Dedicated to Doctor Nancy.  Congratulations on graduating med school, Nancy!

This is a prequel to my story "The Wrong Guide", which is set in Susan Foster's GDP series, only without the GDP themselves.  This tells the story of how David and Neds met.  As it's a prequel to "The Wrong Guide", there's no Blair at all, and very little Jim too.

David, Neds, the Cascade Clan and their members are entirely Susan's creation, and I thank her for letting me borrow them.  Thanks also to Eileen for taking the time and trouble to post this, and thanks to Nancy for her endless encouragement.

Various well-recognisable characters belong to PetFly, while the rest of 'em are mine.

Warnings: two death scenes.  No major characters were maimed in the making of this story.

The Wrong Guide:

The Right Guide

(a David and Neds story)

by Arnie

Arnie1967@btinternet.com

David sighed as the class ended and the tutor left the room.  Sometimes he didn't think he'd ever be a Guide, for all that he was studying in Guide School.  Maybe Dexter Pierson, resident bully of Rainier University's associated Guide School, was right; maybe he should just quit.  Tipping his books into his bag, he picked up his folder of sketches and headed to his next class.

Break came all too soon, but he managed to get out of the building without coming face to face with Dexter - which was how he liked it.  Settling himself down on a bench, far out of sight of the main building, he pulled out his sketch book and pencils and lost himself in recreating what he could see.

Just over an hour later, he stopped and stretched, rolling his head on his neck to ease the tension.  Glancing at his watch, he jumped up and carefully tucked his latest sketch into his folder; if he went back in now, he could grab a drink before his next scheduled class.

"David!  Hey, David!"

David turned his head and smiled and waved at the group of students hollering at him.  Paying for his drink, he grabbed it and hurried over.  They looked excited about something.

Harriet grabbed his arm as he sat down, her excitement fluttering against his barriers like a butterfly.  "Did you hear?  Do you know who's going to be at the mixer tomorrow night?"

For a second his dismay was broadcasted loud and clear, then he pulled back hurriedly.  He'd forgotten about the mixer.  Oh well, it wasn't like he had much else to do anyway.  "No, who's going to be there?"

"Well," Aled leaned across the table and spoke confidentially, "we were told that some of the Cascade Clan are coming, along with..." he paused dramatically for effect, "the guy who's slated to be the next Sentinel Prime when he bonds!"

Jo Mathers chimed in, her voice coolly cynical, "Just imagine how much excitement there'd be if the rumour mill had the Senior Sentinel Prime coming to the mixer."

Harriet grinned.  "Have you seen the Senior Sentinel Prime?  He's gorgeous!"  In spite of her words, all David could feel from her was the sympathy she was channelling to him via the hand on his arm.

Jo grinned back at her.  "Well, we can discount you being picked by the possible Prime - he'd hate to have you swooning all over the Senior!"

Making a face at her, Harriet laughed.  "It would be pretty embarrassing, wouldn't it?"

"Not that it matters to us," Aled put in.  "Dexter's determined that he's going to get Sentinel Edwards."

"And he's only settling for him because the Senior Sentinel Prime doesn't lower himself to attend mixers here," Jo commented sarcastically, her dislike for the ambitious Guide zinging in the air.

"Sentinel Edwards won't bond with him!" Harriet protested, although David wondered how she knew for sure.  "He's about as empathic as a cabbage!"

"You never know," David put in, his voice quiet.  "Sentinels choose the weirdest Guides sometimes."

"Yeah!" Aled agreed.  "Remember when Sentinel Anderton bonded with Wyler?"

They all pulled a face at that memory.

"That was a disaster waiting to happen," Jo said, the sharp tone gone from her voice.  "You can't say that Wyler is the poster boy for good mental health."

"I'm surprised they let him in here."  Harriet's face was sombre.

Aled looked knowing.  "Daddy's money."

"Of course!  Pity Sentinel Anderton was too impressed by his contacts to actually take note of what kind of person he was."

"Jo!"  Harriet's dismay replaced the sympathy she'd been sending to David, then she removed her hand from his arm, throwing him an apologetic look.  "He couldn't have known!"

"He's a Sentinel," Jo retorted, firmly.  "He's supposed to know!"

"Well, it turned out all right in the end," David pointed out.  "Sentinel Anderton's bonded to Carrie Paige, and Wyler's living the high life."

Aled dumped his drink carton in the nearest trashcan, a sour look on his face.  "And they say that bonds can't be broken."

"It doesn't count with Wyler - he's another one who bought his way into Guide School!" Jo snapped.

"Anyway..." Harriet dragged the conversation back to its starting point, "I don't believe that Sentinel Edwards will go near Dexter."

"In which case, he'll be hell to live with."  Aled gazed sympathetically at David.  "Maybe you should take the next couple of days off."

~'~

Sitting in his tiny room that night, listening to his roommates and their extremely loud choice of music, David turned Aled's advice over in his mind.  Maybe rather than take the next couple of days off, he should quit.  He could always get a job and study art at night school, although God alone knew what his father would say.

A tight hand squeezed his heart at that thought.  If he went to art school he could never go home again, he knew that.  His father's disappointment, not to mention his vitriolic anger, would be hard to bear; it had been difficult enough when he announced his intention to go to Guide School.

Sighing, he hugged his folder to him.  Not that 'home', such as it was, would be that much of a loss, although he'd miss his siblings.  Well, Elizabeth and Harry, anyway.  He glanced up as the music clicked off.  Maybe his roommates had finished for the night and he could get some sleep.

~'~

Edwards grimaced as he massaged his aching temples.  There was no doubt about it, he hated vision dreams.  If there was one drawback to being a Sentinel, and, he considered, there were a lot of drawbacks, it was visions.  Spirit guides couldn't just give you a note or a memo, nicely laid out with all the important points highlighted.  Oh no, they had to give you riddles and half-remembered dreams that left you feeling unsettled all day.

And that one had been a doozy.

As he got up and staggered to the bathroom, aiming to grab the Tylenol before hitting the head, his mind, refusing his directive to just ignore the whole damn thing, replayed the images that had brought him shuddering to consciousness.

He closed his eyes as the memory of the deer's back, torn by vicious claws, surged to the forefront of his mind.  Why the hell would a hawk attack a deer?  It had looked like a deliberate attack too, an attempt to drive the deer away from the herd.  It didn't make sense.

~'~

Grinning to himself as he saw his prey, Dexter carefully angled his approach as he moved down the corridor.  If he got it just right, he could push Sutherland's face into the locker and no one would be any the wiser.  One quick shove and a thud told him he'd done it again.

He smirked as he sauntered away.  Another few days and Sutherland would be ready to give up and admit that he was not meant to be a Guide.

Sitting in class fifteen minutes later, Dexter yawned and stared out of the window, ignoring the tutor who was droning on and on about how to bring a Sentinel out of a zone out.  Who cared?  There were always chemical boosters available if a Sentinel zoned too deeply.  He yawned again, reflecting on what a waste of time the class was, before glancing around at the other students.  Naturally, Sutherland was taking notes.

Annoyance replaced his boredom.  Sutherland was such a swot, and how the teachers loved him.  When Dexter was Guide Prime, his first course of action would be to make sure that geeks like Sutherland learned their place in the world.  He smirked and leaned back in his chair, reflecting on the approaching mixer.  A Sentinel like Edwards needed a strong Guide, someone who could show that he was ready to fight for his place.  And no one was better at fighting than Dexter.

~'~

As always, time marched on, relentless and unending; one of the few constants in an ever-changing universe.

Aware of time's passage, David watched the clock.  He really didn't want to go to this mixer.  It was bad enough that he had to endure Dexter during the day; having to spend an evening watching him swagger around the room, acting like he owned the place, was even worse.  Plus, if Dexter lived down to his usual standards, he'd undoubtedly find some way to humiliate David.

Had the Jell-O incident been at the last mixer, or the mixer before?  The ticking clock was abandoned for a moment as David thought it over.  Nope, it had been the time before.  The last mixer had been marked by Dexter's 'accidental' tipping over of the punchbowl.

He turned his attention back to the clock then sighed as the class ended.  Maybe he could hide out in the cafeteria for a while?

With that in mind, he tucked his pencil case into his pocket.  He'd keep himself busy by sketching, at least until the mixer was in full swing and he could slide in unnoticed.

~'~

Dexter smirked as he saw Sutherland sneak off in the direction of the cafeteria.  It was obvious that the guy didn't want to bond - if he had, he'd have been pushing his way into the mixer even now.  But no, there was Sutherland, scurrying away to hide out for a while.  Dean Edwards should give him a medal for doing the Guide School such a favour.

As he turned the corner not far behind Sutherland, his eyes lit up.  That was Sentinel Edwards by the door!  Quickening his step, he slammed his shoulder into Sutherland's, and grinned even more as he heard the sound of the loser's pencil case hitting the floor, the pencils bouncing and scattering.

His intended Sentinel turned at the noise, his gaze focussing and narrowing, the dark stare having the intensity of a laser beam.  With a triumphant smile, Dexter moved forward to meet him, raising his head to expose the long line of his neck to his Sentinel.  He'd done it, he'd actually done it.  He was going to be the new Guide Prime.

~'~

The sound of a clattering metal case caught Edwards' attention and aggravated the dull throbbing in his temples.  He'd known this was a mistake.  Turning to glare at the clumsy idiot before storming out and going home to take more Tylenol, he stopped, riveted by the sight.  The hawk swept towards him, its claws dripping with the blood of its victim as the deer stood, stricken and wounded.

He blinked, and the hawk disappeared to be replaced by a smirking, dark-haired, beak-nosed Guide who seemed to think that he was the next Senior Guide Prime.  But behind him, further up the corridor, was the deer.  For a second, green eyes met his, then the Guide, his Guide, sank to his knees to gather up the pencils that were there.

Edwards gasped as his lungs constricted, demanding that he start breathing again.  Then, stalking past the irritating nonentity, the Sentinel moved to stand over his Guide.

~'~

David blinked back tears as he gathered up his pencils.  That was it, he'd had enough.  It was time that he admitted that this really wasn't for him.  If nothing else, at least he'd be spared the sight of Dexter smirking, day in, day out.  And if Dexter did bond with Sentinel Edwards, his life would be even worse, he was sure of that.  The Guide Prime would take every opportunity to humiliate him.

A horrific thought occurred to him and he almost rocked back on his heels.  If Dexter became Guide Prime and David bonded with another Sentinel of the Cascade Clan, he was positive that Dexter would use every ounce of power he had to ruin David's Sentinel.  Biting his lip, he shook his head.  No, it was better that he leave, quit Guide School, and go do something else with his life.

Highly polished black shoes stepped into view and David paused, then followed the legs up to look at the powerfully-built man, the Sentinel, standing over him.  For a moment he thought his heart had stopped beating as he was caught in the dark gaze that stared down at him, then strong hands grabbed his arms and lifted him to his feet.

"Guide."

The word was growled softly at him, and David felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.  "Sentinel?"

He was moved backwards as the Sentinel stepped over his fallen pencils and continued forward, his eyes fixed firmly on David's face.

"S-Sentinel?"

One arm was released as the Sentinel reached past him to open a door, then David was pushed over the threshold, and held still as the door was securely locked.  Glancing over his shoulder, he was alarmed to see that they were in a bonding suite.  Turning his eyes forward again, his gaze was captured by the Sentinel's.  He didn't look as if he'd be a pushover for Dexter and his manipulative ploys; in fact, he looked as if he could take care of himself.

David's newly-made resolve to avoid bonding crumbled.  In a small corner of his mind, he realised, vaguely, that he didn't have any choice about bonding now that he was in a locked bonding suite with a determined looking Sentinel, and he made no attempt to break free as he was pushed down on the bonding platform and pinned in place.  Instead, he tilted his head back to allow the Sentinel full access to his throat.

A pleased growl and a sharp nip to his throat was the result.

The Guide gasped as endorphins began to race through his bloodstream, heading towards his brain at a rate of knots.  There was another bite, a deeper one, to his neck, and he felt hot and dizzy, then sweat broke out on his forehead and the room spun even more as his mental barriers fell.

Immediately, the Sentinel swooped into his mind and took control, merging and bonding until David wasn't sure where his thoughts ended and his Sentinel's thoughts began.  Even with his Sentinel's steadying grip on his mind, the room continued whirling, and David's eyes fluttered shut as he tried to steady himself.  Instantly, the hold on his mind eased a little, his Sentinel soothing his tumultuous feelings, then darkness surged up and carried him away.

~'~

As he felt his Guide slip into unconsciousness, Edwards relaxed his grip and moved to examine his Guide.  With a shock, he realised that he had no idea what the kid's name was and he suspected that the kid didn't know his name either.  For the rest....

He leaned on one elbow and looked the young man over.  His Guide was shorter than himself, and slenderly built, the width of his shoulders showing that he'd always be on the lean side, and dark hair and dark eyebrows added distinction to a pale face that looked younger than Edwards guessed him to be.  He already knew that the shy green eyes betrayed a sharp intelligence but, right now, the long lashes lay still on the cheeks and the eyes were hidden.  With a sudden grin, Edwards thought that if the kid could see him, he'd assume he was a horse being looked over for defects.

The grin faded as Edwards focussed his gaze on the red mark on his Guide's forehead.  Had the kid hurt himself or -

The image of the hawk returned to his mind and his anger rose, then was quashed rapidly as his Guide stirred in his sleep, a distressed whimper escaping from him.  With his barriers totally destroyed, the kid was wide open to whatever emotions his Sentinel was feeling.

Pushing his fury away, Edwards turned the pliant body onto its side then spooned up behind him and buried his nose in the kid's hair, sniffing appreciatively at his Guide's musky scent.  His headache was gone, his senses were totally under his control and his Guide was safe beside him; the Sentinel could rest now.

