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Warnings: Corporal Punishment. Key: //Guide Speak// *Guide Sign*
Jim broke every speed limit trying to make it to
Sentinel And Guide Mercy hospital in record time. His connection was weak,
but getting stronger as he got closer. Trying to drive and think about how
his life had changed so dramatically over the last four weeks was proving
dangerous for the other drivers on the streets of Cascade. Four Weeks Earlier: Sentinel James Ellison entered the Major Crime
bullpen in a foul mood. A Storm Warning had gone out the moment the
officer at the front door noticed the Jim without his guide. While
everyone knew Jim Ellison usually worked alone while his guide was at school,
they also knew that his guide, Blair Sandburg was the only one who could keep
his sentinel calm when he was angry. Sentinels and guides were partners for life and they
need each other to survive. Typically, sentinels and guides were paired
early in their childhoods, however Jim Ellison was not your typical sentinel.
He had a father who felt it was a stigmatism to the Ellison name to be a
"freak" which forced Jim to suppress his sentinel abilities. It
worked at least until, at age 16, when Jim ran off and joined the army, where he
was diagnosed as a latent sentinel. The army started the search for a
guide for Jim with no luck. When his unit ended up MIA on a mission over
Peru, the army stopped their search. The details of those 18 months were
classified, but 22 year-old Jim Ellison came out of the Peruvian jungle bonded
to a 9 year-old American guide. "Where is he?" Jim yelled to no one
specifically. "Who Jim?" Detective Henry Brown
asked. "Who?" Where these people
Detectives? "Blair, that’s who. Someone picked him up at
school and his teacher said it was a officer with Major Crimes." "Maybe Captain Banks knows." Rafe
suggested. "Maybe." Jim stormed to the
Captain’s office. Poised to knock, Jim’s hearing picked up the
familiar heartbeat coming from within. Loosing all rational thought when
his guide was concerned, Jim stormed through the door to confront his captain.
What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks. Lying down under a blanket,
was Blair, sound asleep. "Just come right in Detective."
Captain Simon Banks said sarcastically. Jim turned toward his Captain and growled as he
moved to Blair’s side. Simon came around his desk. "He’s
fine Jim. Just tired. The officer picked him up before naptime.
He’s been asleep for about an hour now." "Why Simon?" Jim asked as he
pulled the blanket back to make a sensory sweep of his guide’s condition.
In his sleep, Blair registered the absence of the blanket’s warmth and reached
to pull the blanket back up. Jim smiled. Blair hated being cold.
"Sh Little One. It’s okay." Jim let his hand brush
Blair’s cheek and his mind connect with Blair’s. He immediately leaned
into both touches and settled back into a deep sleep. Certain Blair was
fine Jim tucked the blankets around Blair and stood to face his Captain.
"Why did an officer pull Blair out of school? He needs to be in
school." "I know Jim and I’m sorry about the way it
was done, but you were unavailable and the damn Mayor needed Blair to verify his
statement in your report of the Carson case." "How, by pointing and clicking? He
hasn’t finished his Guide Sign studies yet." "He may not be able to talk, but he had his
data pad. It took longer, but Blair can type pretty fast." "Hurumph! It couldn’t have waited a
few hours so I could’ve been here and he could’ve stay in school? He
misses too much as it is." "I know Jim, but the Mayor insisted, besides,
Blair does a great job here with you and still gets straight A’s in school.
He’s a quick study for someone so young who hasn’t had any formal training.
The Mayor is just nervous because one of his witnesses is a 14 year-old guide,
who is sometimes just as difficult as his father." Jim smiled proudly. "He’s a chip off
the old block." "Block-head maybe. Blair may be your
son and guide, but I suspect he got his brains from his mother."
Simon smiled as Jim grinned. Another crisis averted, Simon thought.
"How’s the Johnson case coming along?" Simon asked as he moved
back to his desk. Jim left Blair’s side and took a seat in front
of his Captain’s desk. "Good. I received a tip from my man on
the street and we should be able to get a million dollars of drugs off the
streets by next week." "Great. As soon as you wrap up the
Johnson case, I thought you and Blair could join me and Daryl and take a week
and go camping." "That sounds like a great idea. Blair
has a small break from school in two weeks and he really needs the down time.
He pushes himself so hard sometimes and then other times he’s the typical 14
year-old getting into trouble." "Trouble huh?" Simon smirked. "Trouble magnet, sir. A couple of
weeks ago he brought home this new computer game that messed with his empathy so
badly that he went into empathic shock. I had to rush him to the ER." "Where did he get the game?" "From ‘friends’ he said. I was so
angry and worried at the same time. He recovered quickly after we bonded
but then I told him I wanted to approve of any new games from now on." "I bet that went over well."
Simon smiled at the picture that popped into his head. "Not at all. He yelled and argued and
only stopped being rude after a few well-placed swats. Then I sent him to
bed." "Yelled? But guides can’t talk." "I hear him clear as a bell Simon."
Jim tapped the side of his head. "He can project pretty loudly when
he’s upset." Simon laughed. "Well, why don’t you
take the rest of the afternoon off and take your little trouble magnet with you.
He can finish his nap at home just as easily as here." "Sure Simon." Jim stood up and bundled
his guide into his arms. Blair snuggled close and sighed. Jim smiled
as Blair projected a question. //Jim?// "Yes, Little One. Go back to
sleep." //’Kay// "Simon, I’ll see you tomorrow." "Have a good evening Jim and tell Blair
thank you for helping with the Mayor." "Will do. Good night sir."
Jim left the Captain’s office and shifted Blair’s dead weight in order to
snag the boy’s backpack. He was much calmer as he left the police
station. ********** Jim approached the hospital and found a parking
place near the emergency doors. After quickly locking his service revolver
in the truck, he all but ran to the emergency door. Flashes of the last
time he and Blair were here only weeks ago and the problems that followed,
entered Jim’s mind as he approached the admitting desk. ********** Jim was stirring the spaghetti sauce for dinner
when he heard a crash come from Blair’s room. "Chief? Are you okay?" //Fine, Jim, no problem// "What are you doing?" Jim
wiped his hands off on a towel and walked toward Blair’s bedroom. Before
he could enter, Blair came out and quickly shut the door. //Hey Jim. Dinner ready yet?// Blair
projected nervously. "Soon. What don’t you want me to see
Chief?" Jim tried to use his sight to see through the window into
Blair’s room but Blair was in the way. //Nothing Jim, honest// "Then let me see, if it’s nothing."
Jim crossed his arms over his chest. //Really, it’s nothing. Boy dinner sure
smells great// "Move." //What?// "I said, move. As in away from the
door." //But…// "One." //Jim really it’s nothing// "Two." //Daaaad// Blair moved away from the door. "Thank you." Jim opened the door
and stared at the mess in Blair’s room. Jim noticed all of the books and
toys from his bookcase were on the floor. Some of the more fragile things
were broken and pushed under the bed. The bookcase was upright, but he
could tell it had fallen over. There was only one way the bookcase could
have fallen over and only one thing Blair could have been after. //I can explain// Blair quickly projected. Jim turned to his son and silently counted to ten
and stretched out his hand, palm up. //What?// Blair tried to bluff. "One." //What?// Blair moved backwards
slowly. "Two." //But…// Blair didn’t make it out of arms
reach before Jim said, "Three." Jim dragged Blair back into his
room with a couple firm swats and set him firmly on the bed. "Where is it Blair?" Blair, rubbing his backside, saw the look Jim was
giving him and knew he had lost. He reached under his pillow and pulled
out the computer game disk and handed it to Jim. "How?" Jim made motions with his
hands toward the messy room. //I tried to climb the bookcase and it fell
over// Blair hung his head. He knew he had disobeyed Jim, but he
couldn’t resist the temptation. Something drew him to the disk. "Clean this mess up. We’ll talk
after dinner." Jim didn’t wait to see if his order was being
followed because he could feel Blair projecting how sorry he was. Blair started to clean up and Jim went back to
finishing dinner. Jim could hear Blair cleaning and sniffling.
