Boot

Many thanks to Cee for the edits.

Chapter 6

Chicago

As always it took only one knock on the door to wake him. Easing the girl off his body, Mancini sat up and then stood up and stretched. The clock read 3 A.M. which was right on the schedule he'd given to Frank yesterday evening. When the knock sounded again, Mancini called out, "I'm awake."

Mancini switched on the floor lights that Mickey had installed. They brought some light to the room but not enough to send a waking sentinel into a zone. Mancini moved his neck around to loosen the tight muscles caused by falling asleep on the thin mattress. Once his joints felt loose again, Mancini retrieved his shirt and trousers from where he'd discarded them during the bonding session and pulled them on. Dressed, Mancini moved over to the door, unlocked and opened it.

"We're ready to go, Boss. Your mother sent up a tray for you."

"Frank's all ready on the way to the airstrip with the truck, Boss. He said it would be quicker."

"I need some fresh clothes," stated Mancini. "There's a bag inside the closet in my bedroom with everything I need in it. Bring it down and leave it outside the door. I'll be downstairs in twenty minutes. Have the car ready to go." Mancini didn't wait to hear Stuey's acknowledgement of his order before closing the door because he didn't need to.

Moving swiftly, Mancini carried the tray over to the table and chair that were across from the mattress, the only items of furniture in the bare room. Mancini shook his head. In Mickey's day; the room had been very different. Mickey had been treated as one of his family, someone who knew his role in the family and had been rewarded well for it. Meg, on the other hand, had to be kept in her place at all times. The mattress was only there so that he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor too on the rare occasions he fell asleep here after bonding. Setting the tray down on the table with a little difficulty, Mancini left it undisturbed. Leaning over the mattress, he pulled the blanket away and after taking a moment or two to admire his girl's physique, Mancini shook her awake. "Wake up. We're moving out." Her eyes snapped open and then she nodded and sat up. "You've got five minutes to get ready. Dress warm, we're flying." Mancini felt a small tug on the link but blocked it. "We bonded last night, that's all you need until we get to the school."

Mancini watched as Meg stood and tried to cover herself up. He tugged the blanket away. "That's for zoning last night. Go get freshened up. Stuey's dropped something outside the door," said Meg. Patting her back Mancini ordered, "Get dressed." As soon as Meg started to obey Manicini went to the door and retrieved the travel bag. Changing quickly, he was ready before Meg had returned from the bathroom. Sitting down at the table, Mancini had time to pour himself a coffee and help himself to a warm bagel before he felt the weight of Meg's head on his thigh. Glancing down, he smiled as he saw that she'd brought her leash too. Maybe this was one rush job that wasn't going to turn out badly after all.

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Simon put down the phone and looked at the notes he'd made during the conversation with the federal agent. Shaking his head, he grabbed his cup of Mocha and Hazelnut, moved to the window that separated his office from the bullpen, and focused on his best pairing. It didn't take the senses of a sentinel or the empathy of a guide to see that there was something wrong with the pair. He'd seen Jim changing the position of the desks when he'd arrived, Blair's had been pushed back towards the wall and Jim had placed his in front of that, making it clear that the only way of getting through to Blair was through the sentinel. A sentinel who had spent most of the morning staring at a painting. The only way that Simon knew Jim hadn't zoned was that he could see the pair occasionally exchanging conversation. Simon looked back at the desk. The news that he was going to impart to Jim wasn't exactly going to make him happy either. He drained his cup and then stretched. After a final moment of calm, peaceful thoughts, Simon opened the door and yelled, "Ellison, Sandburg, my office now!" He stayed standing at his door until the pair had made their way over to his office.

Simon moved back to his chair and sat down. He growled, "Shut the door." As soon as it was shut, he snapped, "So, what's the problem?"

Jim commented, "Why would you think there is a problem?"

Simon merely rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything further, Blair stated, "Jim and I have a difference of opinion to work out."