~'~

A quiet knock at the door roused him and Edwards glared in the direction of the door before getting up and moving over to it.  Opening the door a couple of inches to find Sentinel Collins on the other side, he made sure to block any possible view of his Guide.

"The mixer's over and the janitor's waiting to lock up.  Do you want a ride home?"

Edwards nodded.  "Just give me a minute."

Collins smiled.  "Congratulations."

He couldn't help it, he grinned back.  "Let me wake him up and we'll be good to go."

"Okay.  By the way, I picked up the ki - your Guide's things."

"Thanks."  Edwards glanced at the backpack as he accepted it.  There was no way his Guide was having this back stinking of another Sentinel.  "We'll be out in a minute."  He shut the door firmly then regarded the bag in his hand before glancing over at the bonding platform; his Guide was waking now that his Sentinel had left him.  Blushing slightly as he gave in to his Sentinel side, Edwards took off his jacket and stuffed it into the backpack.  By the time his Guide unpacked it, the only scent in there would be Edwards' own.

Bending over the platform, he touched the kid's shoulder gently, then paused as the heat of a bruise made itself known.  It was enough to bring his Guide to consciousness however, and the sleepy green eyes opened and peered at him.

"C'mon, kid, we've gotta move or be locked in all night."

The kid blinked, trying to wake himself up.  For a moment, Edwards thought he'd failed, then the kid pushed himself up into a sitting position, and scrubbed his hands over his face.  It appeared to help and the Guide stared up at him, a startled look on his face.  "I don't know your name!"

He grinned.  "I'm Edwards...but you can call me Neds."

"I'm David.  David Sutherland."

"Nice to meet you, David."

He got a dazzling smile in response, then it disappeared as the kid yawned and began blinking again.

"Okay, let's get out of here."

~'~

Yawning, David snuggled down under the covers.  He was warm, deliciously warm.  He yawned again, revelling in the unusual feeling.  His room was never this warm...maybe the landlord had fixed the heating at last?

"Morning."

That didn't sound like one of his roommates.

Forcing his eyes open, he blinked up at the stranger, then sat up in a panic before he remembered.

"It's all right, just keep calm.  We bonded yesterday, remember?"

He relaxed back against the pillows and felt his face redden.  How stupid was he?  "I forgot.  Sorry...Sentinel."

"My name's Edwards but -"

David smiled.  "I can call you Neds."  He did remember that bit, although a lot of the night before was fuzzy in the extreme.  He remembered waking up in the bonding suite, sort of... and he was sure he'd ridden in a car at some point but the rest of it was a blank.

"That's right."  His Sentinel smiled down at him, and David thought it suited him, softening the stern face.  "And you're David."

His smile widened.  At least his Sentinel remembered his name.

"The bathroom's the next door along.  I'll be in the kitchen making breakfast when you're ready."

"Okay."  Shyly, David waited until the Sentinel, his Sentinel, had gone, then threw back the covers and got out of bed.  Glancing down at himself, he frowned.  Had he managed to undress himself to his boxers and a t-shirt that was definitely too large for him?  He didn't think so.  He felt his face redden and tried to feel nonchalant about the whole situation; the guy was his Sentinel, after all.  In spite of that, he could feel his face burning.

Grabbing his clothes, he hurried into the bathroom and turned on the shower.  He hoped Neds wouldn't mind him using his soap...and what on earth was he going to do for a toothbrush?  Washing himself quickly, he grabbed the towel and hurriedly dried himself off.  He'd have to use his finger and some toothp -

David smiled as he saw the brand new, still-packaged toothbrush laid prominently in sight on the basin.  He could feel his face reddening again, but this time it was with pleasure.  He felt rather silly, after all, it was just a toothbrush, but the thought behind it was nice and he hugged the feeling to himself.  His teeth brushed, his face washed, he scrambled into his clothes, pausing to make a face at his underwear.  However, he couldn't go commando and there was no way he could ask the Sentinel to lend him some.  Apart from anything else, they'd never stay up on him.

Dashing back into the room he'd slept in, he hurriedly made the bed; he wanted to put the Sentinel out as little as possible.  He didn't know how much time Neds was going to want to spend with him, as some Sentinels preferred to only see their Guides when they absolutely needed them, although he personally had a lot of doubt as to how much of a bond they had.  In any case, he didn't want to do anything that might aggravate his Sentinel, or stop them from, hopefully, becoming friends too.  Smoothing the edge of the top sheet back over the blankets, he smiled to himself and hoped that his Sentinel, Sentinel Edwards, would agree to meet his friends.  After all, he'd want them to meet his Senti -

His heart leapt into his throat, and his panic was worsened by the sound of pounding footsteps in the hall.  Spinning, he faced his Sentinel, Sentinel Edwards, as the next Sentinel Prime came diving into the room, a spatula clutched in his hand.

"What's the matter?!"

David pointed at him, horror strangling his vocal chords.  "Y-you're S-S-S-Sentinel Edwards!"

"Yeess?"  The word was drawled questioningly as the Sentinel, his Sentinel, moved towards him slowly.

Only one thought was filling David's head, and he blurted it out, unthinkingly, "He's going to kill me!"

~'~

Instantly, the Sentinel dropped the spatula which he'd been holding, grabbed his Guide and pulled him firmly to his side.  Tucking his Guide safely behind himself, the Sentinel used his senses to sweep the room and the apartment, a growl rumbling in his throat, as he searched for the mysterious 'he' who was threatening his Guide's safety.

Realising that there was no one else present, the Sentinel tugged his Guide forward and stared into his face.  "No one's going to kill you!"  Tightening his grip on the arms, he demanded, "Who's threatened you?"  The memory of the hawk returned to him even as David began an automatic denial.

"I-I didn't...I mean -"

"That other Guide, who is he?"

David shook his head.  "No - no one...he's...I just -"

Edwards touched the fading red mark on David's forehead.  "What's the name of the Guide who did this to you?"

Bingo; David's body rhythms went berserk, even as he shook his head again in an attempt to lie to his Sentinel.

"David."  While Edwards didn't want to push his new Guide, he was not prepared to tolerate anyone threatening his Guide.  Therefore his tone contained a warning.

It was enough.  The capitulation showed in David's face before he even opened his mouth.  "Dexter Pierson - but he hasn't threatened me!  I just meant that he's going to be furious that we're bonded!"

"Oh?"  Edwards relaxed his grip on the kid's arms, not wanting to leave bruises.  "And what's it to him that we're bonded?"

David's gaze slid away from his, betraying his reluctance to answer, then slowly slid back as Edwards waited silently.  Finally, there was a mumbled, "He was planning on bonding to you himself."

Edwards' eyebrows shot skyward; he hadn't expected that answer.  "Well, he was doomed to disappointment, wasn't he?"  He scowled as the implications sank in.  "And now that you're bonded to me, he'll try to make your life hell."

He got a shrug.  "It's okay."

Gritting his teeth, Edwards made a mental note to track down this Dexter Pierson and explain things to him in a very easily understandable way that threatening his Guide was not allowed but, to David, he said nothing about that.  "You won't be seeing him again anyway, David.  It's highly unlikely that he'll be joining the Cascade Clan and you'll be leaving Guide School now that you're bonded."

"I-I will?"

"Of course you will, David.  You're a bonded Guide now."

"Oh."

As David gazed at him, a nonplussed look in his eyes, Edwards slipped an arm around his shoulders and turned him towards the door.  "Never mind thinking about that now.  How do you like your eggs?"

~'~

As soon as David had been fed enough to satisfy his Sentinel, the pair of them headed for the apartment that he shared with three other students.  To David's delight, his Sentinel had insisted, not that he'd put up any kind of a fight, on having his Guide move into his spare room.  Therefore, they were going to collect his things before contacting the Guide School and updating them on David's new situation.

David hugged himself happily as he sat beside Sentinel Edwards in the car.  He was bonded, and his Sentinel wanted to be with him!  And once his stuff was packed away into the spare room, they were going to make arrangements to go away for their bonding week.

He grinned.  Just last night, he'd been on the verge of quitting the Guide School and going off to get a job anywhere he could, and now...he was a bonded Guide.  He just hoped that he wouldn't disappoint his Sentinel in any way.

"You're looking happy."  Sentinel Edwards sounded fairly happy himself, and David's grin got bigger.

"I am happy."

A smile was thrown his way before his Sentinel turned his attention back to the road in front of them.  "Good."

Once at the apartment, David's happiness dimmed a lot as he saw the usual messy state of the sitting room.  Trying desperately to ignore the scattered beer cans and overflowing ashtrays, he led his Sentinel to his neat room, and pulled out his suitcase and began packing.  He didn't have a huge amount of things, but they'd need boxes to move his books and other stuff.

Evidently Sentinel Edwards had come to the same conclusion.  "There was a store a few doors up."  He eyed David, his reluctance to leave him alone communicating itself, then, "I'll go and see if they have any spare boxes we can use."  His eyes flickered over the suitcase and David's small wardrobe.  "Fit whatever you can in the case, and I'll be back as quickly as I can be."

"Yes, Neds."  His eyes followed the Sentinel to the front door, then David determinedly turned his attention back to packing.  Sentinel Edwards was only going to the corner store, he'd be back soon and David wanted to be ready to go as quickly as possible.

"Is Edwards sick of the sight of you already then?"

David's head jerked up and he stared at the Guide in the doorway.  Dexter.  He started to reply, his stomach clenching with nerves, but Dexter continued, smoothly talking over him.

"I guess he realised what a mistake he made last night.  Or maybe he's just using you as an interim Guide; someone pathetic who can pull him out a zone when he needs it, but isn't strong enough to be Guide Prime," Dexter sneered at him, his grey eyes blazing with the hatred that was smashing against David's mental barriers.  "As soon as he's made Sentinel Prime, he'll dump you - get the bond broken and find a real Guide to help him."  Contemptuously, he flicked some of David's clothing onto the floor, and leaned over the bed.  "You'd be better off leaving him now."

David's fury rose.  Sentinel Edwards was his Sentinel, and he didn't give a damn what Dexter did or said.  "I -"

The rest of David's statement was lost as Sentinel Edwards burst through the door, grabbed Dexter by the scruff of his neck and hurled him from the room.

For once, Dexter's poise abandoned him as he scrambled to his feet, his face white and his mouth gaping.

"Sentinel -"

David was ignored as Sentinel Edwards stalked towards the other Guide, a loud growl rumbling in his throat.

Gulping, David forced himself to approach the furious Sentinel, knowing it was his duty to calm him down.

"Never threaten my Guide."

All of Sentinel Edwards' attention appeared to be on Dexter, and David stretched out a trembling hand to his Sentinel's shoulder then yelped as a hand reached back, grabbed him, and tucked him firmly in place behind the Sentinel.

"Come near my Guide again, and I'll make mincemeat of you."  The voice was quiet, the tone low, but David had never heard a more threatening sound.

From where he was, David couldn't see what was going on, but the front door banged shut, and he guessed that Dexter had left.  Not that he blamed him for that.

There was silence for a few seconds as David shook in his Sentinel's hold, then he was pulled around to the front and hugged tightly, before a heavy hand ran over him.

"Are you hurt?  Did he touch you?"

David shook his head hastily, not trusting himself to speak.

"Good."  The hand ran over his shoulders again, then rubbed his back.  "It's all right, David, just relax."

Taking a deep breath, David did, letting his fear drain away.  Neds hadn't been angry at him at all, he'd protected him.  His heart, lonely and abused for so long, filled with warmth, then unholy glee filled him as he thought of Dexter's undignified scramble and a huge grin settled on his face.  "I don't think I'll be seeing him again!" he crowed.

"You better hadn't," Neds warned him.  "And if you do, you'll tell me.  Understand?"

David's grin remained firmly in place.  "Yes, Neds."

~'~

Edwards smiled down into his Guide's face.  The smell of fear had faded, and Edwards wondered what kind of upbringing David had had.  It was obvious that he hadn't expected his Sentinel to protect him, and that he'd thought Edwards' anger would be turned against him.  Well, they were going away for their bonding week and then, Edwards swore to himself, making sure to show no hint of his determination, his Guide would know exactly how important he was to his Sentinel.

~'~

Once back at his Sentinel's apartment, David unpacked his stuff and put it all away while Edwards made lunch.  As he hung up his clothing, David reflected that Neds had a real 'feed the Guide' attitude, and he hoped it calmed down a little before he started bursting out of his clothes.  He normally made do with a sandwich for lunch but from the sounds, and the smells, of it, Neds was determined to make a full meal yet again.  And his breakfast had been big enough to feed two people - or one Guide, if you were a Sentinel, obviously.

His suitcase was emptied, then repacked with enough stuff for a week, the boxes emptied and broken down to be put out with the trash, and David reached for his backpack.  He wanted to take his notes and his sketchbook and pencils, but the majority of his books could be left behind.  Opening the flap, he was surprised to find a dark blue jacket tucked inside, and even more surprised when he pulled it out and discovered that it wasn't his.  Holding it up against himself, he judged that it was far too big for him, in fact, it looked to be more Neds' size.  But how on earth did Neds' jacket get inside his backpack?

Draping it over his arm, he headed towards the kitchen.  If it was Neds' jacket, he'd want it back.

"Neds?"

"All unpacked?"

"Almost, but...I found this in my backpack."  David held out the jacket and was surprised to see a flush of colour appear on Neds' face.

"Thank you."  Neds took the jacket and disappeared into his bedroom with it, before coming back empty handed and continuing to cook their lunch.

Seeing as Neds considered the subject closed, David didn't feel that he could really say anything about it, so he retreated to his bedroom and finished unpacking his backpack.  As he checked through his books to see which were his and which had to be returned to the library, he inhaled, taking comfort in the smell of his Sentinel which lingered in his -

He frowned and stared down at his backpack.  His backpack which smelt of Neds.