Twenty minutes later, Jim called Blair to the table. "Dinner’s ready Chief. Let’s eat."
Blair came out and washed up. He put his hand on Jim’s shoulder and
projected, //I’m really sorry Jim// "I know Blair. Let’s eat." After dinner, Blair did the dishes and Jim
relaxed with the paper in the living room. Jim was absorbed in the paper
when Blair entered the room. Thinking he had zoned, Blair shook Jim’s
shoulder and projected, //Jim? Are you zoned man?// Jim jumped when he felt Blair’s hand and mind
brush his. "I wasn’t zoned Chief. Just reading and
thinking." //Oh// Blair fidgeted from foot to foot, unsure
what to project. "Come sit down son." Jim patted
the cushion next to him so Blair sat down, but couldn’t look at Jim.
"All I want to know is why you chose to disobey me?" //I don’t know. I guess I was bored and
tired of all the other games// "Even knowing the game could make you
sick?" Blair shrugged his shoulders. "How did you know it
was a top of the bookcase?" //I saw you put it up there when my back was
turned// "If your back was turned, how did you see
me?" //My mirror// Jim looked at the innocent looking computer game.
Why so much trouble over a computer game? //I’m really sorry. I wasn’t
thinking// "I guess we both weren’t. I should
have just thrown the game disk away. From now on you need to ask
permission to use the computer." //But…// "Go get the paddle Chief." //But…// "You know the rules young man, now go and
bring it here." Blair headed upstairs and retrieved the dreaded
paddle from Jim’s dresser. He slowly came down the stairs and stood in
front of Jim. Jim stretched out his hand and Blair gave him the paddle.
Jim quickly administered a sound spanking to Blair. The only sounds heard
in the loft where the cracks of the paddle and Blair’s sobs. Jim
however, could hear Blair projecting his pleads for him to stop, how sorry he
was, and that he would never disobey Jim again. Jim ended the spanking and gathered Blair to his
chest to calm him down. "Shh, Little One. You’re okay.
I’m done and I forgive you." //I’m so sorry Jim// Blair cried. "I know. I’m throwing this disk away
this time Chief. I should have done it last week, but I guess I got
distracted." //Why?// "You know why Blair. You started
playing this game and your emotions went through the roof. You ended up in
shock in the emergency room." //But…// Jim ended any further comments with an
additional swat to Blair’s already sore backside. "No arguments young man. If we have to
have this discussion again I will be discussing it with your bare backside.
Are we clear?" //Yes sir// Blair nodded and wiped the
moisture from his eyes. "Good. I want you to go wash up and
get ready for bed. Then we can work on your homework." //I’m getting really good at signing Jim// "That’s great Chief. Then you’ll
be able to communicate without me or your data pad." //I’ll always need you Jim. You’re my
dad// "And I’ll always need you son.
You’re my guide. The other half of my soul." //I love you// Blair got up and went to do what
he was asked. Jim tossed the computer game into the trashcan and decided
to take the whole bag out to the dumpster just to be safe. Blair watched
Jim take out the trash and started to plot a way to save the disk, the previous
lesson all but forgotten. ********** "Sir? Can I help you?" Jim
was jolted back to reality by the desk nurse. "Huh? Oh yeah. I’m here about
my guide." "His name sir?" "Blair Sandburg-Ellison." The nurse used her computer to search for Blair
while Jim paced at the slowness. "Yes, here he is. There must
have been a mix-up at admitting because it says here you were called an hour
ago." "Yes, I was. Why was that so odd?
He’s been missing for four weeks." "Four weeks? Oh dear, how are you
doing sentinel?" The nurse asked with sympathy. "Good, but I’d be better if you could tell
me where Blair was." "He’s not here in the ER anymore.
They transferred him to the guide Psych ward two weeks ago." "TWO WEEKS?" Thundered Jim.
"You mean to tell me, my guide, who I need to keep my sanity, has been here
for two weeks?" "That’s what the database shows. You
should have known by the link he was here." "I would if the link hadn’t been
severed." Jim growled. "That could explain a lot. Let me
contact the doctor right now and if you could wait a couple minutes I will make
sure she knows it’s an emergency." "Please hurry. Blair’s not just my
guide, he’s also my son." "I will be back before you even miss
me." The nurse hurried off and true to her word was back with
Blair’s doctor five minutes later. "Sentinel Ellison?" The doctor
was young, but held herself with as much authority as a seasoned doctor.
Jim however, didn’t even notice how young she was. "Yes, Dr. ?" "Hough, Anita Hough." "Dr. Hough. How’s Blair?" "Nurse Jackson told me what you said about
your connection and it fits with what we found two weeks ago when Blair was
brought in." "How come no one called me before now
Doctor?" Jim asked coldly. "Let’s go up to the Psych floor and we can
talk in my office." "I’d really like to see Blair." "You will, but I need some information
first." "Fine, let’s get this over with."
Jim and the doctor headed up on the elevator. Once in her office, Jim
reluctantly sat down. "Mr. Ellison, Blair was brought in here two
weeks ago in empathic shock. The EMT’s who transported him reported that
Blair’s sentinel died and that was the reason for the shock. We verified
the information with the PD and they said, Blair was found in the home of
Sentinel Alex Barnes. Sentinel Barnes was found dead on the scene apparently
from a severe zone-out" "Barnes is the sentinel that kidnapped
Blair." "Apparently, the guide, the officers assumed
belonged to Sentinel Barnes, was actually Blair. His guide ID ring was still in
his ear and it also verified he was Sentinel Barnes guide." "What? Blair didn’t have an ID tag
in his ear." "Really? That’s unusual." "His mother was a hippie. She
recognized Blair had guide potential, so she took him out of the country.
We meet in Peru and after we bonded, he returned with me, but I never had his
ear pierced." "But you did have him tagged?"
Dr. Hough inquired. "Certainly, it’s the law." Jim
paused. "How come the officers didn’t recognize Blair? Most
people at the PD know what Blair looks like." "I agree they normally would, but Blair
doesn’t look like the Missing persons bulletin we received either." "Then how did you know to call me if you
didn’t know where he was tagged?" "Well Detective, I noticed the nipple ring
this morning and took a closer look, simply out of curiosity, and found out that
it was really an ID tag. How did you ever think of such a thing?" "I was in covert ops Doc. It’s
beneficial to keep the fact that Blair’s a guide secret while working in law
enforcement. It’s just a standard ID tag, but I think I’m going to
reconsider adding a tracking device." The doctor smiled and continued.
"Well, we scanned it and that little ring gave us conflicting information.
Blair hasn’t been able to tell us his name, just a lot of incoherent signing,
that I’m afraid pointed to Blair as Sentinel Barnes killer. With the
information from the tag, it would make sense if Blair intentionally zoned
Barnes if she was the cause of his abduction." "Back up for a minute Doc. You’re
saying that Blair could have intentionally killed a sentinel?" "It could have been subconsciously. He
knew Barnes wasn’t his sentinel, but he’s still showing signs of a guide
whose sentinel is dead, but you’re obviously not dead." "No, but our connection was severed some
how. That’s how I knew Blair was missing as quickly as I did. I
thought he was dead." "Well, we can clear up this mess later, what
I’m more concerned with is Blair. He isn’t eating. I feel he’s
trying to follow you in death, unaware that you’re not dead. I
would like to see if you can successfully bond with him again. If you
can’t, I’m afraid we’ll loose him." "Let’s go try then. I can feel a
fledgling bond already." "I should warn you, you may not recognize
him when you first see him." Jim just nodded. He could feel his guide
near for the first time in weeks and it was having a very heady effect on him.