Simon focused on Blair and saw that the younger man was tense and scowling. He snapped, "About a case or something outside the department?"

"Case," stated Jim evenly.

Simon paused for just a moment and looked at the two men standing before him, each sounding and looking as though they were sure of their ground. Finally, deciding that as his detective had said the problem was about a case, then as his superior, he wouldn't be acting out of his jurisdiction if he inquired further into the matter. He stated simply, "Spill." Blair sighed deeply and muttered something under his breath that made Jim stiffen. Simon tapped his fingers against the desk and said, "I'm waiting."

Blair jammed his hands into his jeans pockets. "My sentinel here doesn't think that I should go through with this seminar that I've been planning for the last two weeks." Blair looked pointedly at Jim and stressed, "The seminar that he, as Clan leader, suggested that I develop. The seminar that we both saw as a way of developing closer and more constructive links with certain sections of the GDP."

Jim didn't wait for Simon to comment and butted in. "Look, Chief, all I'm saying is that we ought to postpone it, just for a week or two; just until the Mancini case is resolved."

Blair turned to face Jim, waving his hands as he talked, "Look, I don't see why you should be so fixated about Courcy."

Jim snapped back, "His past history speaks for itself, and it was you that introduced the subject of connections."

Simon grimaced, thinking back to the first three phone calls this morning. He waved his cigar at Jim and asked, "Have you got any proof of any connection between Mancini and Courcy?"

This time it was Jim that opened his mouth to speak but was beaten to it by Sandburg. "No."

Simon pointedly looked at Jim. "So?"

Jim glared at Blair and moved to the office window and looked outside for a few moments as if he was gathering his thoughts. "I just have this feeling." Jim moved back towards Simon and Blair. Gesturing with his hands towards the bullpen, he continued, "There are too many coincidences, too many connections we don't understand. Mancini hitting that GDP truck just before Courcy arrives in Cascade for a start." Jim flashed a glance at Blair. "Courcy choosing Cascade as the site for his new institute that is just about to open as Mancini happens to hit that truck."

Simon puffed on his cigar and let silence fall in the office. After a few moments, he put the cigar into his ashtray. He looked at Jim and said, "I need you to tell me that all of this feeling is not coming from any feelings you may have about previously expressed comments of his. I need you to say that this is coming from Detective Ellison not the Senior Sentinel Prime." Simon didn't flinch at the sharp intake of breath that came from Blair. Simon looked at Jim and probed, "What is it? Cop or sentinel instincts?"

Jim stared at Simon for a few moments and then hung his head. "To be honest, I don't know." There was a pause. "A mixture of both."

Simon challenged Jim. "Explain."

Blair moved up to Jim's shoulder and linked in, Simon hoped he would be soothing any emerging dark sentinel. He moved away once Jim nodded to indicate that he was balanced again.

Jim ran a hand over his hair. "I have to be honest and say I don't like the man, he irritates me." Glancing at Blair, he groused, "Do you know how irritating that ticking heart valve is to a sentinel?"

Simon interjected before Blair could reply. "The case detective? Any evidence of any connection between Mancini and Courcy in the present?"

Jim shook his head. "No." Everyone in the office heard the unstated 'not yet.'

"So your visit to the reception last night was purely a social call?"

Blair answered this time, "We were invited."

Simon beamed. "So I can call the Commissioner back to say that your presence there was purely benign?"

Jim bared his teeth in a grin that made Simon shiver internally. "Of course, no blood was spilled was it?"

Blair added, "Naomi invited us. We even got a guided tour of the institute."

Jim examined his fingernails. "I even contributed to his charity auction. Who called the Commissioner?"

Simon shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that I got a 7:30 A.M. call at home to informally inquire why two of my detectives were at the reception. Add to that the 9 o'clock call from Donna James at Cascade News …"

Jim raised his eyebrows. "What did she ask?"