Doubtfully, he reached for his 'General Hints and Tips on Sentinels' book and started flicking through it.  He really couldn't remember anything about Sentinels having the need to scent-mark their Guides' backpacks but maybe he'd missed it.  Somehow.

"David!  Lunch is ready!"

Abandoning his brief search for information, he gave his backpack a doubtful look and went to eat lunch.  Maybe he'd be able to ask Neds about it one day.

~'~

"Fishing?"  David's eyes opened wide as he looked up from his lunch.

"If you hate the idea, we can go somewhere else," Edwards offered, wanting his Guide to enjoy their bonding week.

"No!"

The reply was far too quick, and Edwards' eyes narrowed as he looked at his Guide.

Finally, with a blush, David admitted, "I've never fished before."

"Well, you don't have to fish, if you don't want to.  You can sit on the bank and read, or sketch."  He grinned at the look of surprise; did David think he hadn't noticed the sketchpad and pencils?  "But if you want to, I'll teach you."

There was another blush, a pleased one this time.  "If you don't mind."

Edwards smiled reassuringly.  "Of course I don't mind.  Now, eat up.  We've got a lot to do this afternoon."

~'~

The first course of action was to phone the Guide School and tell them that David was bonded and wouldn't be returning, and David frowned at Neds' chilly accents as he spoke with Dean Edwards' secretary.  He knew that Neds and Dean Edwards weren't related, but he'd thought that any Sentinel would be polite, at the very least, towards the dean of the Guide School and her secretary.  Instead, hostility was radiating off Neds.

Fortunately, that phone call was a short, if terse, one, and the next was far longer and far friendlier too, as Neds phoned his aunt who owned a cabin that Neds swore would be perfect for their bonding week.

Naturally, Neds had to tell his aunt why he wanted to use the cabin on such short notice, and David was able to hear the verbal explosion of delight on the other end of the phone line when Neds' announced that he was bonded.

Finally, Neds looked over at him, and muttered, "She's a little excitable," before attempting to stem the flood of joy that was threatening to overwhelm them.  It took a solemn promise that he would take his Guide to meet them all before Neds was able to get off the phone.  At last, he put the receiver down and turned to face David, wiping his forehead as he did so.

"And you can take that grin off your face," Neds said, as David tried to stifle his laughter at the sound of the big ex-Marine trying to deal with his joyful aunt.  "You'll have to meet them all.  Knowing my aunt, she's phoning all of my relatives right now to organise a family get together."

David's laughter ended abruptly at the thought.  What if they didn't like him?

"Don't worry."  A quick one-armed hug gave him reassurance.  "They've been dropping hints about me bonding for years.  My cousin even attempted to set me up with a Guide once."  He shuddered.

David squashed the little spurt of jealousy that surged up in him at the thought of Neds bonding to someone else.  "What happened?" he asked, keeping his voice calm.

From the gleam in Neds' eyes though, he'd felt the jealousy.  "She had a voice like nails on a chalkboard.  My cousin apologised, promised to never try that again, and spent the next year sending me flyers about mixers in different Guide Schools."  The arm tightened then relaxed.  "Now stop worrying - they'll adore you!"

~'~

As David's family were wealthy Bostonians, he was used to 'rustic' cabins that were luxurious in the extreme, however, as he was more used to living in the real world than the majority of his family, he was well aware that rustic cabins weren't always that well-fitted.  Therefore, he was prepared for Neds' aunt's cabin to be anything from a one-room shack to a fifteen bedroom, nine bathroom 'cabin' that could sleep thirty...if people were prepared to double up.

He was also keeping his fingers crossed that the place had indoor plumbing.

He needn't have worried.  The cabin was far more like his family's 'back to the basics' cabin than he'd hoped - although it didn't boast fifteen bedrooms.  There was indoor plumbing though, with a choice of full bathroom or half-sized shower room.

"Like it?"

David grinned up at Neds.  "It's wonderful."

Their bonding week was wonderful too and, David thought, on their last day at the cabin, that he could honestly say he'd never had a happier time.  He now knew how to fish, although he had to admit that he wasn't particularly good at it.  In the end, he'd left the fishing to Neds and spent most of his time sketching and reading.  At first he'd been shy about showing his sketches to Neds, but his Sentinel had insisted and, upon seeing them, had said that David ought to consider art school.

Personally, David suspected that Neds was rather biased.  The Sentinel seemed to think that his Guide was wonderful and, although David was far more relaxed around Neds than he had been in the beginning, he couldn't help but wonder when Neds would realise exactly how ordinary David was.

Packing his pencils and sketch pad away, he sighed, and gnawed at his lip nervously.  They were going back to Cascade and all too soon he'd be plunged into meeting the Clan, meeting Neds' family and even, David worried at his lip even more at the thought, taking Neds to meet his own family.

Sighing again, he buried his face in the jacket Neds had wrapped around him after a sharp wind blew up halfway through the day, and took comfort in the scent that clung to it.  Even if Neds did come to the conclusion that David was not the Guide for him, at least he'd had this week.

Pushing down his insecurities, he straightened and took a deep breath.  Maybe it would be okay.  After all, Neds had chosen to bond with him in the first place.

~'~

As Edwards moved past his Guide's bedroom door to collect his things from the bathroom, he paused and listened.  David was sighing again.  Shaking his head, he went into the bathroom.  He didn't know who'd done such a number on David's confidence - although he could guess, and David's family along with Dexter Pierson were high on his list of suspects - but he wished he could have half an hour alone with them.  The Sentinel within him was furious and Edwards was having a hard time reining his baser side in.

At first, the week had gone dazzlingly well.  It was only when thoughts of returning to Cascade had surfaced in David's mind that fear had crept in, leading the Guide to doubt, once more, his place in his Sentinel's life.

Holding his toothbrush in a far tighter grip than was necessary, Edwards glared into the distance.  David's insecurities were a foe that they would vanquish together, no matter how long it took.  In the meantime....

The Sentinel smiled and dropped his toothbrush in the basin.  Time for a spot of bonding.

Stalking back into the hallway, he knocked on David's door softly.  "David?  Have you finished packing?"

The door opened, and David nodded before looking back at the bed.  "There's only this jacket of yours lef...."  His words trailed off as he looked at his Sentinel.

Edwards smiled then moved forward.  "I'm so glad."  Pushing his Guide over to the bed, he settled them both down on it then began exploring his neck, delighting in the linkage scent that was instantly released.  No matter how nervous David himself was, the Guide had no doubts as to where he belonged.  His mind flickered back to the jacket that was being crushed underneath them and he smiled again.  "You can wear it on the way home."

~'~

The next day saw David wearing one of Neds' sweatshirts too.  After all, it was rather cold, and David's shirt wasn't going to keep him warm, Neds explained as he helped David roll up the overlong sleeves.

"I could wear a sweater."  David glanced down at the overlarge sweatshirt, then lifted his chin as Neds tugged the collar into place.

"You're wearing this now, there's no point in changing."  Briefly ruffling David's hair, he added, "Let's go.  We don't want to be late."

David glanced at the clock but forbore to comment.  Maybe the traffic was particularly bad at this time of day.

Reaching the police station, he couldn't help but feel excited as Neds' drove his car into the underground garage.  He'd never even visited a police station before and now he was going to be working in one.  Getting out of the car, he gazed around.  He'd never seen so many police cars in his life - and they had their own gas pump.

"This way, David."

Neds' hand on his arm pulled him in close, and led him to an elevator.

"We'll have to get your paperwork sorted out first - and your ID."  Neds grinned down at him and added, "We don't want anyone assuming you're a criminal on the run."

"I don't look like a criminal!" David protested.

"Oh, I don't know."  Neds' grin got bigger as he trailed a finger over David's face.  "You look like a hardened gangster to me."

David could feel himself blushing, even as he grinned.

"In fact..."  Neds leaned in close and whispered, "I bet you've seen 'The Godfather' at least three times!"

David couldn't help it, he laughed.

Stepping out of the elevator, they ran straight into large man and a short, maiden-aunt looking lady.  David's eyes widened slightly as he realised that the lady was the Sentinel, and he gazed up at the tallest Guide he'd ever seen.  The guy had to be as tall as Neds!

"Good morning, Sentinel Prime.  You're early."

A flush crept into Neds' face as David gazed at him.  He'd thought they'd be early too.

"The traffic was lighter than I expected.  Doctor Harvey, Jon, this is my Guide, David.  David, this is Sentinel Doctor Harvey and her Guide, Jon."

"I heard that you'd bonded.  Congratulations.  Guide Prime, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"D-Doctor Harvey.  Jon."  David was startled at the title; he'd completely forgotten about Neds being promoted, and his surprise deepened when both the Sentinel and Guide dipped their heads towards him, although the huge Guide followed it up with a friendly smile.

"We'll be in the break room at ten," Neds put in.

"We'll be there, Sentinel Prime.  As, I am sure, will be the rest of the Clan."

"I count on it."

Neds' tone was rather formal and David wondered what on earth was so important.  Oh well, he guessed he'd find out sooner or later.

"We'll see you then.  Sentinel Prime, Guide Prime."  The Sentinel smiled kindly at David, then the pair of them moved on.

As soon as the elevator doors shut behind them, Neds led the way to a small office where a harassed secretary was trying to empty her intray.

"Vera?"

"Sentinel Edwards."  Sighing, she dumped the pile of papers back in her intray and turned to smile at the pair of them.  "You need the paperwork for your Guide."  It wasn't a question.

By the time the forms were filled in, David's photo was taken, and a temporary ID issued and pinned to the sweatshirt by Neds, it was almost half past nine.  Leaving Vera to get back to her intray which now boasted an even higher pile of papers than before, David followed Neds back down the corridor, keeping close behind him.

"Now, if we can find Ellison, I'll introduce you - ah, there he is."

David's peered over Neds' shoulder then ducked back a little as they approached a tall, military looking man with short dark hair who turned to greet them.

"Edwards, I heard you coming a mile away."

"With that kind of hearing, you could be a Sentinel," Neds replied, his tone serious.

"I don't think I could take the hassle."  A rueful grin flashed out.

"I'm sure you'd manage somehow, Ellison."  Turning, Neds tugged David forward.  It wasn't until he introduced them that the Senior Sentinel Prime turned his attention to David.

David wasn't surprised - he'd noticed that Doctor Harvey hadn't acknowledged him until Neds had introduced them.  It was one of the things he remembered clearly from an early course: a Sentinel will not acknowledge a bonded Guide until the Guide's Sentinel shows that he or she may speak to the Guide.  He was surprised that even the Senior Sentinel Prime followed that rule, although maybe it was better for the Clan that he did.

"Guide Prime."

A piercing blue gaze rested on him and David hastily inclined his head, staring at the Senior Sentinel Prime's shoes.  "Senior Sentinel Prime."

"He's far more polite than you ever were, Edwards."

At the humorous tone, David raised his head slightly to find the Senior Sentinel Prime smiling at him.

"Give me time; we've only been bonded a week," Neds retorted.

The smile widened into a grin.  "Don't let him corrupt you, David.  We're hoping you'll be able to reform him."

"I'm a lost cause, Ellison."

"Don't we know it - damn!"  At the high-pitched beeping, Ellison yanked his pager from his belt.  "I'll see you in the break room at ten.  David."

As he left, David frowned.  There it was again, ten o'clock in the break room.  He hastily hid his frown as Neds turned to face him, a reassuring smile on his face.  The worried frown returned, and David felt his stomach muscles clench with nervousness.  He didn't feel any better either when Neds rested his hands on his shoulders, and deliberately projected calm and security through the link towards him.

"As you're the Guide Prime, you have to meet all of the Sentinels and Guides," he explained.  "Informally, we'll do it today in the break room, although Ellison will organise a Clan gathering so they can meet you officially and confirm my status as Sentinel Prime."  The hands tightened slightly as Neds continued, "And, as you're Guide Prime, you have to be scented by all the Sentinels in the Clan."

Instinctively, David tried to step backwards but Neds' hands held him still.

"It's just a formality and I'll be with you the whole time.  Once it's done, it's done.  It's so that they can recognise your scent if they need to."

"B-but -"

"You're the Guide Prime, David; you're important to the Clan.  If something happens and they need to find you, they'll know your scent."

Neds' tone was firm and David knew he had no choice - not that he would have fought his Sentinel on it anyway.  An arm slipped around his shoulders, and Neds walked him down the corridor.

"Just relax.  It's not that bad and it'll be over before you know it."

Entering the break room, David flicked a glance over the room and gulped.  The place was packed with Sentinels and, he hoped, Guides.  If they were all Sentinels and they were all going to scent him, he'd have a panic attack.

Naturally, the Senior Sentinel Prime was the first to approach.  Neds was behind him so David couldn't step back, although he tried instinctively and, foiled, he stiffened in place.

"Just relax, David.  You'll be fine," Sentinel Ellison murmured as he leaned in to scent him lightly.  He straightened and smiled slightly.  "That wasn't too bad, was it?"

Trying desperately to bring his nerves under control, David shook his head.

"Good."  As he moved past them, David heard him add, "Nice sweatshirt, Edwards."

Distracted, David glanced down at the shirt, then gasped as he realised why Neds had insisted he wear it.  It was another mark of 'ownership', if it could be called that - although David was quite sure that Sentinels saw it that way, no matter how much they insisted that Sentinels and Guides bonded equally.  Feeling oddly reassured, David leaned against Neds and relaxed as the next Sentinel approached.  No, this wasn't too bad, after all.

~'~

After a few days, David found his feet in the PD and the Clan.  Everyone was nice enough, and even those people he didn't particularly care for were polite to him.  Of course, he suspected that was because Neds would hand them their heads on a plate if they dared to upset his Guide.