Walking toward the locked Psych ward, Jim thought back to when the connection
was lost. ********** Blair was supposed to be sleeping, but he lay in
the dark, listening to Jim lock up the loft, waiting for the opportunity to slip
out to retrieve the computer disk when Jim went to bed. Waiting for a
couple hours after the loft got quiet, Blair quietly turned on a white noise
generator to mask his escape down the fire escape to the back alley to look for
the disk. He wasn’t thinking clearly because all he was concerned with
was finding the disk. As he approached the dumpster, Blair felt strong
emotions behind him. He turned quickly and saw a tall blonde woman and two
very big men. "Hello Blair." The woman sneered
as she aimed a trank-gun at Blair and fired. The two goons caught the boy
before he hit the pavement. "Tisk tisk. Another young empath
hooked on my computer game. It’s a most effective drug." "What now Alex?" "Put him in the van and let’s get back to
the warehouse. I can sever his bond there." Three adults and
one young guide disappeared into the Cascade darkness. An hour later, Alex
injected Blair with an experimental chemical that would block Blair’s empathy
and sever his bond with Jim. The moment the bond was broken, Jim Ellison
shot out of bed, screaming Blair’s name. ********** When Jim approached the cell Blair was in, he
became restless. The doctor recognized the early stages of a sentinel
wanting to bond. She hoped Blair would except that Jim was real and not
his imagination. Dr. Hough opened the cell door and the both
watched Blair curl up tighter into the corner. At first Jim didn’t
recognize Blair. He was too thin, covered in bruises and his long curly
hair had been trimmed short. The fear in his eyes was what really broke
Jim’s heart though. "Mr. Ellison?" "What?" Jim never turned away
from Blair. "Does Blair know Guide Sign?" "Not all of it. He spent the first 9
years of his life traveling in other countries and the last five of that in Peru
with a local tribe after his mother was killed. My Ranger unit crashed and
the tribe took me in and it was there I met Blair and we bonded. Since he
was so young, when we returned to the states, I legally adopted him. He
never had formal training before these last four years. He’s doing well,
but he relays on his data pad too much." "That would explain why he doesn’t
communicate. It’s made things a lot harder this last couple of
weeks." "I’m sorry. I should have made him
work harder in school and not so much at the station, but I’ve just been too
busy to keep after him." "Don’t worry about it, detective.
Let’s get you reunited with your guide." Jim approached Blair slowly. The desire to
bond was getting hard to control, but he didn’t want to spook Blair.
"Hey Chief?" Blair just shook his head "no" and
emitted a high-pitched keening noise. "Doc?" Jim turned to the doctor
with concern. "He’s voicing his distress. That’s
the only indication we’ve had that he was upset. That and the
tears." "Oh Chief." Jim knelt down in
front of Blair. "Come on Blair. It’s Jim. Dad.
Come on Little One, please look at me." Blair looked up and blinked back the tears.
He tilted his head, as if in thought, and tentatively reached his hand out to
Jim. Jim took Blair’s hand and immediately the bond between them flared
back to life. A voice gone for the last four-weeks, was felt as Blair
projected his confusion. //Dad?// "Yes Little One. It’s me."
Jim gathered Blair into his arms as Blair tried to burrow under Jim’s skin.
Both crying. //Am I dead?// Blair projected. "No Blair, you’re not dead and neither am
I." Jim smiled. //I thought you were dead. I couldn’t
feel you// Blair sobbed. "I thought I lost you too. You’re
safe now though." Jim rocked Blair until he cried himself to sleep. "Detective Ellison?" Dr. Hough
whispered. "Yeah doc?" "I’m going to go get a regular
sentinel/guide room set-up so we can give you two some space to wash up and
rest." "Okay doc. And doc?" "Yes?" "You’re very welcome sentinel." An hour later, Blair was still asleep but in a
warm bed in a sentinel/guide room. Jim was more relaxed than he had been
in the last four weeks. He could still remember the emptiness he felt when
Blair was ripped away from him. The dread of finding Blair’s room empty
with a white noise generator on. ********** He tracked Blair down the back stairs and over
toward the dumpster. He could tell that Blair was searching for something.
Probably that damn computer disk. He could smell the scent of three
others but they weren’t familiar. The three must have moved Blair to a
vehicle because Jim lost the scent ten feet from the dumpster. Jim almost
zoned three times on different scents and sights before he realized he needed
help if he was going to find Blair. The connection was gone, but somewhere
in his heart he wasn’t convinced that Blair was dead. Jim called Simon who arrived at the loft to find
Jim in a light zone. "Jim?" He shook the detective’s
shoulder. "Jim? Come on Jim. Snap out of it." Jim came back to reality with a start.
"Simon? What happened?" "You zoned Jim? Tell me what
happened." Simon sat beside his detective. Jim put his head into his hands. "I
don’t know Simon. Blair’s missing." "What happened?" "Remember I told you about that computer
game Blair brought home?" "Yes." Simon took out a notepad
as the forensic team started to gathered evidence. "Well, I simply put it on top of his bookcase when
we returned from the ER that night, and I forgot all about it. Blair saw
where I put it and last night he tried to climb the bookcase to get it
down." "Did he get it?" "Yeah, along with everything else on the
bookcase when it fell over." "Was he hurt?" "No. Well, not from the bookcase at
least. I did roast his backside for disobeying me. Then he did his
homework and went to bed. I checked on him before I went to bed around
11:30 and he was asleep. Around 2am I woke up when I lost him. He
was gone." "Lost him?" "The connection Simon. It was
severed." "But that only happens when a sentinel or
guide…" "Dies." Jim finished.
"I know. I can’t feel my guide anymore but for some reason I know
he’s still alive. Someone kidnapped him and somehow broke our
connection." Jim started to cry softly. "Okay Jim. If what you’re feeling is
correct, then we don’t have time to waste. We need to find the scamp.
Were you able to track him at all?" "Yeah. Would you believe he snuck out
to find that damn computer game that I threw away last night?" "Why would he go out at night, in a dark
alley no less, for a disk you just spanked him for having?" "That’s what has me puzzled Captain.
Blair hates going out after dark unless I’m with him. This was totally
out of character for him." "Did he find the game?" "No, but when I was finally thinking
clearly, I found it in the bag I threw away. It’s there on the table.
Maybe there’s some connection." "I’ll have Rafe and Brown track it
down." "I want this case sir. I need to find
Blair." "Jim..." "I know what you’re going to say sir, but
I need to be doing something." "Okay, but you get one warning. I will
chain you to a desk if you get too strung out. Are we clear?" "Yes sir." "Good. Let’s go find that trouble
magnet." ********** Jim startled back to reality when Blair stirred in his
sleep. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed and stroked Blair’s cheek.
"Sh Little One. Go Back to sleep." Blair settled down with
the soft voice and gentle touch. Between the stress of loosing Blair,
looking for Blair and then finding him after such a traumatic experience, Jim
was bone weary, so he decided to lie down next to Blair and rest.
Sentinel/guide rooms had beds that were wide enough for two grown adults to bond
in comfort, so when Jim lay down, Blair snuggled close. Jim opened his
mind and Blair instinctively entered the bond. Jim fell asleep thinking
about how hard it had been to keep control while Blair was gone, and how Blair
calmed him without even trying. ********** "ELLISON! My office! NOW!"
Captain Simon Banks was at his wits end. "What Captain?" Jim was annoyed.
Simon sounded upset and he was only asking Rafe about leads to find Blair. "Don’t ‘what’ me. What did you
think you’re doing badgering another detective? Rafe is doing the best
job he can and he doesn’t need you to make it harder." Jim sighed and slumped into a chair.