"The same question about you attending the reception. She said she'd seen the report by the society correspondent." Simon paused for a beat and stared into his nearly empty cup, and then continued, "She did have another question." He looked up at Ellison and then Sandburg. "She asked why the Cascade police were so interested in a seven year old out of state kidnapping." When there was no reaction from either of the men before him, Simon continued, "She just happened to mention that she was based in upper state New York at the time of the kidnapping."

"And she still has contacts in the police department who would have told her that we've asked for the file. Strange though, that she's kept up an interest in it for this long." Jim looked intrigued.

Simon nodded. "I agree. We had an interesting discussion. She's still got her notes about the kidnapping. She's willing to let us have them; said that the feds and police involved at the time weren't interested."

Blair commented, "That's great!"

Jim nodded. "Thanks Simon." He turned to Blair. "Come on, Chief."

Simon cleared his throat. "Where do you think you're going?"

Jim turned back on his heel, his eyebrows raised. He gestured to the door. "Donna James, Cascade News, the first independent source of information for this case."

Simon moved behind his desk, shaking his head. "I'm taking her to lunch. I'll tell you if she has anything useful."

"This is my case, Simon."

Simon shook his head. "I need you to clear up those reports you have on your desk. The DA has been bending my ear about certain late reports from a certain leading detective of mine."

"I'm on a case," commented Jim defensively.

Simon sighed. " The Commissioner and the DA would point out that there is already another investigative unit on the case." Jim snorted. Simon held a hand up. "I know, Jim, but I can't go back to either of them saying 'you've got a feeling.' I don't have to tell you that."

Jim clenched his jaw and moved to look out of the window again. Eventually he turned and said, "You're saying we should drop this case?"

"Did I say that?" Simon leaned back in his chair. "I'm not saying you should drop this case. I don't like the idea of this Mancini hoodlum coming into my city any more than you do. We have more then enough problems as it is. I just think we should go about it slightly different, that's all. "

Blair asked, "Like how, Simon?"

Simon beamed. "I've been in negotiation with the Witness Protection Program for the past few days."

Jim moved quickly over to the desk and placed his hands on it. Leaning over Simon, he asked, "You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

Simon nodded. "She's even said yes."

Jim shook his head and moved away from the desk. "Why?"

"The Lazar's were close to the Mancini's. We've tried all other available routes. The feds admit that the Mancini family is buttoned up. They've never successfully been infiltrated."

"Who are we talking about, Jim?" asked Blair.

Simon looked at Jim, who appeared to be deep in thought, and then at Blair. "Jim infiltrated a crime family. He became close to the wife of the heir. Afterwards, she gave evidence at their trial. She's now in the Witness Protection Program."

"It's not safe to involve her. There are too many people who would like to see her dead." As he paced up and down, Jim shook his head as if to underline his comments.

Blair commented, "But if the family is in jail…"

"It wasn't just the Lazar family that was involved. We also arrested members of several crime organisations in the same raid." Jim paused and then said, "There were no Mancini's there, and didn't the feds find that strange at the time?"

Simon beamed again. "Connections, Jim, connections. Didn't the feds accuse you afterwards of miscounting the number of arrivals?"

Jim smiled slyly. "Yeah, they did. Said that I'd counted two more than had actually come in." He paused slightly, "wasn't that just before the Courcy kidnapping?"

Blair looked at the two grinning detectives and asked, "Can someone clue me in?"

Jim said, "Simon's just found an ironclad way of keeping us involved." Turning back to Simon, Jim asked, "When and where?"

Simon took in a deep breath before answering, "Tomorrow."

Jim relaxed even more. "See, Chief, duty calls. You'll just have to tell Slater that's something came up."

Before Blair could react, Simon interrupted. "I'm afraid it's not going to be as simple as that. There are certain conditions about the meeting."

Jim frowned. "Like what?"