For the first time in his life, David was protected, valued, and his confidence started to soar as a result.  He was still dreading meeting Neds' family...and taking Neds to meet his own, but in Neds' workplace he seemed to have found his own little niche where he belonged.

He was determinedly clinging to that feeling as he and Neds left for Boston on Saturday morning.

~'~

Ever practical, Neds had arranged for a rental car, and he calmly drove them from Boston airport as David's stress level rose steadily higher.

David thought that he was doing a good job of hiding his anxiety.  He'd spent half the flight meditating, and he was keeping his breathing even while he pretended to gaze out of the window at the passing scenery.  Every now and then, they'd pass somewhere that he knew, and sharp memories would jab at him; careless neglect and petty cruelties that he'd borne with a stoic tolerance.  At the time, he'd thought that this was how life was.  And then, he'd realised that he was an empath, that not everyone could see beyond the polite facade to the uncaring indifference that lay beneath the face his family presented to the world.

To Boston society, the Sutherlands were wealthy, happy people, although their close friends were probably aware of what a disappointment David was to them.  Keeping his face turned away from Neds, David smiled slightly.  If it hadn't been for his parents' polite fury over his determination to go to Guide School - the one thing he'd ever insisted upon in the face of their disapproval - he would not have been in Cascade...and he would never have met Neds.

Used to having his youngest son buckle down and accept his dictates, Adam Sutherland had been stunned at first, then determined that David would learn that disobeying his parents was a mistake.  Therefore, a Guide School was picked out for him - far across the country in Washington State.

David had read his father with appalling ease.  The distance, the loneliness, the hardship...all had been intended to bring him to his knees and make him acknowledge that being a Guide was not for him.  He knew that his father had fully expected him to give in, to return to Boston, suitably chastened, and ready to accept the accounting career that his wealthy company-owning father had picked out for him.

And now, David was returning - a bonded Guide, with his Sentinel at his side.

David shut his eyes and willed the day away.  'Oh, God, this is going to be a disaster.'

"David?"

"Hmm?"  Yanked from his increasingly depressive thoughts, David stared at Neds.

"We don't have to do this, you know."  Brown eyes met his, calmly reassuring in a world of turmoil.  "Say the word and I'll turn the car around now."

David sighed as Neds turned his eyes towards the road again.  "No."  'Let's get this over and done with and never come back.'  He took a deep breath and tried lying, willing himself to believe his own words, "It'll be fine."

"You don't believe that."

David turned back to the peaceful world that was sliding by his window.  "I'm just worried, that's all."  The car slid to a halt.  "Neds, we're in a no parking zone!"

"If you don't want to do this, say so."

"You're breaking the law!"

Neds smiled.  "So make up your mind quickly before they arrest me."

For a moment, David closed his eyes, then opened them again.  "We're here now," his resolve fled, "and if it's horrible we won't come back."

"Attaboy."

The car started and David sighed with relief.  At least he wouldn't have to phone his family from jail to explain why he and Neds hadn't turned up.

All too soon they arrived, and David gazed at the front of the house, then hurriedly threw open his door and scrambled out as he saw his father open the front door.

Neds was already out and opening the trunk to retrieve their luggage and, for a second, David paused, caught between two actions.  Training demanded that he not keep his father waiting but, at the same time, he couldn't leave Neds to trail up the path behind him like a servant.  Guide instinct and a respect for Neds overrode fear and he turned to take his suitcase.

"Just relax.  They can't eat you."

Neds' hand on his back was reassuringly warm and David relaxed as the link hummed between them.  No, they couldn't eat him and, whatever they said or did, his Sentinel was there with him.

~'~

Edwards kept his calm while he was introduced to the Sutherland family.  While David's sister and one brother seemed to be happy for them both, the rest of the family wasn't - and David's distress was strumming through the bond and rousing every protective instinct the Sentinel possessed.

The tension in David's neck was hard to witness as his mother kissed the air somewhere near his cheek, and Edwards automatically put a hand around David's nape and rubbed gently, ignoring the stink of anger that came from Sutherland.

"So, you're David's Sentinel."  Sutherland's jaw was as taut as David's nerves, but Edwards had no urge to soothe it.

"Yes, that's right.  We've been bonded about two weeks now."  Edwards stared the older man down, a predatory instinct thrilling as the weaker man glanced away.  If Sutherland intended to reclaim his son and take away Edwards' Guide, he'd think twice before actually attempting anything.

Mrs. Sutherland seemed to realise that her husband was losing ground, and she gracefully stepped in.  "Let me show you to your rooms."  She laughed, a practised tinkling laugh that gave no hint of real amusement, "Well, not that David needs to be shown to his room.  Do you, dear?"

"N-no."  David shook his head, keeping his eyes down, but at his mother's next words, they shot up.

"I've put Mister," she laughed again, "I do apologise, Sentinel Edwards in the blue room, dear."

Edwards guessed from the way David's horrified glance skittered back and forth that the blue room was not a good room to be put in, and his thumb increased its soothing rubbing.

As Mrs. Sutherland turned away towards the stairs, either not noticing or choosing to ignore her son's unhappiness, David turned to Edwards and opened his mouth to speak.

"Shhh.  Let's get upstairs first."  Releasing David, Edwards picked up his suitcase and used his free hand to urge David towards the stairs.  He was taking no chances on leaving his Guide undefended with his family.

Once upstairs, the reason for David's distress became clear.  The Sutherlands' house was a reasonably large one and his Guide's room was at one end of a long hallway while the blue room was at the other.

"I do hope -"

The Sentinel felt no compunction about interrupting his elegant hostess.  "I'm afraid this room is impossible."

Her mouth remained open, surprise turning to indignant shock, on her face.

"As David and I are bonded, he needs to be shielded during the night."  Edwards kept his voice calm but his anger was simmering underneath.  Did they know nothing about Guides?  How much damage had they done to his Guide through their determined ignorance?  "Therefore, my room needs to be much closer to my Guide's - next door, in fact - in order for me to protect him."

She laughed again, the silvery sound annoying the Sentinel's hearing.  "Oh, David doesn't need to be protected here - we're his family."

He ignored the hint of condescension.  "Nevertheless, David needs to be shielded at night, and I'm the only one who can do that."

"Th-th-there's a guest room next to my room," David stammered, his hands flexing nervously on the handle of his suitcase.

"Perfect!" Edwards enthused.  "Lead the way, David.  Mrs. Sutherland."

"Oh!"  For a second she hovered, then, a smile pinned determinedly to her face, she followed her son down the hall.  As David opened a bedroom door, she made another protest.  "This really isn't good enough for Sentinel Edwards, David!" she proclaimed, stretching out her hand towards the door handle.

Edwards' hand got there first, and she hastily withdrew hers, her startled glance flicking up to meet his.  He smiled.  "I'm an ex-Marine, Mrs. Sutherland.  I'm sure I can rough it for one night."

Out-manoeuvred and out-flanked, she fell back.  "Well, if you insist.  I'll let David show you around.  Darling," her hand rested for a second on David's arm and Sentinel eyes saw him flinch, "tea will be served in the conservatory.  You do remember where that is, don't you?"

"Yes, Mother."  David's voice was faint.

"Good.  I shall see you then.  Sentinel Edwards."  With a waft of expensive perfume, she left them.

As soon as she was gone, the tension drained from David's body and he leaned against the doorframe whispering an apology.

"It doesn't matter, David."  Edwards glared in the direction of the stairs.  Gathering his Guide up with one hand, he moved him into the despised guest room and shut the door firmly before taking David's suitcase from him.  "Sit down before you fall down."

"We should never have come."  The misery on David's face was plain to see.

"Then we'll leave.  The car's still outside."

"No!"  Horror replaced the misery.  "We've got - I mean - we should -"

"Relax.  We'll sit it out, if that's what you want."  Sitting down next to him, the Sentinel wrapped an arm around his Guide.  "How long before we have to be in the conservatory?"

David checked his watch.  "About an hour."  He sighed.  "I don't want to unpack."

"Then don't."  The Sentinel smiled.  He had plans for the hour anyway.  "We'll live out of our suitcases.  That way, we'll have less to pack tomorrow."  He tightened his arm and leaned into his Guide, ignoring the shocked look on David's face.

"Here?!"

"Well, unless you'd sooner go into your room."

"No!  I mean - but - they'll know!"

"David, you're a Guide; you have to bond.  I know they've been burying their heads in the sand about all things Sentinel but I'm not prepared to let you suffer with frayed barriers just because of their narrow-minded stupidity."

David's eyes opened even wider, although Edwards hadn't thought that was possible.  "But -"

"Claimed and marked, Guide."  Edwards' tone was implacable.

There was a moment's shocked silence, then David caved and dropped his barriers.  "Claimed and marked, Sentinel."

~'~

David could feel his face reddening as his father's eyes lingered on his neck.  Although he had needed to bond to restore his barriers, he could and did wish that Neds hadn't insisted on bonding.  Then again, even with his barriers intact, he could feel the disapproval radiating off his father, and he shuddered to imagine how that disapproval would have burned through his frayed shields if Neds hadn't forced the issue.

"David, tell us about your plans now that you're out of Guide School."  His mother, as elegant a hostess as ever, smoothly handed him his tea, the delicate fineness of the cup a testament to its expense.

Neds nodded, soothingly supportive, as David glanced at him.  He just knew that his parents would hate this too.

"When I'm not working with Neds in the - the police station, I'll be taking some courses at Rainier University."  There...that was ambiguous enough.  Please God they wouldn't ask what courses.

"Oh?"  His father sat back, the disapproval lessening slightly.  "What are you intending to study?"

He gulped.  "Um -"

"As David has such a talent for drawing, I thought it was a pity to waste it."  Neds looked reassuringly solid as he handled the fine bone china.  "He's going to university to study art."

David caught his breath.  They'd hate Neds more than ever now.  "I wanted to!" he put in hastily, hoping they wouldn't blame his Sentinel for it.

There was a crack as his father's hand tightened on his saucer.  Ignoring it, Mr. Sutherland put the snapped saucer, with its cup, on the side table at his elbow.  "I think accounting would be a much better idea, David.  It's useful and, if you decide that you'd rather not work in a police station, it's a good career to pursue."

"I think David will be a much better artist than an accountant," Elizabeth put in, earning herself a glare that she didn't appear to notice.

David stared at her, wondering how she dared to draw their father's wrath away from him.  Elizabeth had always been one to step in where angels feared to tread.  All the way through his childhood, she'd protected him as best she could, never seeming to mind their father's fury, or take it to heart like he did.  More than once, he'd envied her for her forthright nature that was so like their father's.

"In any case, it's David's decision to make.  Isn't it, David?" she continued, the warmth of her smile encouraging him to answer.

"Yes."  He gulped again, hating the way his heart was hammering inside his chest, then looked at his father.  "Yes, it is."

That glare was redirected back at him.  "Art is a waste of time, David," his father said, firmly.

"Not when you have a talent for it," Neds interjected, "as David does."

For a moment, David wondered if Neds and Elizabeth had forcefields of some kind that deflected his father's glares; the two of them seemed impervious to the anger behind them.

"Well," Gregory cleared his throat nervously, earning himself a scorching look from their father, "it's not as if David has to work for a living now.  Although," he amended, nodding seriously, "accounting is a far more solid career, David."

David had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes.  Gregory, his eldest brother and pride of their father's eye, was the family's 'yes-man'.

"And," Gregory continued, apparently oblivious to the effect this would have, "if you have to move back at any point, it'll come in handy in the company."

The Guide clearly heard the growl that erupted from his Sentinel's throat, and he felt the varying emotions that echoed around the room.  Fury from Neds, shocked disgust from his mother, anger from his father, interest from Elizabeth, sneaking delight from Harry and total surprise from Gregory.

"David will not be moving back to Boston."  While the words weren't quite growled, there was a harsh tone in the Sentinel's voice.

David leaned back against his chair, taking what comfort he could in the solid warmth and wishing it was Neds he was leaning against.  "Neds is based in Cascade - that's his territory.  Naturally, I-I'll be staying there."

"Well said, David."  The gleam in Harry's eyes showed that his wicked sense of humour, that had got him into trouble all of his life, was still as lively as ever.  He seemed impervious to the scorching glare their father specialised in too.

"What I meant was, well..."  Gregory half-laughed, looking rather stymied, "that if anything should happen...I mean...well, it happens, doesn't it?  After all, Sentinel Edwards is a police officer and, well, I mean -"

"More tea, Gregory?"

With obvious relief, Gregory stopped babbling and turned to hand his cup to their mother.  "Thank you, Mother."

~'~

"Lord!"

Edwards glanced at David as his Guide flopped back on his bed, then resumed his prowling of the room's perimeter as he listened intently to the noises in the room next door.

"That's one dinner I don't want to sit through again."  David propped himself up on one side, resting his head on his hand.

Abandoning his prowling, Edwards sat on the bed next to him.  "At least your father never said a word about you studying accountancy."

"Father doesn't approve of any 'heavy' topics at mealtimes - says it's bad for the digestion."

Edwards mulled that over, thinking back to the abysmal dinner and frigid evening they'd endured - despite the best efforts of Elizabeth, her husband and Harry to liven it up.  For a start, Mrs. Sutherland had been most displeased that the Sentinel had insisted on sitting next to his Guide - she considered that it made the table uneven.  Edwards admitted that it did disrupt the lovely 'lady, gentleman, lady' pattern she had going, but there was no way he was going to be parted from his Guide among a bunch of strangers.  Actually, there was no way he was going to be parted from his Guide in this house, period.

"He'll probably insist on talking to me tomorrow about it," David added.

"That might be difficult."  Edwards grinned.  "I was planning on getting an early start tomorrow."

David looked surprised.  "But our flight isn't until the afternoon," he pointed out.