"I’m sorry Simon. It’s getting harder to calm down and keep my
senses in check. With Blair gone, I don’t have complete control." "I understand the last two weeks have been
rough, but if you don’t pull it together I’m going to have to suspend
you." "I’ll try harder sir." Jim
closed his eyes for a minute and tried to relax. "See that you do. You need more rest
than you’re getting also. When was the last time you slept?" "I don’t know Simon. I try and just
wake up in cold sweats. I’m having nightmares about panthers and wolves
and leopards. It’s just too weird." There was silence for a
couple of minutes then Jim spoke, "What was found out about the computer
disk?" "The disk is black market. Rumor has
it, someone just gives them away. The empaths are the target though.
Most people with no empathic abilities find the game boring and end up throwing
it away or giving it away. The empaths that view the game can’t stop
using it. The only strange thing is Blair’s reaction too it. In
other empaths it has the same effect as a drug. It gives the empath a high
and then they need another ‘hit’ when the effects wear off. Blair’s
reaction was in the minority. He reacted badly too it. The doctors
said that if the empath that has a sever reaction isn’t treated for the shock
immediately, they would slip into a coma and die." "Damn." "Exactly. You were right to assume that
Blair was in distress when you took him to the ER. The doctors also said
that they’ve only had a handful of cases where the empath had a dangerous
reaction to the game." "What’s the motive then? If the
games are designed to be addictive and they are simply given away, where’s the
profit?" "I thought that too and had Brown check all
of the missing persons reports in the last 6 months. He found an increase
in missing guides since this game hit the street." "And you think the two are connected?"
Jim said with some hope. "Yes I do. Of all the missing persons
reports, 75% were guides. Half of those turned up dead, cause unknown.
Of course the sentinels followed." "And the other half?" Jim knew
how hard it was to continue living, feeling your guide was dead. Something
else told him Blair was still alive. "Small percentages were found. Some
returned to find their sentinel had killed themselves, so they followed.
Some never re-bonded and both guide and sentinel went mad. Others bonded
alright, but were so traumatized they couldn’t project about it." "God Simon." Jim scrubbed his
face with his hands. "Brown found one young man who recovered,
re-bonded and remembered what happened, but refused to talk about it. I
thought maybe you and I could go talk to him. Maybe he would help us if he
knew another guide was missing." "That would be great sir. When can we
go?" Jim shot out of his chair. "Let me make some calls. Right now you
need to go out and apologize to Rafe for biting his head off.
Dismissed." Jim smiled and headed out to talk to Rafe. ************* //Jim// Jim awoke to Blair’s gentle projection. "What Little One?" //I’m thirsty// "Okay. Let me call the nurse."
Jim reached over Blair for the call button and depressed it. A moment
later, a nurse entered and smiled. "Well, look who’s awake. What can I
get for you?" "Blair would like a drink please." "I think I can manage that. I’ll be
right back. I’ll also tell Dr. Hough that you’re awake." "Thank you." After the nurse left, Jim tightened his hold on
Blair. //Jim// "Yeah Chief?" //Where are we// "We’re in the hospital Blair. Do you
remember anything?" //Just flashes, but they scare me Jim// Tears
pooled in Blair’s eyes. "It’s going to be okay Blair. I’ll
be here every step of the way to help you son. I promise." //Love you// "I love you too Chief." Jim
kissed Blair on the forehead just as the nurse returned with a drink of ginger
ale for Blair. Blair took the drink in shaky hands and with Jim’s help
he was able to quench his thirst. He let Jim put the drink on the bed
stand when he was finished. "What do you say Blair?" //Thank you// "In Guide Sign Chief." *Thank you nurse* "You’re welcome young man."
Just then the Doctor came in. "Well, I’m glad to see you looking better
Blair. You’ve had me worried." Blair looked at Jim with confusion.
"Dr. Hough. Blair said he didn’t remember much of the last four
weeks. Just flashes." //FOUR WEEKS// "Yes Chief. Someone kidnapped you four
weeks ago." "Blair?" When Blair turned toward
the doctor, she continued, "You were missing for two weeks and have been
here for two weeks. You just re-bonded with Jim yesterday and have been in
bond/sleep since then. Do you understand?" //Yes// "Blair, I want you to respond to the doctor
directly." Jim corrected gently. *Yes Doctor* Blair signed with a sigh. "Do you remember anything about your stay
here?" *No Ma’am* "Well, your memory should come back, but you
were in shock most of the two weeks you were here. I’ve ordered food for
both of you. I expect both plates cleaned off. I spoke to Captain
Banks this morning and he told me you haven’t been eating well either
Detective, so consider yourself under house arrest as long as it takes Blair to
get better." "Well Chief, you better get well quickly, or
we may need to plan our escape." Jim waggled his eyebrows at the boy.
Blair giggled. *Doc. You should knowed that papa don’t
stay hurt long.* "That was horrible Chief. I think
after you get well, I’m confiscating your data pad. Maybe it will force
you to learn the Guide Sign faster." //What? Was it that bad? What did I
get wrong// "You should have signed *you should know
that my papa doesn’t stay in hospitals well*. And I’m not sure if you
meant to say papa or *dad*." //Oh// Blair was struggling to keep his eyes
open. Jim gently tapped Blair’s chin to get his
attention. "I want you to repeat the sentence correctly Blair." //Now?// "Yes, now." *Doc, you should know that my dad doesn’t stay
in hospitals well* //Better// "Much." The doctor smiled as
their food arrived and both sentinel and guide ate under her watchful eye. *********** "Jim, you really need to eat
something." "I’m not hungry Simon. I can eat
plenty once I find Blair and he’s safe and home." "Fine, be stubborn, but we are not going
anywhere until you eat." Simon crossed his arms across his chest to
prove his point. "We have an appointment with Sentinel
Jackson and Guide Barre in thirty minutes." "Then I suggest you eat, or I will call and
reschedule." Jim could tell Simon wouldn’t be persuaded.
"Fine, but just remember I will get even." Jim
reluctantly ate the food placed in front of him. He didn’t taste any of
it. Thirty minutes later, Simon and Jim were in the
living room of Sentinel Jackson and Guide Barre’s apartment. "Gentlemen, would you like something to
drink?" Sentinel Jackson asked. "No, thank you. We would just like to
ask Guide Barre a few questions." Captain Banks said. "About his abduction?" "Yes sir." "I’ll be honest with you gentlemen he
hasn’t projected anything about it to anyone." "Could we ask him at least?" Jim asked. "Sure." Sentinel Jackson left the
room and came back with his guide. The young man was probably in his early
twenties with short blonde hair. He was on the thin side and was clinging
to his sentinel’s arm. They sat together in front of Jim and Simon.
"Kyle? These men are police officers who would like to ask you about
when you were kidnapped." Jim noticed Kyle immediately tense.
"Guide Barre, I’m Sentinel Ellison. I know this must be hard for
you, but if you could give us any information it would be a tremendous help.
My guide was kidnapped two weeks ago and I think it was the same people who
abducted you." *How old is your guide?* Kyle signed. "Fourteen." *So young.* "Yes he is. He’s also my son, so
even a little information could help." *They gave me a drug that blocked my connection
with Nate.* Kyle took his sentinel’s hand and their minds connected to
add support. Secure in his sentinel’s arms, Kyle continued. *Then
this crazed sentinel claimed I was to bond with her. She must have been
insane because when the bond wouldn’t work she beat me. I thought Nate
was dead and only wanted to follow him.* Nate Jackson
tightened his arms around his guide and projected assurances and love.
*After a couple weeks, she gave up. She told her goon squad to dispose of
me. When I got the chance though, I ran off and got away from them.