Simon looked down at the notes he'd made. "The first stipulation is that the GDP do not learn of the meeting or of the source of any subsequent information." Simon held a hand up before the pair could make any comment, and then he continued, "The second is that Jim goes alone."

"Why?" demanded Jim.

Simon glanced at Blair and then focused back on Jim. Holding Jim's hostile gaze levelly, Simon began to explain; "The feds wouldn't tell me about your destination. All they said was that you were to arrive at the check in area of Cascade airport at 6:30 tomorrow morning with your passport. They feel the presence of your guide at the airport would create too much interest from the GDP." Simon glanced at Blair again and shrugged a little as if in apology. "I guess that means the meeting point is out of the country."

Jim sighed and then after a few moments of thought nodded and asked, "Did they say when I would be back?"

"Tomorrow evening in time for the rerun of the Jags game, airlines permitting."

"By then the seminar will be over, and I'll be back in Cascade. It finishes about four o clock," commented Blair.

Jim turned from Simon to look back at his guide. "Chief, I'm sure there is something you can be doing at the university."

Blair shook his head and let a firm tone appear in his voice, "No. This seminar goes ahead, especially now."

Jim shook his head. "I'm not letting you go, especially with me out of the country, I…"

Blair breathed out heavily and commented, "But, Jim, isn't that the point? Isn't that what we're fighting for? Isn't that why you hate people like Courcy?"

Simon was about to open his mouth, but after glancing at the stormy expression on Jim's face, he swallowed his questions.

Jim frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Blair paced a little before answering and then said in as calm a manner as possible, "All the time we hear that the guide is dependent upon the sentinel for protection and his safekeeping. That's the base rationale behind the GDP and the rationale that was used to justify the regulations..." Simon watched as Blair reach out and make contact with Jim. The pair stayed still for a few moments and then Blair continued, "postponing the seminar because you're out of the country would play right into the hands of the traditionalists. They would say 'look the Senior Sentinel Prime doesn't practice what he preaches.' We'd be back to square one, Jim." When he'd finished, Blair moved closer to Jim until finally the pair stood close together.

After a minute or so, Jim mouthed to Simon, 'we're going back to the loft. I'll be in touch later.' Simon nodded but didn't break the silence that hung heavily in the office as the pair made their way out of first Simon's office and then the bullpen.

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Instead of heading for Jim's bed when they reached the loft, Sandburg led the way to the sofa and sat down on it. Jim sat down next to him.

Silence reigned in the loft for what seemed like hours until Jim commented, "I don't like it, Sandburg."

Blair ran a hand through his hair, pausing only when his fingers found a knot. Eventually he replied, "You've seen the security precautions that Dan's arranged. Even Hunter couldn't fault them. It will be fine."

"Not while Mancini is on the loose and Courcy is in the city. " Jim frowned, "I just don't feel you're safe."

Blair stood up, suddenly angry. "Me? Am I a China doll, Jim? A poor guide who doesn't know how to look after himself?" Blair made little effort to stop the dark guide from taking control; his voice rising, "If Courcy's after anyone, its sentinels. You know what he said last night. The reason that he made that remark was because he'd seen a bonding and thought it'd been the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen. He said that it was a pity that Naomi hadn't come to him when -"

Jim caught hold of Blair. "What would he have done?" His emotions rising as he felt the threat to his guide even further.

Blair shook Jim off and said, "Its academic anyway. Naomi didn't, and I made it perfectly clear that I am with you for the long haul yours, Sentinel, marked and claimed."

Jim clenched his jaw and fought the urge to bond. He stalked away towards the balcony. Changing the subject, he asked, "Who did he see bond?"

The muscles in Jim's jaw grew even tighter. He couldn't contemplate allowing any 'normal', even Simon or Dan, from witnessing a bonding. Another reason for disliking the man. But Hunter had seen the security plans and had discussed them with Slater himself, and then pronounced he was happy with the plans 'should the seminar go ahead.' Jim allowed himself a little smile. He was sure that Hunter didn't totally approve of the subject matter of the seminar.