"They don't know that though, do they?"  A thud from the next room got his attention and Edwards glared at the wall.  "Who's in there?"

"Gregory," David said, absently.  "What will we do until our flight though?"

"You can show me a bit of Boston, we'll have lunch - and talk about anything we please - and then we'll head for the airport.  Why does Gregory still live here?"

"Oh, eldest son and all that.  Harry moved out as soon as he could.  Actually," David leaned forward and whispered, although he didn't need to, "Harry doesn't work for Father at all.  There was a huge fuss about that too.  He works for the company Elizabeth's husband owns.  When she insisted on marrying him, Father tried to get Lewis to merge with him, but Lewis wouldn't."

Edwards thought back to the quiet, unassuming man he'd met at dinner.  Only the obstinate set of his mouth gave a hint that Adam Sutherland would get nowhere in bullying his son-in-law.  "More fireworks, huh?"

David nodded, more animated than Edwards had seen him since they'd arrived in Boston.  "Father blamed Harry for it all, as he'd introduced Elizabeth to Lewis.  There was a huge argument; Father doesn't like being defied.  Plus, he'd had his own ideas as to who Elizabeth should marry."

"I bet that went down well with Elizabeth."

"She didn't care," David said, shrugging.  "She doesn't mind when Father gets annoyed with her - neither does Harry."  He frowned.  "It doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest."

From the despondent tone in his voice, Edwards could tell that David was despising himself for not being more like his outgoing and forthright siblings.  "Well, you stood your ground when you had to."  He smiled.  "I'd say your father believes that he's got three obstinate children, not just two."

There was surprise in the eyes that were lifted to meet his.  Obviously David had never thought of it like that before.

"Now," Edwards glared at the wall once more, "grab your things.  You're not sleeping in here with Gregory through there."  Of all David's siblings, Gregory was the one Edwards trusted the least.

"Well, where am I going to sleep then?" David asked, even as he obediently got to his feet and grabbed his wash bag and pyjamas.

"With me.  Just don't hog all the blankets."  Ignoring the shock that shot through the bond, Edwards steered him into the guest room and shut the door firmly.  He needed his Guide safe, and the only safe place in the Sutherland household was at the Sentinel's side.

~'~

The next morning saw David and Neds up bright and early, and sitting down to breakfast with the David's parents and his eldest brother.  David did his best to look calm, although he was on tenterhooks waiting for his father to make his move and for Neds to announce their departure.  It was anyone's guess as to who'd get it in first.

It wasn't until breakfast was nearly over that the axe fell.

"David, as soon as you've finished, I'd like to see you in my study."  Mr. Sutherland threw a glare at Neds and added, "Alone."

David's cup hit its saucer with a clatter.  "I -"

"Unfortunately, David and I are leaving directly after breakfast," Neds interrupted calmly.  "And anything you have to discuss with David would, naturally, include me.  I am his Sentinel, after all."  He wiped his mouth with his napkin and dumped it on the table.  "However, as I said, we'll be leaving soon."

David stared at his father as his face flushed with indignation.  Fortunately, his father seemed too taken aback to talk - for the moment, anyway.

"Come along, David."

Hurriedly wiping his mouth, David dropped his napkin and pushed his chair back.

"David?"  His mother sounded confused.

"Sorry, Mother."  He hastily brushed a kiss across her cool cheek before retreating to Neds' side.  "We have to go."

It wasn't until they came back downstairs, cases in hand, that his father roused himself enough to make a protest.

"Sentinel Edwards," his voice was tight with anger, "while I appreciate that you are my son's Sentinel, we are his family and I am his father.  Naturally, I have an interest in my son's future -"

"Your son's future has already been decided by him," Neds interrupted, his voice cold.  "David has chosen to study art and I, as his Sentinel, fully support his decision."  The warmth in his eyes, as he smiled at David, was at direct odds with the previous ice in his voice.  "I think he'll make a fine artist."

"Painting is no way to make a living!"

Flinching at his father's tone, David instinctively moved closer to his Sentinel, who swung around to hide him from view.

"Especially if you only have a very mediocre talent, as David does!"

"I disagree," Neds replied, the cold civility in his voice slashing through the polite veneer.  "In any case, the subject is not open for debate."  He continued, talking over David's father with ease, "David will be studying art because he chooses to - and that is the end of the matter.  Goodbye, Mr. Sutherland, Mrs. Sutherland.  David."

A firm hand moved him towards the front door and David went willingly.  "Father, Mother, Gregory."  His eyes flickered from one to the other.  "Bye."

~'~

Naturally, after the disaster that was Neds meeting his family, David was more convinced than ever that his own meeting with Neds' family would be just as bad - if not worse.  Therefore he spent the week between the weekends worrying endlessly, his anxiety reaching a fever pitch the night before they were due to leave.

Neds would hate it...Neds would insist on breaking their bond...Neds' family would loathe him and he'd have to leave the weekend part of the way through, return to Cascade alone, get a job, find an apartment, give up his soon-to-start art course and try to move on with his life - an unwanted, unbonded, useless ex-Guide.

David buried his head under his pillow and groaned into the mattress.  Maybe he could smother himself before morning.

The mattress dipped and he jerked with shock, pushing the pillow away to see why and blinking in the light of his bedside lamp.

"What's the matter?"

He wasn't surprised to find Neds sitting by him, a patient tone in his voice.

"Nothing."

"Then why are you still awake at one in the morning?"

Giving it up, David rolled onto his side and gazed up at Neds.  "Just...worrying."

"Uh huh.  Don't tell me: my family will hate you, I'll decide I shouldn't have bonded with you, you'll end up going back to Boston and I'll find another Guide.  How am I doing?"

David snuggled under the covers slightly to hide his blushes.  Was he really that obvious?

His blushes worsened as Neds tucked him in.  "My family will adore you."  A large hand ruffled his hair.  "And if they don't, they'll have me to deal with.  Now go to sleep and stop worrying."

"Yes, Neds."  As Neds' hand reached towards the switch on the lamp, he added, "Neds?"

The hand stopped.  "Yes?"

"Remember when I took my library books back?"

Neds sat back, patiently waiting for the rest.  "I remember."

"I ran into Harriet, a friend of mine."

"You mentioned her.  I'm hoping to meet her when you start back at Rainier."

"Well..."  David wasn't entirely sure how to say it but he'd started now, and Neds would wait all night to hear the rest if he had to - David had learnt that much about his Sentinel.  Staring steadfastly at his lamp, he continued, "She said that you went to see Dean Edwards and that - that...people are saying you had a row with her."

"In a manner of speaking, I did."  As Neds' gaze met his, Neds explained, "I had a few words with her about the fact that the Guide Prime was almost driven out of Guide School by a bully who should never have been in Guide School in the first place."

"And...she was okay with that?"  If David was going back to Rainier, he didn't want to make an enemy of the dean of Rainier University.

"She's not going to blame you for what I said, David."  Smiling slightly, he added, "She wouldn't dare."

"But -"

"Dexter Pierson is a bully - and barely ranks as a Guide.  He should never have been admitted to Guide School.  Dean Edwards needed to know that he was attempting to drive strong empaths out of school.  He'd already chosen his next victim and was well on his way to making him quit too."  Neds smoothed the covers and tucked them more firmly into place.  "He's been removed from Guide School now and he won't be causing any more problems.  And if Dean Edwards dares to try to make trouble, she knows she'll have the Sentinel Prime to deal with - and the Senior Sentinel Prime is well aware of the situation and is ready to back me up on it."

"Oh."  David felt that he had little left to say.  But it did explain that afternoon when he'd been kept busy helping Sentinel Ellison with his paperwork.  He'd thought it was odd at the time but hadn't liked to say anything.

"Now then, go to sleep."

"Yes, Neds."  He wanted until the light was off then added, "Thanks, Neds."

"My pleasure."

The door clicked shut and David smiled into the darkness, his eyes heavy with tiredness.  As his eyes insisted on shutting, he took the warmth of being cared for with him into his dreams.

~'~

"C'mon, David, there's nothing to be scared of."  Edwards handed a suitcase to his Guide and shut the lid of the trunk.

"I know that."

"Of course you do."  Edwards didn't know if David was trying to convince him or himself, but, judging by his body signs, he was failing on both counts.  "Just relax.  They'll love you."

A heaved, shuddering breath was his only reply.

~'~

"Clement!"

'Clement?'  David didn't say a word, but he totally understood Neds' reticence where his first name was concerned.

"Mother."  Neds dropped his suitcase and wrapped his arms around the petite lady who was so pleased to see him.

As she released him, Neds stepped back and said, "Mother, this is my Guide, David.  David, this is my mother -"

"And who else would I be?" the lady demanded in a scolding tone, her brown eyes, so like Neds', sparkling with affection.  "I'm very pleased to meet you, David.  We've all been hoping for quite some time now that Clement would find his Guide."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Edwards."  David had to fight to keep a grin off his face at the look on Neds' face.

"Call me Elvira, dear."  She slipped her arm through his, and led him into the house and up the stairs, Neds walking along behind them.  "We'd quite given up hope on Clement, you know.  He's so stubborn."  She threw an affectionate glance over her shoulder, then continued, "My sister introduced him to at least seven different Guides that I know of, but none of them would do at all.  He's just like his Grandfather in that respect; he didn't find his Guide until he was in his thirties.  Of course, once he'd bonded with Uncle Jonathan - that's what we all called him, dear - he was fine.  It was a very strong bond - just like yours and Clement's.  I can tell that."

Her arm squeezed his against her side, and David smiled at the waves of affection that flooded through him.

"Now then, dears, I've put you in your Grandfather's old bedroom, Clement, with David next to you."  Elvira leaned into David and explained, "It's an adjoining room.  After he was bonded, Father insisted that he had to be able to reach his Guide at a moment's notice, so he had a door knocked into the wall between the two rooms.  He and Uncle Jonathan were so thrilled when Clement turned out to be a Sentinel.  They'd hoped there'd be a few Guides in the family, but we've never produced Guides, and Uncle Jonathan's family only had the one Guide, and that was Uncle Jonathan, of course."  She sighed, and David felt the sadness that flickered through her before it was banished.  "What about your family, dear?  Lots of Guides?"

"Oh, n-no."  David felt the flush that covered his face.  "I'm the only Guide that I know of."  Lord, his father would have gone nuts if any of the rest of the family had dared to let them down by being a Guide too.  "And we've never had Sentinels in our family either."

"Just like Uncle Jonathan, then!  His family was most surprised when he turned out to be a Guide - they couldn't understand it at all."  Again, there was that hint of sadness, then she brightened again.  "But you've found each other now, and that's all that matters.  Here we are, dear.  This will be your room, and Clement," she threw open another door, "is right through here."

David only had time for a quick glance around before she spoke again.

"Now then, I'll leave you two to unpack."  She patted David on the shoulder, sending a flush of warm affection through him again, before turning to Neds.  "Dinner will be served in an hour, dear, and I'm afraid that Miranda's invited Smedley."  She straightened his tie and David smiled to see her glare sternly at the large ex-Marine.  "Make sure you're polite to him.  They're going to be married in a few months, and there's no point in starting a family feud now."  She tugged at Neds' tie and added, "We can do that at the wedding."

"Yes, Mother."

"All right."  She patted Neds on the chest and said, "I'll see you both downstairs," then was gone.

David couldn't resist it; as soon as the door was shut, he murmured, "Clement?"

"David!"

"You never told me!"  He grinned as Neds advanced on him, and ducked around the other side of the bed for safety.  "I thought your name was Humperdinck or Peregrine or," he shrieked as his Sentinel grabbed him and threw him on the bed, "Rumplestiltskin!"

"I'll give you Rumplestiltskin," Neds growled threateningly.

David shrieked again as he was tickled unmercifully.

"Uncle?" Neds demanded, long, breathless minutes later.

"Uncle," David panted as the tickling finally stopped, the last of his giggles still shaking him.  The gleam in Neds' eye was a familiar one, and David tilted his head back, taking a deep breath as he stopped laughing.  "Marked and claimed."  As the Sentinel's gaze shifted to his neck, he added, "Clement."

~'~

"So who's Smedley?"

Edwards smiled as he combed his hair.  He'd known that it was only a matter of time before David felt more confident, and the teasing and casual demand for information were proof of that.  "Smedley Cunningham the third."

"The third?"  David peered around the edge of the doorframe.  "You mean there's been two other people called 'Smedley'?"

"Oh yes."  Edwards went into his Guide's room and paused to straighten David's tie.  "Smedley Cunningham, Senior, and Smedley Cunningham, Junior.  Smedley's grandfather and father respectively."  Knotting his own tie, he added, "Smedley's very proud of being a third."

"Lord!  Does he insist on people calling him that?"

"He'll let it go in casual conversation," Edwards admitted, "but it's all over the wedding stationery.  He's marrying my cousin, Miranda.  And he's a Sentinel - an unbonded one."

His eyes met David's in the mirror, a gleam of mischief showing in the green ones.  "I'm not surprised with a name like Smedley."  He paused for a moment then added, a huge grin on his face, "No wonder you call yourself Neds."

~'~

Smedley kept a charming smile on his face as he listened to one of Miranda's relatives.  While Miranda was perfectly acceptable, being of a good, wealthy background, and having the beauty, breeding and ambition that he'd expect of his future wife, he frequently felt dismay when he thought of her family.  Her parents were very acceptable, as they were rich and solidly respectable, but her aunt's family...well, while they were wealthy, they hadn't got an ounce of ambition between them - to say nothing of their bad habit of accepting people for who they were as opposed to making sure that they were the 'right kind' of person.  And now he'd been dragged to meet them, again, in order to see Clement and his new-found Guide.

