Disclaimer: They aren't REALLY mine, but hey, everyone has delusions of Grandeur, so.... They ARE mine, I like em, UPN threw em away and they AIN'T getting em back *G*.
Notes: I need to thank Becky B and Noon for doing Beta duties. I also owe a hand out to Red, whose word of wisdom jump started the muse on this particular masterpiece *G*.
Warnings: None, the harshest language was in the Foreward *G*.
EagleEye
It was pouring outside, the sound of the rain beating out the pleasantly hypnotic melody of Mother Nature at her fiercest. Inside a solitary figure sat, staring through the balcony doors as the rain pounded the earth, the weather a comfortable companion to his introspective mood. Blair Sandburg gazed out at the doused world around him wondering, as he had for the last several hours, at the randomness of factors that made up the miracle of life. There were things he could be--should be--doing, but still he sat watching the water splatter and gather on the balcony of the loft.
Jim will be home soon, Blair thought. I should get dinner started.
He had no sooner finished the thought, than he heard Jim's keys turning in the loft door.
"Heyya, Chief," Jim called as he shrugged out of his saturated coat and tossed his keys into the basket by the door. The absence of Blair's customary response had Jim's brow creasing, and he extended his senses to get a feel for his partner's mood.
"Bad day?" Jim asked as he crossed the room to the couch where Blair reclined and leaned over the back, his elbows resting just to the side of his Guide's head.
Blair sighed, "Not really, just..." He shrugged and glanced up at Jim. "I was just thinking." Blair's eyes twinkled at the smile Jim was unable to keep from his face at those words.
"Jim, have you ever thought...I mean, have you ever wondered..." Blair stopped and sighed again, unable to find the words to express what he was feeling.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Jim asked, his hand moving to rest on his friend's shoulder.
Blair took a deep breath before trying again. "Nothing is "wrong". I was just sitting here, listening to the rain and thinking...Jim have you ever wondered at the wonder of the world? How the smallest things kinda seem to fall into place sometimes and make everything just fit right?"
Blair turned toward his friend as he warmed to what he was saying.
"Take for instance, US. I mean, think about it, what are the chances--the odds--of the two of us meeting like we did. You're a cop and I'm, well, I'm me," Blair paused and flashed Jim a smile before continuing. "Sentinel stuff aside, what you and I have is special, I've never found what we've got with anyone else. I've had friends, acquaintances, but never anyone like you, anything like this. I'd move heaven and earth for you, man, and I know you'd do the same for me. I've NEVER had that with anyone else, never wanted to."
Blair chuckled, "I know I'm not making much sense, Big Guy. The point I'm trying to make is, what are the odds of you and I meeting, knowing each other? What if I hadn't been dat...er, tutoring that nurse? What if you had gone to a different hospital? What if I had been out of town when you went in?"
Jim stood up and moved around the couch to sit next to Blair, who shifted to face him as he continued.
"How many little, unrelated, unimportant things had to coincide in order for us to meet, to know one another. It's scary and astounding and not a little bit humbling when you just sit and think about it. All the things that had to happen, had to be right, for us to be, you know?"
They sat there, just looking at one another as the rain continued to fall outside. For a long minute neither one moved, Blair trying to absorb what he'd discovered and Jim trying to think of something to say. In the end he went for levity.
"So, you've been busy today, huh, Chief?"
Blair, recognizing the delaying tactic for what it was, said, "Yeah, Jim, you know me, I'm not happy unless I'm rediscovering myself on a daily basis."
"I don't know what to say, Sandburg. You know I'm not much for the "get in touch with your inner self" stuff."
Blair couldn't quite contain the look of sadness that wanted out.
Jim sighed, and his brow furrowed as he paused to gather his thoughts together.
"I don't know what to call it, Blair. Fate, Destiny, Kismet, whatever it is, if it played a part in our friendship, then I'm glad it is. People look at us and see a mismatched pair, the hairdass cop and the neo-hippie flower child. I look at you and see my Guide. You're the best partner I've ever had, and the greatest friend I've ever known. If nothing else, I'm glad to know you and will always be thankful for your friendship."
At Jim's words, a light began behind Blair's eyes, growing until it lit up the dark room and pushed the gloom outside.
"Maybe, Jim, we were just meant to be friends."
Jim smiled, "Yeah, Chief, maybe."
They smiled at one another. Neither man was in a hurry to move, each happy just to be in the other's company.
"Wow, Jim, I guess introspective moods are contagious, huh?"
"Sandburg, with you EVERYTHING is contagious."
"Real funny, for that you can buy dinner."
"Oh I don't think so," Jim said as he started to move towards Blair.
Seeing the gleam in his eye, Blair slowly scooted back across the couch.
"Uh, Jim, what are you doing, man. You can stop right there, that's far enough." Blair retreated until his back came against the arm of the couch, and Jim pounced. Turning his sense of touch up just a little, Jim proceeded to tickle Blair into submission.
"Okay, Jim....hee, you win, man...hee, just stop. I'll buy dinner, come on, Jim...JIiimmm."
Taking pity on his Guide, and hearing his elevated heartbeat and gasping for breath, Jim stopped his tickle assault and moved towards the door.
"Okay, Chief, I'll compromise. I'll buy dinner, but then I get to pick the place."
Blair rolled off the couch and headed into his room, calling back, "OH NO, man, I've had enough Wonder Burger this week, thank you. You'll buy and I'll pick the place." He returned, pulling on his windbreaker.
"Now, Sandburg, let's not start that again." Jim said as he opened the door and ushered his partner through it.
Laughter and friendly banter could be heard by all at Prospect Place as The Sentinel and his Guide went about their lives once more.
For Suzie, just because and for Mega, cause she was in need of a tickle fix*G*.