"What are you smiling at, Jim?"

Jim shook his head. "Nothing, Chief, nothing." He looked at Blair. He knew how much the seminar meant to the grad student, and how much it meant to the reform process within the GDP. He knew Blair was right. If the clan leader was seen to falter at this step, then they would lose ground on all fronts. And despite whatever he'd said about sentinels, Courcy had never said anything about guides. There was only Mancini to worry about. There was a touch on his arm; Jim turned around and acknowledged Blair by touching his guide's arm. Jim swallowed and said quietly, "I don't know, Chief, I just don't know."

Softly, Blair commented, "I understand that's its going to be a struggle, Jim. You want me to be independent but there's the blessed protector within you wanting to keep me from harm."

Jim didn't reply, switching his gaze away from Blair to watching over the city. Out of the corner of his eye Jim watched as Blair moved forwards to the balcony wall and then turned round so that the view was behind his back.

Once he was settled in his position, Blair shrugged. "Hey, it's not as if I was looking forward to spending the day cooped up with the GDP. Did you see the attendance list? Some scary guides there."

Jim snorted. "You scared of other guides?"

Blair nodded. "Oh yeah, you've only seen the profiles, I met them in person when I was coming out of Dan's office the oher day."

"Just who are you talking about here, Blair?" Jim switched his attention back to Blair.

Blair grimaced a little. "Dan had the bright idea of using as part of the interview process for the opening in his premier investigative team."

Jim quirked a smile. "I wondered what had put that soured look on Curtis's face."

Blair grinned. "I thought that was just her natural look. Seriously, they are scary." Blair let out an involuntary shiver. Pausing to run a hand through his hair to comfort himself, he continued, "Both sets were like Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Both pairs had dark suits, shiny shoes, you know the typical plain clothes gear, really blend in with the local population."

Getting interested despite himself, Jim asked, "Do you know what their background is?"

Blair nodded. "They've both been bonded for ten years. Smith and his guide, Jonas, are specialists in SWAT and riot control. They apparently spent some years seconded to the FBI. His guide took great pleasure in stressing that they'd been all over the country. Walton is the head of the GDP's investigative unit in New York. His guide is a little more relaxed. He's called Mark-"

"State or City?"

"State. Based In Buffalo not Manhattan."

Jim nodded. "Sounds as if Dan's trying to get the best of the best alright. Tina and Karl are going from the clan, right?"

"Yes. There are a couple of unbonded guides from the Institute and Martin, you know who used to work for Curtis. You've seen the list. " Blair looked sideways at Jim. "This is important, Jim."

Jim took a long look at Blair and then back out at his city. He was going to be away from the city tomorrow, without Blair. He could say no and leave Blair to go to Rainier or to the police department for the day, or he could leave Blair in the care of the GDP. Jim shook his head. He trusted Dan Slater and Dan certainly knew that Jim would hold him responsible if anything happened to his guide to Blair. Besides, what trouble could Blair get into at a heavily guarded seminar where the travel plans were secret and there were going to be plenty of armed guards? Jim reluctantly nodded. "You can go." As his guide wrapped himself around him, Jim muttered, "Give Tweedledum and Tweedledee hell. Tell them how it's run in our city."

Blair laughed, "Sure thing man!"

Jim wrapped his arms around his guide and drew him in. "Lets bond and then we've got some work to do."

Blair nodded against Jim's chest. "Yeah, I'd better go over my presentations and everything."

Jim shook his head good-naturedly. Tweedledum and Tweedledee won't have a clue about what's about to hit them. "No, Chief, we need to get back to the department to get those reports done for Simon."

Blair stood back from Jim and still bouncing on his feet, said, "Okay, Jim, just wondering who I can pair them up with in the one to one sessions."

In reply, Jim just inclined his head in the direction of the loft interior, his nostrils flaring as he captured his guide's scent.

TBC