I found myself wandering through the warehouse district. A patrolman
noticed me before the goons could finish me off, so the officers brought me to
the hospital.* "Do you know what this woman wanted?"
Jim asked. *I got the impression she was looking for a
guide, but no one she had abducted was compatible.* "Were there others there at the same
time?" Jim continued. *Probably. After she told her goons to get
rid of me, I heard her talk about another who was hooked on the game. Then
I remembered how obsessed I was with this new computer game I found.* "That game has been nothing but
trouble." Jackson sneered. "Even after Kyle got home he
still wanted that game and fought me daily about it. I destroyed it." "Good." Jim sneered back.
"It’s that same game that almost killed my guide when he went into
empathic shock. We’ve been unable to track the owner of the computer
game though. Do you remember where you got it?" *That was the strange part. After Nate
destroyed mine and impressed his displeasure to me* //Your bottom to
be exact// Jackson interjected. *I went back to the little shop I got it
from and they said they were out of them. Then another empath entered and
he came out with a copy.* //You did what?// Nate projected.
Kyle soothed, //Later okay?// //Count on it little boy// "They already knew you weren’t
compatible." Simon mused. "My thoughts exactly. Could you tell
us the name of the store?" Jim asked. *Sure. It was a novelty shop called The
Spotted Leopard. It was down on Murray right before the Guide
college.* "You’ve been a tremendous help, Thank
you." Everyone stood. *Detective? I hope you find your guide.
That woman was insane. I could feel the madness in her. Good luck.* "Thank you." Jim shook hands with
both of the sentinel/guide pair and then left. Once outside, Jim spoke to Simon.
"Next stop, The Spotted Leopard." "Let’s go detective. We have a boy
to find." ********* //Jim, I wanna go home// Jim swore he could hear
a whine in his head and sighed. "I already explained this to you Chief.
The doctor wants to make sure you’re okay." Jim helped his guide
back into bed. After two weeks of being kidnapped and another two weeks of
refusing to let people near him, Blair had needed a bath, badly. Jim had
helped Blair into the shower in the hospital room and scrubbed his guide clean.
He also used the opportunity to catalog ever bruise, scratch, and bump that
Blair had. Sentinel sense assured Jim that his guide was healing,
physically. //I’m fine// "You are not fine." //Am too// Blair crossed his arms and stuck
his bottom lip out in a pout. "We are not having this argument.
I promise as soon as Dr. Hough gives her okay, I’ll take you home, so suck in
that bottom lip before birds land on it." Jim pulled the blankets up
over Blair’s legs. //When?// "When what?" //Can we go home. I’m bored// Blair
whined. "Well, I have the perfect thing to keep you
busy." Jim took out a textbook and notebook and handed them to Blair.
Blair immediately recognized his schoolbooks and groaned as he pulled the
blanket over his head. Jim smiled when he heard Blair projecting, //no,
no, no, please, no// "You’re too far behind Blair.
You’d be further behind if the school hadn’t had a break last week." //Do you have to remind me I missed my break//
Blair remained under the blanket. "Chief? When you’re feeling better,
we’ll still go camping like we planned." Blair stuck his head out. //Really// "Really. Now why don’t I help you
get caught up?" //Okay// Jim helped Blair work on his school work
and guide sign until Blair became tired and Jim insisted he lay down and take a
nap. ********* The Spotted Leopard was a small quaint
shop that sold a little of everything an empath would need or want. Jim
and Simon entered the store and noticed the clerk behind the counter. He
didn’t look like someone who would be a clerk in a small shop, but more like a
man working as a bouncer in a rough nightclub. Jim noticed his nametag
said, Jenkins. "Can I help you gentlemen?" Simon and Jim showed their badges.
"I’m Detective Ellison and this is Captain Simon Banks." Jim
immediately noticed the man’s heartbeat spike. "What can I do for you?" Jenkins
nervously said. Jim handed him a picture of Blair.
"Have you seen this boy around here Mr. Jenkins?" Sweat beaded on Jenkins forehead.
"Nope. We don’t usually get 14 year old empaths in here." "Who said he14? Or an empath?" "Just looked like it, that’s all."
Jenkins heart rate was so elevated Jim suspected the man knew more than he was
saying. Simon noticed how Jim’s head was tilted as he used his senses to
establish the truth. "Mr. Jenkins?" Simon interjected.
"Did we mention Detective Ellison is a sentinel?" Jenkins was so
unnerved that Jim thought he was going to blow a blood vessel. "This
boy is also his guide. He was given a computer game that was sold here.
Now the guide is missing and I believe you know more than you’re saying." "We sell that game, but I can’t control
what the empaths do with it." "I’d like you to come down to the station
for some more questions." Simon ordered. "I can’t leave the store." "Lock-up Mr. Jenkins. This will take
awhile. Those computer games are a menace and we need to find out where
they came from." Jim added. Jenkins quickly locked up. As they were
walking to the car, all three men took cover as shots were fired. ********** //JIM// Jim ran down the hospital corridor and slid into
Blair’s room. Blair was tangled in his blankets, thrashing as if trying
to escape something. He was crying and emitting a nerve piercing noise.
It was the loud terrified projections though, that broke Jim’s heart. "Blair? Hey Little One. Wake
up." Jim gently shook Blair’s shoulders as he sat down on the edge
of the bed. Blair woke with a start. When he saw Jim he threw his
arms around Jim’s neck and sobbed. "Sh, Little One. It’s
going to be okay." Jim rubbed Blair’s back until the sobs slowed.
"Did you have a nightmare Chief?" Blair nodded.
"You want to tell me about it?" //No// "It may help to talk about it Blair."
Jim continued his gentle back rub and kissed Blair’s head. //Okay// Blair gathered himself and slowly told
Jim about his nightmare. //I remember some of what happened to me. I
was in this place and there was a woman who said you were dead and that she was
my sentinel now. I signed to her *no* she wasn’t. I yelled to you
but you weren’t there anymore. No one could hear me. I couldn’t
connect// Blair started to cry again. "Sh it’s okay now. The
connection’s strong now. We’re good." Jim gently rocked with
Blair in his arms. //I know Jim. At first, I thought you were
dead, but I had a dream while I was kidnapped, about a panther, leopard, and a
wolf pup. The leopard was carrying the pup in its teeth and the pup was
whimpering and trying to swipe at the leopard. The panther was off in the
distance looking for the wolf. The leopard was mean to the wolf though.
It pushed it around and made it cry, but the panther found the wolf and then the
leopard was gone and the panther gently took the pup into it’s teeth and
carried it home and cleaned it and fed it and kept it warm. When the pup
woke up, the panther was gone. That’s when I woke up.// "I had a similar dream while you were gone
Blair, but in mine, the panther killed the leopard." //Really? That’s like…wow man// Jim smiled as
Blair practically bounced. He knew Blair was going to be okay, with time. "We can analyze it later. I just
talked to Dr. Hough and she said, if you take it easy, she’ll let me take you
home tomorrow." //Tomorrow? We’re going home?//
Blair beamed. "Yes, Little One. We’re going
home." //Cool// ********** "Damn it Simon!" "Relax Jim." Simon tried to calm
Jim down. "RELAX? How can you say that?
Our one solid lead since Blair disappeared, and he’s shot. Tell me how
I’m supposed to relax with Jenkins in a coma?" "Because I got Judge Winger to sign a
warrant to search The Spotted Leopard and it’s computer records and
Brown is tracking down the owner." Jim just growled.
"Don’t make me ground your ass to a desk, Detective. It’s been a
long couple of weeks for all of us." Simon paused.
"I want you to go home and get some rest." "Can’t rest." Jim mumbled. "What?" "I said, I can’t rest without Blair!"