His thoughts lingered on the Sentinel who was another annoyance, in Smedley's eyes.  The Sentinel Prime of Cascade.  Smedley really didn't know why Clement had insisted on joining the Cascade Clan - unless....

No.  He shook his head.  Clement was not ambitious enough to make a play for the position of Senior Sentinel Prime.  It was amazing that he'd become a Sentinel Prime.

Fortunately, Smedley had never been interested in Clan politics, preferring the cut and thrust of the stock exchange and the thrill of the FT Index.

He nodded politely as Miranda's boring, but wealthy, old great-aunt drivelled on about the wedding, then managed to catch Miranda's eye.  Good, she'd taken the hint.

"Aunt Tally!"  Even to Sentinel ears, Miranda sounded sincere.  "I haven't seen you in an age - you're looking wonderful!"

The sharp eyes met Smedley's and for a second he thought she'd caught his request for rescue.  "I've had your charming young man entertaining me, Miranda.  Why wouldn't I look wonderful?"

Smedley almost frowned.  Surely the old biddy wasn't being sarcastic at his expense?

Miranda laughed, a hint of uneasiness in her voice.  "Well, whatever you're doing, it's working."

The old woman smiled affectionately as she patted Miranda on the face.  "Riotous living, Miranda.  I recommend it every time.  Ah, there's Neds and his new Guide.  I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

Smedley allowed his frown to show.  Lovebirds?

"You've really got to be more careful with Aunt Tally, Smedley.  She's as sharp as a new pin."

He dragged his attention back to his fiancée.  "Nonsense, Miranda.  I have no difficulty charming elderly ladies."  To his surprise, she lightly smacked him on the arm.

"Aunt Tally isn't just an elderly lady - and she can spot insincerity a mile off."

His frown returned as he smoothed his sleeve.  "I can assure you, Miranda, I'm quite capable of sounding sincere."

"Well, now's your chance; she's coming back."

Pinning his most charming smile in place, Smedley turned.  He felt it falter a little as he realised she was dragging Clement and his Guide in her wake, but his breeding held, as did his smile.

"You remember Smedley, don't you, Neds?"

"Of course I do, Aunt Tally.  How are you, Cunningham?"

"I'm..."  For a few seconds the words escaped Smedley as he scented the Guide standing a half-step behind the other Sentinel.  Blinking, he managed a weak, "Fine."  Disengaging his hand from Clement's, he reached out towards the young man.  "How do you d-"

A hard hand closed around his wrist.  "My Guide, Cunningham.  Claimed and marked."

His glance flickered up to meet Clement's hard stare as he realised that he hadn't made such a faux pas in years.  Pulling his hand free, he laughed a little.  "Of course he is, Clement, do forgive me."  Smedley caught the look Miranda threw at him and felt his cheeks redden.  Forcing down his anger, he realised that he was acting like a newly-online Sentinel at his first mixer.

"This is my Guide, David Sutherland.  David, this is Sentinel Cunningham."

A quiet, glorious voice quickly murmured, "How do you do?" then the Guide ducked out of sight behind Clement's shoulder.

Resolutely smiling, Smedley met Clement's gaze head on.  "How long have you been bonded?"

"Three weeks now."

Three weeks, that was still early in a bond, he mused, his mind running on to various possibilities.  The challenge in Clement's eyes brought him to a standstill and he managed an insincere, "Congratulations.  You must be very happy."

~'~

"You did that on purpose."  The accusation in Neds' tone was hard to miss.

"Down, boy," Aunt Tally retorted, not phased in the slightest.  "I had no idea he was foolish enough to try that."  She turned to David and touched his arm, the gentleness surprising him coming from the acerbic and mischievous old lady.  "Are you all right, David?"

"I'm fine, Aunt Tally."  He smiled at her, feeling warmth fill his heart even more, then looked up at his Sentinel as he projected as much happiness and calm as he could.  "Really, Neds, he didn't touch me at all."

"He tried though."

Neds' arm tightened around David's shoulders, and David watched him glare across the room at the other Sentinel.

"Neds, it's all right.  I'm here."  He could hear Neds' teeth grinding.

The glare redirected itself to Aunt Tally, who withstood the blast without turning a hair.  "Do you know where Cunningham's sitting at dinner?" Neds demanded.

"I'll find out."  Daringly, she patted David's arm again, then left them alone.

David glanced at his arm, at his Sentinel, then watched her go.  He couldn't believe how brave she was.

A heavy sigh brought his attention back to Neds.  "My Grandfather was her brother; they grew up together."  A rueful smile settled on his face.  "She doesn't have it within her to be afraid of any Sentinel."

David smiled back, "She doesn't seem to be afraid of anyone," but his smile disappeared as he saw Cunningham watching him, a hungry look in his eyes.

Instantly, Neds blocked his view, a growl rumbling in the Sentinel's throat.  David leaned into his back, holding on tightly and whispering reassurances, dread filling him as he worried that the two Sentinels were going to start fighting over him.  Mrs. Edwards would be furious if that happened - and heaven alone knew what the rest of the guests would say.

"I think it's about time we went into dinner."  Mrs. Edwards' quiet voice cut through the tense moment.  "Clement, you and David lead the way."

David made no objection as he was promptly hustled from the room, a low growl sounding in his ear every step of the way.  Fortunately for all of them, Cunningham especially, Neds and David were seated by Mrs. Edwards, while Cunningham was almost at the other end of the table.  And, David was pleased to note, there was a huge silver vase blocking his view of the other Sentinel.

"Who on earth moved the epergne?" he heard Mrs. Edwards murmur.

"That would be me, dear."  Aunt Tally sat down next to David and grinned at him.  "Well, not me personally."  She leaned into David's side and added, confidentially, "I'd have to be built like Arnold Schwartzenegger to lift that thing.  I thought that if Smedley did want to ogle you, he'd have to stand up to do it.  And I really don't think he'll go that far."

David grinned back at her as he heard Neds choke on a laugh.

Mrs. Edwards raised her wine glass in a quiet salute.  "Good idea, Aunt Tally."

~'~

Smedley fumed to himself as he undressed for bed.  That old witch, 'Aunt Tally' and her trick with the epergne.  Not that he was going to spend dinner watching Clement's Guide, of course - he had far better manners than that!  And, to make it worse, Miranda had taken her family's side, saying that he had no right to try to shake David's hand before Clement had even introduced them.

He threw his shirt on the chair, his hands trembling.  No right, no right - what right did they have to say he had no right?

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself down, his thoughts dwelling on the Guide.  It was really quite a pity that David was bonded to Clement.  The boy was obviously well bred and, if the tattle was right, he was a member of the Boston Sutherland family too.  What a waste for the boy to be stuck in Cascade with a boor like Clement.

Throwing back the bedclothes, Smedley got into bed and lay back, his teeth grinding.  If only he'd met David first.  Challenging Clement would be useless - apart from him being a Sentinel Prime, he was also an ex-Marine and looked to be in excellent shape.  No, a direct challenge would end in disaster.

Kidnapping David wasn't the answer either, unfortunately, as Clement, with his usual bull-headed, stubborn determination, would turn the world inside out looking for him - and he'd probably bring that Clan of his into it as well.  No, the only way to acquire David was for Clement to be dead.

Smedley opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, mulling it over.  If Clement was dead then David would be bondless, and defenceless.  Claimable.

His heart beat faster at the thought.  Was he prepared to go so far as to kill Clement?  He shook his head; he was no killer.  He was, after all, a Cunningham and he had standards to keep up.  But....

Rolling onto his side, he allowed his mind to recreate that moment when he scented David for the first time.  Need cried out within him; unfulfilled longing at the thought of his Guide, bonded forever to a hulk like Clement.

He was no killer...but if Clement were to kill himself....

A smile curved his lips.  Now that was a possibility that deserved consideration.

~'~

It wasn't until the next day that David got to meet Neds' father properly.  He'd met him and Neds' siblings briefly the night before - before Cunningham had riled Neds thoroughly.  Sitting down to breakfast with the main members of Neds' family, he couldn't help but compare it to the breakfast he'd had with his own family.

"Clement tells us you're going to university, David."

He looked up.  "Yes, sir," at the stern look, he added, "Jethro."

"Rainier University?" Juliet, Neds' sister, asked.

David nodded.

"He's going to be studying art, dear."  Mrs. Edwards - Elvira, David corrected himself mentally - poured her husband a cup of coffee and handed it over.

"Art?  Excellent!"  Jethro seemed to think it was a great idea.  "Do you paint, David?"

"Uh...not yet.  I-I draw...a bit."

"He's very talented," Neds threw in from his other side.  "You should see his sketchbook."

"He must be talented to get into Rainier," Christian, Neds' brother put in.  "Cate Mulrooney applied to there and was turned down."

David could feel his face reddening.

"She's not talented!" Juliet scoffed.

"Yes, she is."  Christian frowned at her.  "You're just jealous."

"Of what?"

"Perhaps David will show us his sketchbook after breakfast?"  Elvira didn't seem to notice his embarrassment, and she was definitely ignoring her squabbling children.  "Pass me your cup, David, you're out of coffee."

"Uh...yes...of course."  David handed over his cup, butterflies in his stomach.  Belatedly, he added, "Thank you."

"I should have guessed you're an artist, David," Aunt Tally chimed in.  "You have an artist's hands."

"And you'd know!" Elvira said, darkly.

Juliet grinned.  "She certainly would!"

"Of course I would, dear," Aunt Tally chuckled, mischief all over her face.

Leaning over to steal some of David's toast, Neds murmured, "Aunt Tally spent the swinging sixties in Paris."

"Speak up, Clement!" Aunt Tally promptly demanded, showing that there was nothing wrong with her hearing.  "You're muttering again!"

Neds grinned.  "I was just saying that you spent the swinging sixties in Paris."

"Oh no!" Elvira muttered, although David could tell she wasn't that dismayed.  "More toast, David?"

"Not just the sixties, Clement.  And I knew lots of artists!"  David giggled as she winked at him.  "Some better than others, dear!"

~'~

"C'mon, David."

"You just hold your horses, Clement."  Elvira hugged David again.  "Come back soon, dear."  She smiled, "Bring Clement with you, if you must.  I'm sure I can find somewhere to put him."

"Mother!"

David grinned as Elvira let go of him.  "I will."  As Neds hugged his mother, David moved to face Aunt Tally.

"You take good care of that Sentinel of yours, David.  And make sure he treats you right."  As he held her gently, the elderly lady wrapped her arms around him in return and hugged him tightly.  She kissed his cheek enthusiastically, then added, "And have fun at university - that's what it's there for."

"I couldn't agree more."  Jethro hugged David just as tightly as the rest of his family had.  "You're very talented, David, anyone can see that; but make sure to have fun too."

The good wishes were echoed by Christian and Juliet, and David smiled as he got into the car.  Settling into his seat, he blinked carefully, a lump in his throat.  He couldn't believe how much he was going to miss them - and they weren't even his family.

"You keep that Neanderthal in line, David," Christian called, grinning as his mother elbowed him.

"Drive carefully, Clement."

"I will, Mother.  We'll be back the next weekend I have off."

"You make sure you are!"  Her stern tone didn't fool anyone.

~'~

Discretion.  That's what it was all about so far as Mr. M. Grey was concerned; discretion.

Discretion in making enquiries, discretion in dealing with his clients; no matter what they wanted to know, where they wanted him to go, it would all be done discreetly.

Naturally, he extended that philosophy to his office and his business persona.  Once through his door, his clients would find a world of neutral good taste.  From the decor to his secretary, nothing stood out as being flashy or noticeable in any way.  And that included Mr. Grey himself.

His hair was just the right length, his suit - a neutral shade of grey - was of a good enough cut to pass muster with his clients but not of such a good cut that they'd ask for his tailor's name.  Even his name fitted with the blandness he so carefully projected.

Well, except for his first name.  His parents, perhaps regretting their own very boring first names, had christened him 'Montagu'.  In a perverse way, Mr. Grey liked his first name.  It was, after all, the most outstanding thing about him - not that he ever told his clients about it.

"Mr. Cunningham is here for his three o'clock appointment, sir."

Leaning forward, he told his secretary to show Mr. Cunningham in, then stood to meet him.  The Cunninghams had trusted their business to Mr. Grey for quite a number of years now, and whatever they needed to know, he would find out for them.

~'~

Edwards knew that David was badly nervous, but he made sure that his own nerves didn't show at all.  After all, there was no point in getting David upset.

"You've got your cell phone."

"Yes, Neds."

"And it's fully charged."

David pulled out the brand new cell phone Edwards had bought and showed it to him.  "Fully charged."

"And you've got some money in case you need to get a cab."

"Yes, Neds."

Edwards waited.

David pulled out his wallet and showed Edwards the thirty dollars Edwards had put in there.

"And change in case you need to phone and can't get a signal."

Sighing, although Edwards really couldn't see what there was to sigh over, David pulled open the velcro section of his wallet and showed him the couple of dollars' worth of change in there.

"Right."  Edwards walked towards the door, David behind him.  He stopped.  "And if I'm late -"

"I'm not to go anywhere alone, just stay by the front entrance and, if you don't show up after half an hour, phone Sentinel Ellison."

"Right."

"Neds?"

"Yes?"

"I'll be fine!"

"I know you will be, David."  Edwards made sure to sound very reassuring.  "It's only natural to be nervous on your first day at university."

A mischievous gleam appeared in the green eyes.  "Is it your first day at university too, Neds?  No wonder you're nervous."

Edwards glared at his Guide.  "Get your coat."

Fortunately for both of them, the traffic was light and it wasn't long before David was getting out of Edwards' car.

"Remember -"

"Don't talk to strangers, especially strange Sentinels, and no one but you or Sentinel Ellison will come to collect me."

"That's right."

"Bye, Neds."

