leaving only Simon behind with the two men. Between the two military veterans, short work was made of the cleanup. After seeing his captain out, Jim eyed his exhausted guide.
With a sleepy smile, Blair met his gaze. "Tonight was like so great, man."
"Glad you enjoyed yourself, Chief." Jim said softly. He padded over to the couch and crouched down in front of the younger man. "C'mon, Sleepyhead. It's past your bedtime."
Blair laughed. "Right, mom." Jim smiled and then stood back up, gathering the sore, sleepy bundle into his arms and carried him into his room, depositing him carefully onto his bed. He then removed Blair's shoes and socks before pulling the blanket up around the young man.
"Night, Jim." Blair whispered, already half asleep.
"Night, Chief." Jim smiled as he quietly pulled the door shut.
The End