Jim practically yelled. "I want you to try Jim. Go home. I
don’t want to see you back here until tomorrow." Jim grumbled all the way home. ********** Jim was tired. He had reluctantly left
Blair to head home to prepare for Blair’s return. The loft was a
disaster. Jim had neglected everything in search of his guide but now that
Blair was safe and recovering, Jim had noticed the mess and had started cleaning
with vigor. Before he knew it, four hours had past and he was late getting
back to the hospital. As Jim entered the hospital, he knew Blair was in
distress. He ran up the stairs two at a time. When he entered
Blair’s room, what he saw, made him see red. Nurses were strapping Blair
down to the bed, and Blair was sobbing as he struggled to get away. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Jim roared. Blair’s eyes flew open when he heard Jim.
He struggled harder and projected his terror. //DAD! Help me
please// All the nurses scattered in the face of an angry
sentinel trying to get to his guide. Jim started to remove the restraints
at the same time he tried to calm Blair through the bond. One suicidal
nurse tried to stop him, but though twice when Jim growled at her.
"I’m getting the doctor." The nurse stormed out. Jim paid her no mind, but freed Blair and
gathered his distraught son into his arms. Blair all but crawled into
Jim’s lap and sobbed. The doctor entered and was frozen by the stare of
a very angry sentinel. "Detective Ellison." "What the hell were you doing?"
Jim ground out. "The nurses told me Blair woke from his nap
and became violent. I think he had a flashback and when he didn’t
recognize anyone, he tried to escape. I ordered the restraints to keep him
safe, but they seemed to upset him more." "But you kept using them?" "He would have hurt himself Mr. Ellison.
I only just reviewed Blair’s medical history to see what allergies he had.
I didn’t want Blair to have a relapse because of a drug interaction."
Jim calmed down a little at the doctor’s explanation, but mostly because Blair
had relaxed and fallen into an exhausted sleep. "I am sorry Mr.
Ellison, but my hands were tied." "No doctor; Blair’s were. I don’t
know what was done to him during his kidnapping, but Blair has never liked being
tied down or locked in small spaces. It’s noted in his records and you
should have known what to use and what not to use before hand." "You’re correct, Mr. Ellison. I
should have known and I’m very sorry." Jim used his senses to
determine whether the doctor was genuine. Noting no signs of a lie, Jim
nodded. "Thank you. Would you permit me to examine Blair to
make sure he didn’t hurt himself?" Jim nodded again and tried to
untangle himself from Blair. As he moved though, Blair began to get
distressed again. Jim calmed him and decided to get comfortable on the bed
and gathered Blair closer. "Sorry doc, but if you want to examine him,
you’ll have to do it from here." "That’s fine." Doctor Hough
made a quick exam and found that Blair hadn’t hurt himself. She tucked
the blankets up over Blair and Jim. "He’s okay, Mr. Ellison, just a little
shaken up. Are you having any problems through the bond?" Jim, who had connected with Blair as soon as he
had released the restraints, closed his eyes briefly and basked in the warm glow
the bond emitted. "No doc. No problems." "Good. Do you need anything before I
leave? Blair should sleep but if he gets upset again…" "I’ll handle it." Jim finished. "Yes, but if you can’t, the nurse has the
correct sedative if need be." Jim nodded, closed his eyes, and held Blair
tighter as he soaked in the connection with his guide, summarily dismissing the
doctor. Sentinel and guide settled into a deep healing sleep. *********** In local news: A sentinel was found dead last
evening in her home, apparently from a sever zone out. Speculation of why
the guide was unable to assist his sentinel was not mentioned but Sentinel and
Guide Mercy listed the condition of the guide as critical. Official
comments were unavailable. We’ll have more information as it becomes
available. Jim slammed the radio off. He could be that
sentinel if Blair wasn’t found soon. It was getting harder to
concentrate and wouldn’t be long before Captain Banks forced him to ride a
desk. If Blair was gone, Jim would eat a bullet. A sentinel can’t live
without a guide. Jim didn’t get to finish his thoughts as he saw a blur
of fur right before a car forced him into a telephone pole. His last
conscious thought was that a leopard must have escaped from the zoo. ************ When Jim entered Blair’s room, Blair was
sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, swinging his legs. He
looked up and bounced off the bed when he saw Jim. //Man I am so ready to get out of here// "We just have to wait for the Doctor to come
and sign the papers freeing you Blair." //Good, I’m looking forward to sleeping in my
own bed// "Well, you can for naps, but you’re
sleeping upstairs with me for awhile." Jim gathered Blair’s things
and set them by the door. //Why// "Because I want you close and until the pull
of that computer game is gone, I’m not trusting you to stay in the loft at
night." //I’m not going to sneak out again. I
promise// Blair pleaded. "That’s good Chief, but you don’t really
have the control to keep that promise when you have an addiction. So until
you do, you will be bunking with me." //No fair// "It’s quite fair considering you disobeyed
me in the first place by trying to get that game again. I’ve decided not
to spank you because you didn’t have a lot of control over your actions, but I
will not hesitate to correct you if the same error is made. Am I
clear?" //Yes sir. I still say it isn’t fair// "Just humor the old man okay? I’ll
feel better having you close and I think you will too. Besides, the
bond/sleep will help chase your nightmares away." The doctor chose that moment to enter with
paperwork and instructions. "Detective, I had a prescription filled
for a mild sedative to help Blair sleep if needed. Here’s his
prescription to help with the withdrawal symptoms. If he looks like he’s
going into empathic shock, bring him back to the ER. I don’t expect any
problems, but he may be plagued with more nightmares. Just keep him close
and let me know if you need anything. Are there any questions?" "No Doc, everything looks good. I
really appreciate everything you did for Blair. If it wasn’t for your
curiosity, I …" Jim swallowed against the emotion. He felt Blair at
his shoulder, projecting understanding. Jim gathered Blair into a hug and
breathed deep. "I understand completely detective Ellison.
Take your guide home. He should be fit to go back to school at the
beginning of next week. Take it easy until then." //School// Jim and Doctor Hough laughed at Blair’s
stricken expression. Jim ushered Blair out the door and headed home. ********** Alex Barnes was quite insane. Blair
didn’t care if he died, but he knew Barnes needed to be stopped. He
gathered all of the empathic strength he could and prepared to stop this mad
women. He had heard about a tribal guide who had been abducted once in
Peru. The sentinel was dead, killed in the raid, and the guide used all of his
strength to overload the sentinel who had abducted him. The sentinel had
died of a sever zone out and the guide eventually died of shock. Blair
knew what to do, and it didn’t matter if he died because he didn’t want to
live without Jim anyway. Blair focused and would be ready when Barnes
returned for him. ********** Jim answered the door before Simon had a chance
to knock. "I really hate it when you do that."
Simon growled. "I know." Jim smiled an evil grin
as he headed toward the kitchen. "Would you like some coffee
Simon?" "Sure." Simon looked around the
loft. "Where’s the trouble magnet?" "Taking a nap." Jim and Simon
moved to the living room and sat down. Simon looked at his watch and frowned.
"It’s too early to be the regular naptime." "He was tired. Besides, the moment we
walked through the door he started arguing about how mean I was to tell him
where he was sleeping at night and what games he can play with. I knew he
was going to have a problem letting it go, so after warning him twice, I spanked
him and sent him to bed." "He certainly knows how to find
trouble." Simon sipped the bitter brew. "Sometimes it comes looking for him Simon.
He didn’t go looking to get addicted to some stupid game. I just wish
Barnes wasn’t dead so I could shoot her." "Very mature Jim." Simon smiled.