The door shut with a hint of finality and Edwards sat back and watched as his Guide, his defenceless Guide, disappeared inside the main building on Rainier University campus.

Edwards turned the engine on.  Then turned it off.  Getting out and locking up the car, he headed towards the security office.  One could never be too careful.

~'~

"David!"

"Jo!"  He hugged her exuberantly.

"Oh, I forgot."  Jo pulled herself free and swept a curtsey.  "Guide Prime."

David sighed.  "Thanks, Jo."

"My pleasure.  So, do I call you 'David' or will 'Your Highness' do?"

He grinned as they turned to make their way to the cafeteria.  "I think I like the sound of 'Your Excellency'.  What do you think?"

She pretended to consider it, then stopped in the doorway.  "I think it makes you sound about five hundred years old."

"Oh."  David shrugged.  "I think I'll stick to David then."

"Good idea!"  She led the way over to where Harriet and Aled were already waiting.  "Hey guys, look who I found slumming it in Hargrove."

"Oh, David!"  Harriet stood up to give him a hug.  "Congratulations!"

Aled grinned.  "Congratulations to your Sentinel too.  He put a firecracker under Dean Edwards, and Dexter is no more!"

Sitting down, David grinned back.  "So Harriet said, though I never got any details!"

"Didn't your Sentinel tell you?"  Harriet sounded shocked.

"Neds didn't mention it until I asked him about it - and then he just said that he had.  Well, not that he put it like that!  He said he'd had a few words with Dean Edwards."

"A few words!"  Jo smiled, gleeful triumph on her face.  "I think the dean would have preferred it if it had just been a few words!"

Aled nodded, and leaned across the table.  "He totally went to town on her!  By the time he'd finished, she was ready to dismiss half the school to get rid of him."

"How do you know?" David demanded.  "Miss Adams wouldn't -"

"Of course she wouldn't," Jo interrupted.  "Maria Coletti was in the office with her Sentinel when your Sentinel came storming in, so she persuaded her to listen in and give her the gist of it later."

"And she did?"

"She's not a Clan member," Harriet put in hastily.  "She's from...where did Maria say?"

"Wisconsin," Jo answered.

"So?"  David gazed at them, eager for the gossip.  "What did he say?"

"Well," Aled's eyes gleamed, "he pointed out that his Guide, the Guide Prime -"

"He made sure to mention that bit about every five seconds!" Jo put in.

"- had almost been driven out of Guide School by a talentless bully with about as much empathy as a penguin -"

"Although I'm sure that penguins can be empathic."

Aled stopped and looked at Harriet.

"Well, I like penguins!"

Shaking his head, he continued, "And that it would reflect very badly on the Guide School and those who ran it, if strong empaths like -"

"The Guide Prime!" Jo chipped in, giving David a meaningful look.

"The Guide Prime," Aled repeated, giving Jo a sour look, "abandoned their ambitions to be Guides and instead became waiters or busboys.  And he was sure that the dean would like to know that the Senior Sentinel Prime shared his views on the matter!"

Jo looked smug.  "She was as white as a sheet when she came out and told Miss Adams to send for Dexter!"

"Unfortunately for you, me, these two and the grapevine," Aled continued, "Sentinel Freeman and Maria had to leave before Dexter got there."

"Maria tried to persuade her to go stand by the dean's window, but she wouldn't," Harriet put in.  "However, soon after that, Dexter collected his stuff and left."

Jo smirked.  "Which leads those of us with brains to surmise that he was 'asked to leave'."

"Yeah, they wouldn't have expelled him outright, not with Daddy's money to back him up."  Aled shrugged.  "But at least he's gone."

"So tell us, O Wise and Mighty Guide Prime," Jo grinned, "what's it like being bonded to the Sentinel Prime?"

David grinned in return, feeling his face redden.  "It's...nice."

"Is that it?  That's all we get?"  Jo looked affronted.  "You'll have to tell us more than that, David Sutherland!"

He leaned forward, and waited until they'd all mirrored his movement before he whispered, "What do you think it's like being bonded to a Sentinel who'll go up against Dean Edwards for you?"  Then he sat back and waited.

There was silence for a few seconds, then Harriet wrapped her arms around him and murmured, "Oh, David, I'm so happy for you."

~'~

Smedley looked over the report Mr. Grey had given him, and grimaced.  For a Sentinel holding a high position in the Clan, Clement was distressingly short on enemies.  Even his time in the Marines had failed to garner him rivals - instead leaving him with a long list of what Smedley suspected were friends.  How annoying!

He turned his attention to David's past, although he had little expectation of finding anything in there.  People like David never had enemies; they were too quiet and shy.

Halfway down the second page, he paused, and reread the paragraph carefully.  This Dexter Pierson, while obviously a jealous bully, and from a distressingly nouveau riche family, was a distinct possibility.

~'~

"Neds?  Neds?"  David reached out a hand to his sleeping Sentinel, feeling the distress that was causing him to twist and turn in his sleep, fighting the demons that only he could see.  Gently, David touched the tense shoulder, then pulled back, unsure of Neds' reaction at being woken up suddenly.

A hand lashed out and caught his, an angry shout cut off halfway as the hard hand gentled into a softer hold.  "David?"

"Are you all right?"  He'd left the light off, not wanting to hurt his Sentinel's eyes, and the moonlight that was straggling through the curtain turned the room into a dim shadowland that could easily be viewed with Sentinel vision but was too dark for a Guide to see.

"Yes."

David could tell that that wasn't quite true, but it was far truer than it had been a few minutes ago.

"It was just -"  Neds broke off, rubbing his face, then pulled David closer.  "You were..." he sighed, a hint of frustration in the huff of breath, "...the hawk."

"I was a hawk?"

"No."  The hand tugged David down on to the bed and Neds' head rested on his shoulder, snuffling at his neck.

Tilting his head, David waited.  He could feel Neds' pain fading as he reassured himself that his Guide was safe.  Whatever his dream had been, David suspected that his own part in it had not been a good one.

"The hawk was there, again.  It wasn't attacking you just...leading something to you."  Neds straightened up and sat back, pulling David with him, so the Guide was half-lying against him.  One hand gently carded through David's hair.  "It's fading now, but there was danger."  His voice changed, "Lord, David, you're freezing!"

"Well, I got up in a hurry.  I could hear you."

The arm tightened as David went to move away, and Neds moved him slightly to throw back the covers.  "Get in.  I'm not having you freezing to death because of a stupid nightmare."

David complied, hiding his smile.  It wasn't just that he was cold, he knew that Neds needed the reassurance of having his Guide there, safe...from whatever had stalked him in Neds' dream.  Pulled and pushed until he was curled up on the other side of his Sentinel, protected on one side by the wall and on the other by Neds, the Guide yawned, then slid his feet against Neds' legs, heading for the warmth like a heat-seeking missile.

He got a half yelp, and the arm around him tightened then relaxed.  "Next time, David, warn me before you do that."

"Yes, Neds."  He grinned in the darkness.

"Now go to sleep."

"Yes, Neds."  Shutting his eyes obediently, David made a mental note to ask Neds about his nightmare in the morning.  After all, it might have been a vision.

~'~

Remaining in Cascade wasn't a problem for Smedley as his family owned a large townhouse there.  As he was not in the habit of frequenting police stations, he found it easy to avoid Clement and, even on the social circuit, he managed to keep a good distance between himself and the other Sentinel and Guide, although he did give in to the weakness of having a photograph taken of his future Guide.  He would have given anything to have a piece of David's clothing, saturated with his scent, but he decided that that was far too risky.

He could wait, he was patient, and sooner or later he would have David to himself.

In the meantime....

An introduction to Dexter Pierson's family was easily arranged and it wasn't long before he found himself meeting David's béte noire.

Manoeuvring Dexter into a private corner took a little more patience but he was, after all, a Sentinel, and it was not beyond the bounds of possibility that he wanted to get to know the Guide better with a view to bonding with him.  However, once away from prying ears, he made his first gambit.  "I believe you and I have an acquaintance in common, Dexter."

"I don't think so.  No one I know has mentioned you."

Smedley kept his feelings hidden.  The nouveau riche were frequently gauche.  "Don't you know David Sutherland?"  His smile grew as an alarmed look leapt into Pierson's eyes.

"Uh -"

"I believe he stole your Sentinel."  Smedley made sure to keep a sympathetic tone in his voice, although he knew that Clement would never have considered bonding with this Guide, assuming he had even considered Pierson a Guide - the boy's empathy was practically non-existent.

Pierson's body rhythms calmed; obviously he had no problem with playing the part of a wronged Guide.  "Yes, he did."

Resting one hand upon his shoulder, Smedley projected as much sympathy as he could at him, hoping Pierson would be able to pick up some echo of it, at least.  "You're very brave."  He smiled slightly, allowing his mouth to twist in a parody of grief.  "When I lost David, I... well, I didn't know what to do."

Pierson's mouth dropped open in a very unattractive way.  "You were supposed to bond with David?"

"He...found another Sentinel."

"Yeah, my Sentinel!"

"Well, as I said...you're very brave, Dexter."  He gave the shoulder under his hand a slight squeeze, then sauntered away, pleased with the beginning he'd made.

~'~

David glared at his Sentinel from across the table, much to Edwards' amusement.  David just didn't have it in him to look menacing, although he was giving it his best shot.

"Neds, that's the third nightmare you've had this week!"  The glare was turned on full-force as David added, "You should talk to Sentinel Ellison - or see Doctor Harvey!"

Edwards kept his smile off his face; David was not in the mood to be laughed at.

"And if you won't tell them, I will!"

His amusement vanished.  Edwards was not having his Guide discussing him with other Sentinels.  "David!"

"I'm serious."  David raised his head defiantly.  "You need to talk about this, and if you won't talk to me -"

"I don't remember the dreams!"

"Then you should talk to Sentinel Ellison.  Tell him what you do remember."

Edwards sighed as David put his plate into the sink, then got up when he noticed how David's hands were trembling.  Wrapping his arms around his Guide, the Sentinel rested his chin on top of David's head.  "I'll talk to him."

Instantly, David twisted in his arms to hug him in return.  "Thank you."

~'~

David paused on the steps of Hargrove Hall and waved to his Sentinel, then shook his head as the car engine remained silent until he was actually inside the building.  Whatever Ned's dreams were, they were driving him to become ever more possessive and protective.  David was surprised he was being allowed to go to his art class.

Talking it out with the Senior Sentinel Prime should help though...he hoped.  If this kept up, he could see Neds not only insisting that they slept in the same room, but also refusing to allow him to attend Rainier alone.  He paused as a familiar figure caught his eye, then pulled a face as he recognised the pair.  Why was he not surprised?

"Sentinel Pais, Karl."

The pair of them murmured a greeting, then fell into step behind him.  David felt his face redden as he led the way to his classroom and made his way towards his usual easel.

"Guide Prime?"

"Yes, Sentinel Pais?"

"We'd prefer it if you'd use this easel today."  Her hand indicated an easel set at the back, with lots of space between it and its neighbours.

"Fine."  David sighed.  Please God talking to Sentinel Ellison would help.

~'~

"Good morning, Dexter."

"Hi."  While Dexter had met Smedley a few times at various parties, this was the first time they'd arranged to meet on purpose.  He really didn't know what the guy wanted.  After that first time, he'd started to wonder if the Sentinel was interested in bonding with him, but he'd never so much as dropped a hint of that.  In fact, most of their conversations seemed to revolve around Sutherland and the Sentinel Prime.

Dexter scowled.  It still pissed him off that Sutherland had ended up bonded to Edwards.  It wasn't even like Sutherland had any ambition!

"Would you like something to drink?"

Almost startled, he looked up.  "No, I got some coffee just before."

"Very well."

Dexter waited while Smedley ordered an espresso for himself, his mind returning to Sutherland's sneakiness in stealing Dexter's Sentinel.  If he was honest with himself, he didn't even know how Sutherland had done it - but he knew it had been in an underhanded way!

"And how are you, Dexter?"

"I'm fine."  There was a pause, and Dexter wondered if Smedley was waiting for him to expand on his answer, but finally the Sentinel sighed slightly and smiled.

"You're hiding your pain well, you know.  I'm very impressed."  A familiar sad, sympathetic look settled on Smedley's face as he gazed at him.

"Oh...thanks."

"I know this isn't easy for you."

Well, Smedley had that right.  Knowing that Sutherland was walking around, a bonded Guide - the Guide Prime, no less - while Dexter had been tossed out of Guide School, was infuriating.  "No.  It's not!"  Dexter continued, talking over the Sentinel, "It really annoys me, ya know?  What did Sutherland do to catch the Sentinel Prime?  You're a Sentinel, you tell me!"

"Well...I wasn't there, Dexter.  If I had been, I would have bonded with David myself, and left the Sentinel Prime to you."

"It's a pity you weren't!" Dexter snapped.  "It's a pity you...hey!  Can't you challenge Edwards?  You bond with David, then I'll bond with the Sentinel Prime."  He smiled at the thought.  With David out of the way, he'd be able to get Edwards to bond with him, he was sure of it.  And then...he'd be the Guide Prime of Cascade.

Smedley half-laughed, "That's a wonderful idea, Dexter, but Clement is an ex-Marine.  He knows how to kill people.  And I've never been interested in violence."

Dexter eyed the Sentinel in front of him.  "Yeah, he'd wipe the floor with you."  A ping of anger got his attention, and his eyes snapped up to meet Smedley's, only to find the Sentinel smiling.  He guessed he'd imagined that stab of fury.  It wasn't like he often picked up on other people's emotions as his barriers were very strong.

"He certainly would and I, naturally, would prefer him not to."

"Yeah, such a pity."  Dexter's mind returned to that thought.  It really was a pity.

"Well, I can't sit around chatting all day; I have fortunes to make."  Smedley threw a twenty dollar bill on the table.  "If you think of anything though, you know where I am."