He felt the same way but was very glad Blair was safe and that Barnes was dead. "You staying for lunch Simon?" "No, I have to get back. Brown and
Rafe found the warehouse that Blair and the other empaths were kept in and
they’re gathering more evidence to make sure Alex Barnes was the one behind
the whole thing." "Let me know if you need sentinel
help." "Will do. You just take care of our
trouble magnet." "I will and thanks Simon." Simon left and Jim prepared lunch for when Blair
woke from his nap. ********** "What do you mean he’s still alive?" "We tried Alex, but he’s hard to kill.
At least Jenkins is dead. He can’t talk." "Tom, I need Ellison dead. For some
reason the drug didn’t sever the bond between Blair and Ellison.
Blair’s the one. He may be young but he’s a strong enough empath to
give me control. I want you to go back to that hospital and finish off
Ellison." "Yes ma’am." "And don’t come back until that’s done.
And take Jimmy with you." The goons left and Alex headed to Blair’s cell.
It was time to force her hand. If Blair wouldn’t bond willingly, she
would risk forcing it. As she entered the cell, Blair moved away from her. "Well young man, it’s time to make it
official." Alex took an ID ring and forced it into the hole she
assumed was for the guide ID ring. "Now you’re marked as
mine." Alex used her senses to map Blair’s body as she
memorized everything about him. Blair on the other hand was preparing for the
final battle. His sentinel may be dead, but he would follow. He
would not stay and bond to this madwoman. She had already beaten him for
his disobedience and if he weren’t successful in zoning her she would beat him
to death just for the attempt. Either way, Blair would be dead. Alex settled next to Blair and pushed against his
mental barriers. Blair fought a little and then quickly drew her in and
sent his strength into a zone. Alex’s scream wasn’t heard since her
goons had gone to kill Ellison. Blair mentally smiled, as he slipped into
shock. ********** Blair bolted awake. He was sweating and
shaking so badly that he didn’t notice Jim enter his room until he was picked
up and settled in Jim’s lap. "Sh, Little One. Did you have another
dream?" Blair nodded. //Dad? I remember what
happened before I was taken to the hospital// "Really? That’s good. Do you
want to tell me about it?" //The other sentinel wanted me to bond with her.
She said she would force me if I didn’t agree to become her guide. I
remembered Incacha had told me a story about a guide who killed an enemy
sentinel// "I remember that story, Blair, but the guide
died afterwards." //I know. I thought you were dead and I
didn’t want this woman to kidnap anyone else so I decided to try what Incacha
told me. I figured even if I failed, the sentinel would kill me for
trying// "You took too big a risk Blair."
Jim growled. //I thought you were dead// Blair hid his tears
in the folds of Jim’s shirt. Jim was immediately sorry for being so
harsh. "I’m sorry Blair. I’m just real
glad you’re safe now. Do you want to finish?" Blair nodded. //I used all my strength and
when she tried to force a bond, I pulled her in and then sent mental images of
things that would overload her senses and send her into a zone. It worked
too. She screamed and was lost// "What happened to you though Chief?" //I was pulled in too. It was like being
sucked into a swirl of water going down a drain, but as I was letting the
current take me down, I saw the panther again. For some reason I decided
to fight the current and I started to swim up. When I surfaced, I opened
my eyes and saw the sentinel was dead. I forced myself up and found a
phone and called 911. Then I passed out and woke up at the hospital// "Doctor Hough said she found a guide ID ring
in your ear. She also said it had fallen out and since they aren’t
supposed to be able to be removed unless the guide is dead, she was really
puzzled. The ID ring had you down as guide to an Alex Barnes." //Was that her name// "Yes. The ambulance EMT said they
found you in an apartment in a warehouse." Jim wiped the tears from
Blair’s face and smiled. "Let’s get some lunch and then you can
relax in front of the TV." //Okay// Blair followed Jim into the kitchen and
sat down to lunch. Afterwards, when he took his dishes to the sink, Blair
noticed a hospital form on the counter for Jim. //Dad// Blair asked. "Yeah Chief?" //What’s this from// Blair held up the form and
showed it to Jim. "While you were missing, someone tried to
run me off the road." //WHAT// "I’m fine Blair but Simon figured someone
may have wanted me out of the picture, since we were shot at a few days before
that too." ********** Tom and Jimmy, dressed as orderlies, silently
entered the ICU room that held Detective Ellison. The lights were muted
for the night and the monitors registered that the man in the bed was still
alive. Not for long they thought. Tom produced a syringe
filled with a cleaner they found in the janitor’s closet. He injected
the cleaner into the IV port and turned to leave. Captain Simon Banks entered at the same moment
with gun drawn. "Freeze! Cascade PD. You’re under
arrest for the attempted murder of a police officer and the suspected kidnapping
of a child and guide." "You’re too late. By now Sentinel
Ellison is dead and his guide is bonded to another." Jimmy sneered. "Wrong again boys." Both men spun
around to see Detective Ellison standing behind them with his gun drawn also.
"Three strikes and you’re out." "But…" Tom stammered. "Sorry boys, but the IV wasn’t
attached." Jim and Simon cuffed the two goons and read them their
rights. "Now. I want you two gentlemen to tell
me where my guide is. NOW!" Jim was every bit the ‘throwback
to pre-civilized man’ at this very moment. Both Tom and Jimmy decided to
talk. As the police drove away from the hospital with their suspects, an
ambulance was delivering a young guide lost in empathic shock. ********** The phone only rang once before Jim picked it up
and quickly went into the kitchen in order not to disturb his sleeping guide. "Ellison." "Jim, it’s Simon." "Yeah Simon, what’s up?" "How’s Blair?" "He’s doing okay. He woke from his
nap remembering zoning Barnes. He was pretty shaken up. Then we had
lunch and I explained to him what happened at the hospital and now he’s
sleeping on the couch." "Good. I’m glad he’s doing better.
I told Peterson that if he wanted to get Blair’s statement for the final
report to close the case of Barnes death, to call you on Monday." "That will be perfect. Blair goes back
to school on Monday and we can wrap up lose ends then." "I also called to tell you that Rafe and
Brown tracked the owner of the warehouse and The Spotted Leopard to a
company called "Nano-Technologies". The owners of the company
are Alex and Alan Barnes. They were brother and sister Jim. Twins to
be exact." "Where is this Alan Barnes now?" "We don’t know. We’re trying to
track him down, but I wanted to give you the heads up just in case this guy
decides to take his revenge out on you or Blair. Keep the kid close and
I’m sending a unit to watch the loft." "Thanks for the heads up Simon.
We’ll stay put, just keep me informed." "Will do Jim. Take care of our trouble
magnet." "Always." Jim hung up the phone
and sighed. Will this ordeal ever be over? ********** "Dr. Hough?" "Yes Nurse?" "The guide in room 123 isn’t responding to
anything." "He’s in empathic shock nurse. He
may never respond with his sentinel dead." Dr. Hough entered room 123
and observed the guide for a couple of minutes. It really was a shame this
young guide was too far gone to save. After two weeks of force feeding and
finally sedating the guide to get him washed up, the doctors and nurses were at
a loss as what to do next. The young guide had obviously been abused by
his sentinel and now with the sentinel dead the guide would follow. Every morning, Dr. Hough expected to come in and
hear the guide had died, but every morning she came in to the same catatonic
guide who arrived two weeks prior. This morning she had ordered the young
man sedated so the nurses could bath him. As she was making her rounds she
stopped in on the young guide and noticed he had a small gold ring through his
left nipple. "Nurse? Why wasn’t this nipple ring
removed when he came in?" "We tried Doctor. It was just too hard
to remove." Dr. Hough examined the ring and after several
minutes, paled. "Oh my God!" The nurses watched as the
doctor ran from the room and quickly returned with a Guide ID Scanner. She
ran the instrument over the nipple ring and it beeped. No one spoke as the
doctor scanned through the new information. She smiled and patted the
young guide’s foot. "Make sure you ladies take good care of Mr.
Blair Sandburg-Ellison." Their Guide Doe finally had a name.
"I’m going to go call his sentinel and see if we can clear up some
confusion and bring young Blair out of shock." Dr. Hough went to her office and called the
contact number from the ID ring. It rang twice. "Ellison." ********** Blair couldn’t sleep. He made a big fuss
about sleeping upstairs with his father, but it actually comforted him to know
he was safe. He still couldn’t sleep though. Thoughts of how close
they both came to being dead because of an insane sentinel kept running through
his head and he couldn’t relax. Jim had fallen asleep almost
immediately, but he hadn’t had two naps like Blair had. Blair decided he needed to get a drink and go to
the bathroom. As he moved away from Jim, a solid arm reached out and
stopped him. "Where you going Chief?" //I have to go to the bathroom Jim// "Okay. But don’t dawdle. I
won’t be a happy sentinel if I have to come fetch you. Understand?" //Yes sir// Jim let go of Blair’s arm and
followed his guide with his senses. Blair went into the bathroom and got a
drink and relieved himself. Jim was in a light doze when he heard something
out of place. He was half way down the stairs when he heard Blair’s
projected scream. ********** Jim had his head down on his desk. They had
interviewed the two men who tried to kill him and got a name, Alex Barnes.
She had been kidnapping guides in order to find someone who could help her with
her senses. She was insane, they had told the police, and they feared she
would be gone with Jim’s guide. The goons gave the police the address to the
warehouse, but when SWAT and Major Crimes stormed the place, it was empty.
There were signs of Blair in the apartment in the warehouse and several unmarked
graves, but no Blair. It took forensics two weeks to determine that the
bodies in the graves where missing guides, but Blair wasn’t one of them.
Once again, Blair slipped through their hands, and Jim was slipping further and
further away also. Simon approached Jim’s desk, intent on getting
the sentinel to go home and get some food and sleep, when the phone on Jim’s
desk rang. Jim picked it up after the second ring.
"Ellison." Simon watched Jim’s downcast face light up with
hope. "Where? When? I’ll be there
within the hour. Thank you very much doctor." Jim hung up and
grabbed his coat. He never saw Simon until his arm was touched. "Jim? What’s going on?" "Blair! That was Guide And Sentinel
Mercy. They have Blair there. Alive." Jim was grinning
like a fool. "MY GUIDE IS ALIVE SIMON!" "I’m glad Jim. Go to him and try not
to kill anyone driving over there." "Thanks Simon. I’ll call you as soon
as I get all the details." Jim was gone before Simon could respond.
Thank God Blair was safe. ********** When Simon arrived at the loft, there were police
cars blocking off most of the building. Simon entered the loft and found
forensics going over the crime scene. Off to one corner in the living room
was Jim sitting in the rocking chair, rocking his sleeping guide. Simon
stepped around the dead body of Alan Barnes and stood in front of Jim. "How are you two doing?" Simon
asked gently. Jim looked up and smiled sadly. "Okay
considering Barnes tried to kill us." Simon sat down. "What happened
Jim?" "Blair woke up and went downstairs to use
the bathroom. While he was in the bathroom, I heard someone sneaking up
the fire escape. I made my way down the stairs but Barnes made it to the
bathroom before I did. When Blair came out, he was face to face with
Barnes, who had a knife. Blair screamed and ducked away from the knife.
As Barnes went to bring the knife back around I snapped his wrist and the knife
fell. We struggled to get the knife and when it was all over Barnes was
dead. He had rolled over onto his own knife. I called 911 and then
tried to calm Blair down. He was hysterical. I couldn’t get him to
bond and he was projecting a chant of ‘oh my God’ as he rocked back and
forth." Jim held Blair tighter and wiped at the tears flowing from
his own eyes. A little embarrassed, Jim mumbled, "Sorry." "Nothing to be sorry about Jim. I’m
just glad you’re both okay. Concentrate on taking care of Blair and
we’ll worry about reports later, okay?" "Sure Simon." Jim closed his eyes and
basked in the connection he had with Blair. It took Jim a while to connect
with Blair after the initial shock, but now Blair was is a deep bond/sleep.
They would both heal now that both Barnes’ were dead. Things could
go back to normal. Whatever normal is for us. Jim laughed. One Month Later: It had taken a couple of weeks to tie up all of
the lose ends, including having Blair cleared of charges of intentionally zoning
a sentinel. It took Blair some time to recover from the night Alan Barnes
paid a visit to the loft and he was occasionally having nightmares about what
happened. Most of his memories had returned but thankfully not some of the
more traumatic ones. Blair’s hair was growing out; he was back to school
and was getting back into the full swing of things. It was Friday, and Blair was glad the week was
over. He was also hoping Jim would let him move back down into his own
room this weekend, since he had been on his best behavior since that damn
computer game came into his life. The first full week home after the whole
ordeal was Jim’s judgment day for Blair. He had asked Blair about the
white noise generator and found out where he got it. Afterwards, Jim
spanked Blair and told him he never wanted to see Blair with another white noise
generator, ever. Blair had spent some covert time making flyers on
the computer, to let the other empaths know how dangerous the game was and that
the sentinels should destroy the copies. He thought he was pulling one
over on Jim, but Jim knew and was secretly very proud of Blair’s need to help
others. Because of this, Jim had a surprise planned for the next week. Blair entered the loft and dropped his backpack
in the middle of the floor. As he took three more steps his jacket joined
the backpack. As he made it to the bathroom door, Jim called,
"BLAIR!" Blair turned and almost fell over. //What// "Pick up your backpack and jacket and put
them away, now." //But…// Jim took a step toward Blair, but
Blair moved to get his things before Jim took a second step. //Sorry dad// "No problem. When you’re done in the
bathroom, come out here. I have something to discuss with you." //Am I in trouble// "Should you be?" //No// "Then don’t worry about it." //Okay// Blair quickly took care of everything
and returned to the living room. //Okay, what’s up// "First off, I want you to know, I know about
the flyers you made on the computer." Blair paled. He knew he was supposed to ask
permission to use the computer, but he never got the chance. Before he
could explain, Jim held up his hand to stop him. "Let me finish. I’m also very proud of you
for doing it. You should have asked me though, and for that, consider
yourself grounded for the weekend." //But…// "I would have let you make the flyers.
They’ve helped a lot. The police have taken in dozens of the computer
games." //I’m sorry about the computer// "You’re forgiven. Like I said, I’m
proud of you and because of that, on Monday, you, me, Simon and Daryl will be
going camping for the week. I’ve already cleared it with the
school." //All week?// Blair asked with excitement. "Yes Blair. All week. We’ll
leave Monday morning, early." //Cool! I’ve got to call Jasper and tell
him// Blair almost made it off the couch. "You’re grounded remember? That
means no TV, no phone and no outside." //But just this once, please// "No." Jim got up and went to make
dinner. Blair sat on the couch and pouted. Damn,
stubborn sentinel fathers. "Chief, I suggest you watch your language,
before I send you to get the soap." //I didn’t…// "You thought it, and sometimes you forget, I
can hear your thoughts, so clean it up. Now, what do you want for
supper?" //Pizza?// Blair asked hopefully. "I’m cooking Blair." //Is that part of my punishment? To have to eat
your cooking?// Blair said with a twinkle in his eye. "Why you little scamp." Jim took
off after his cheeky guide but Blair was faster and made it to his room before
Jim could catch him. Jim laughed at the energy his guide had and thanked
God again that they both survived. The sentinel doctors had said that
Blair’s ability to sacrifice himself for his sentinel had been the guide
version of a territorial imperative. The same went for Jim. Maybe
the sentinel and guide weren’t that different after all. They both
protected their own. The End
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