"Think of anything?"  He felt confused.  Anything about what?

"What to do about Clement and David.  That is what you were talking about, wasn't it?"

Dexter frowned.  Well, it was...sort of.  But now that Smedley mentioned it....

"I'm sure I'll see you again soon, Dexter."

"Oh...yeah.  Seeya."  As Smedley left, Dexter leaned back in his chair.  Two Sentinels, two Guides.  There had to be a way to get Edwards to let David go.  After all, he'd be getting Dexter in exchange, and he was so much more suitable for the position of Guide Prime.

~'~

"Edwards."  Jim glanced up from his paperwork and acknowledged his second in command, then paused as the other Sentinel shifted from one foot to the other.  "Something wrong?"

He waited as Edwards took a breath, seemed about to speak, then shut his mouth.  Finally, "Nothing.  Sorry to have disturbed you."  He turned to leave.

"Wait up."  Jim got up.  "I need a break anyway.  Let's take this to the break room."

Seated in the corner in the deserted break room, it took Jim a few minutes to get Edwards to talk.

In the end, the other Sentinel admitted, "David wants me to talk to you."

That was a surprise.  Jim's eyebrows rose as he blew on his coffee.  "About what?"

There was a sigh, "I've been having dreams."

"Dream dreams or vision dreams?"

"Vision...nightmares."  Edwards shook his head, clearly uneasy with the subject.  "David...."

Jim nodded.  For some reason, the majority of Sentinels hated visions while Guides found them fascinating and could, and would, talk endlessly about them.  Jim really didn't know why the spirit world had to be so obscure.  Visions were comprised of symbolism upon symbolism, with all the players involved appearing as their own spirit guide - which was rather annoying if you needed to identify which animal was which human.  "What happens in them?"

Edwards ground his teeth.  "It starts with the hawk.  It's always the hawk."

"Is David the hawk?"  If that were true, it would surprise Jim.  David had never struck him as being particularly hawk-like.

"No.  The hawk is Pierson."

Jim rubbed his forehead.  This was why he hated visions.  "Who's Pierson?"

"That Guide I told you about, the one in Guide School."

"Oh, him!  Okay, so you're dreaming of Pierson?"

"Every time I see him, he's...leading something to David."

Jim considered asking what David's spirit guide was, then dismissed it.  It wasn't important.  "Leading what?"

"I don't know.  It's as if whatever's behind the hawk is hidden, out of view.  But each night... each vision, he's getting closer to David."  Edwards shook his head.  "David's safe - Sentinel Pais and Karl are looking after him right now.  I don't let him go anywhere alone.  I don't care if the threat's to me - I can take care of myself.  But I won't let him threaten my Guide!"

"No one's going to get to David, Edwards," Jim put in, calmly.  "He's the Guide Prime.  There's no Sentinel in the Clan who'd see harm come to him."

The smell of Edwards' anger lessened slightly.  "I know."

Jim thought it over.  "Pierson's the link - whatever this threat is, it's coming from him, or is connected to him.  It's simple then."  He waited until Edwards looked up, the haggard look in his eyes betraying the strain he was under.  "We have Pierson watched and find out who the real threat is."

Edwards sat back and closed his eyes for a moment.  "I...didn't think of that."

"You look tired."  Jim collected the cups and got up.  "My advice?  Collect your Guide and go home.  Until we know who's behind this, we can have a Sentinel and Guide keep watch on you both.  And if you're really worried, go stay at the Sentinel Suite.  There's no way anyone can get in there."

"I'd sooner go home," Edwards admitted.

"I don't blame you."  Jim didn't.  He knew how attached he was to his own territory, and he didn't have a Guide to defend.  Refusing to allow the thought to distract him, he added, "Lisa and Karl can take the first watch.  I'll draw up a roster and phone you to let you know who'll be taking their place."

"All right."  He stood up, then paused.  "Ellison, thanks."

"We'll find out who's behind it.  Now go get some rest; you look like you haven't slept for a week."

As soon as Edwards was gone, Jim returned to his desk and moved his police paperwork to one side.  While his work was important, a threat to the Sentinel and Guide Prime took precedence.

~'~

Smedley put the phone down and smiled.  What Pierson lacked in intelligence, he made up for in natural animalistic cunning.  He knew what he wanted, and now he was willing to work with Smedley to get what he wanted.

His smile widened as he considered the players in his little game.  Clement was such an honourable fool - he'd never be able to bring himself to flatline a Guide, even one like Pierson.  Smedley really thought that this plan had a chance of working.  Not that Pierson knew what he was letting himself in for, of course.

With David gone, the bond broken, and Clement's mind fuzzy with sedative, Clement would reach for his Guide, or the one he believed to be his Guide, and bond with him.  Once the initial shock had cleared and Clement found that he'd bonded to the wrong Guide, it would be too late.

He'd be faced with the choice of flatlining the Guide, flatlining himself, accepting the bond or killing himself to escape.  And while Clement would, naturally, be so self-sacrificingly heroic as to flatline himself, doctors were very reluctant to do so as it was extremely dangerous for a Sentinel.  Therefore, he'd have to accept the bond or die trying to escape it.

Smedley smiled.  Either of those options were very acceptable to him.

For a second, the thought flickered through his mind that Clement would be sure to kill himself if he believed that David was dead...but then he shook it off.  There was no need to complicate things, and Clement would probably kill himself anyway trying to break his bond with Dexter.

Feeling very much pleased with himself, he picked up the phone and dialled Miranda's number.  Once he was bonded with David, he'd never be able to take his Guide anywhere near her family as that would be sure to drive Clement to reclaim his Guide, no matter what the cost.  And, while Miranda was very suitable in every way to be Smedley's wife, she'd be far easier to replace than his Guide.

~'~

"Damn!"

Dexter looked up, surprised at Smedley's sudden bad mood.  He'd thought Smedley would be pleased at seeing him to make arrangements for ambushing Edwards and Sutherland.

A shiver of excitement ran down his spine at the thought.  This was a test, that's what it was.  A test to see if he was strong enough to fight for his place as Guide Prime.  And he was.

"Dexter."

"Huh?"

"I've found out that I need to leave town tomorrow afternoon."  Smedley smiled at him.  "Would you care to come with me?"

"Huh?" he repeated.  Leave town?  What about Edwards and Sutherland?

"It'll just be for a few days - a little vacation for you.  I have a private plane I like to fly.  If you like, I'll have my chauffeur pick you up just after lunch."

"Uh...okay."

"Good.  Well, I must fly, if you'll pardon the pun.  See you tomorrow, Dexter.  Don't forget now!"

Dexter frowned as Smedley strolled away, then shrugged.  Geeze, he was a weirdo.

~'~

"Cunningham!"

David watched as Neds paced up and down, his fury driving him.

"I might have guessed that rat-faced -"  He stopped and pointed at David.  "He's after my Guide, Ellison.  I don't know what he's doing, but he's after David!"

"He's not going to get David."  In a stark contrast, Sentinel Ellison's voice was calm.  "He'll have to go through the whole Clan to get to him - you know that."

"Why doesn't he challenge me himself then?" Neds demanded.  "If he's so interested in claiming my Guide, why hasn't he challenged me?"

David rolled his eyes.  Even he knew the answer to that one.

"Because there wouldn't be enough left of him for your cousin to bury," Sentinel Ellison retorted.

"And that's another thing!"  Neds stalked towards the phone.  "Why didn't Miranda tell me he was in Cascade?"  He grabbed the receiver and started dialling.

"Neds!"  David lunged towards the phone and put his hand down on the cradle.  "You can't phone Miranda and go accusing her - she would have told you if she'd known!"  From the look on Neds' face, he was longing to move David in order to make his phone call and relieve some of his tension by lambasting Miranda.

Finally, Neds sighed, and put the phone down, moving David's hand to do so, before wrapping his arms around David and holding him tightly.  "I know."

"Phone Aunt Tally," David suggested.  "If anyone knows anything, she will."

The arms tightened slightly as Neds spoke over his head to the Senior Sentinel Prime.  "Now you know why I bonded with him."

"Well, one of you had to have the brains in the partnership," Sentinel Ellison replied.

David hid his smile against Neds' shoulder.

~'~

Smedley glanced at his watch again, and paced up and down.  Where the hell was that wretched boy?  If Pierson screwed this up for him, he'd flatline him himself.

Reaching the antique bureau that stood by the window, he paused to look out into the street.  He couldn't see any Sentinels, but he was aware that they were watching him.  When he'd realised that Pierson was being followed, he'd had to think quickly, but the plan he'd come up with depended on Pierson turning up.

He didn't know how the Sentinel Clan had figured out that Pierson was meeting him, and it didn't really matter now, but he knew that they suspected something, although he was positive they couldn't know anything for sure.  What was it to them if he was meeting Pierson?  He was a Sentinel, Pierson was a Guide; it was entirely possible that he had decided to bond with the boy.  Not that he would waste his time on bonding with a weak empath like Pierson, of course - but they didn't know that.

For a few moments, he considered a delay in putting his plan into action, then he shook his head.  He needed Pierson to make this work - and who knew if Pierson would continue to be interested...continue to believe that it was possible?  No, far better to act now, before Pierson had time to think things over.  Not that the boy would get very far in thinking.

And, as an added bonus, if Clement were having him watched due to his overly-suspicious mind, pretending to leave town, especially with Pierson in tow, would lull him into a false sense of security.

Smedley smiled at the thought.  Perhaps this had worked out for the best after all.

~'~

Dexter slouched as he sat in the back of Smedley's limousine.  Christ, this guy was weird.  One minute he was intent on what they were going to do to get Sutherland out of Edwards' way, and the next he was planning a 'little vacation'.  Dexter sighed.  Maybe getting involved with Smedley wasn't such a good idea.

His thoughts turned back to the Sentinel Prime.  He was made to be the Guide Prime - so much more than that pathetic Sutherland.  God, that guy couldn't even go to a mixer without making a fool of himself!  And now he was Guide Prime?  Not if Dexter could help it.

He looked up as the car door opened and Smedley got in.

"There you are, Dexter.  I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

"Where are we going?"  Dexter had realised on the way to Smedley's house that he had no idea where they were supposed to be flying to.

"Just to the airfield, then for a quick flight."  Smedley patted him on the shoulder.  "Relax, Dexter.  Everything's under control."

~'~

Seated in the back of Sentinel Ellison's truck, his Sentinel beside him, David could feel his stomach churning with the tension in the air.  He was praying that Cunningham really would leave Cascade...maybe then Neds would calm down slightly.

"Neds!"  David waited until his Sentinel was looking at him, the hint of a glare in his eyes.  He knew it wasn't aimed at him - Neds was wound up over Cunningham, that was all.  "Relax.  I'm here, I'm safe.  If Cunningham's leaving Cascade, that's good, isn't it?  Even if he is taking Dexter with him."

Neds' arm tightened around him.  "I don't understand what he's up to.  If he's going to bond with Pierson, why break off his engagement to Miranda?"

"Aunt Tally said that he'd said it was because Miranda sided with your family over that dinner."

"I know that, David.  But then why didn't he break up with her that night or the next day?"

David shook his head.  He didn't understand it either.  But the fact remained that Cunningham was leaving Cascade, so surely that meant the threat from him would soon be gone?  Didn't it?  He sighed and leaned against Neds.  He could tell that neither of the two Sentinels believed that Cunningham was actually leaving town.

~'~

Smedley's limousine reached the airfield quickly, and they were in the air within twenty minutes, Dexter complaining every step of the way.  He really wasn't impressed by the size of the plane.  When Smedley had said he had a private plane, Dexter had assumed it was a jet but nothing could have been further from the truth.  He had no idea people owned planes this small.  And, to make it worse, there were no stewardesses on board - although Dexter thought that was probably because there was no room for them.

Lost in thought, it seemed to him that they'd only been flying for a few moments when he realised that the ground was getting closer.  "Hey, we're going down!"

"We certainly are, Dexter.  That's because we're landing."

Dexter peered out of the window.  "But there's nothing here!"

"I know."

The smug tone in Smedley's voice got Dexter worried, and he peered at the Sentinel nervously.

"There's no one to see us land, and there's no one to see my plane take off again."

"Huh?"  Dexter wished Smedley would speak plainly.  He couldn't understand the guy half the time.

"We'll be going back to Cascade in my limousine, Dexter, while my pilot flies the plane on."

Okay, Dexter understood that, but he didn't understand why.  And Smedley didn't seem to be in the mood to explain it.

~'~

As the plane disappeared into the distance, followed by more than one pair of Sentinel eyes, Edwards sighed.  Cunningham was gone.  He didn't know how long he was gone for, but at least, for now, he was out of Cascade and away from his Guide.

"We'll find out his flight plan," Ellison said.  "Make sure that we know where he is and what he's doing."

Edwards nodded, tightening his arm around David's shoulders.  It was all they could do.  At least if they knew where he was, they'd know when he was coming back to Cascade.  Edwards managed to stop himself from growling.  Even when he was a Marine, he'd hated playing the waiting game and, now that his Guide was on the line, so to speak, he liked it even less.  His fury rose.  If Cunningham wasn't such a snivelling coward, he'd challenge Edwards outright, instead of sneaking around in the background.

Looking down at his Guide, Edwards promised himself that if this didn't end soon, he'd go after Cunningham and put an end to the bastard himself.  Challenge or no challenge.

~'~

By the time they'd collected his car from the PD and got back to their apartment building, Edwards had a smile on his face.  With Cunningham out of the city, there was no need for a guard, no need to be on the alert.  They could, for a little while anyway, relax.

As they made their way to their apartment, he endured his Guide's incessant teasing for a while before finally caving.  "All right, David, I admit it, I do feel better about the whole thing now that we know that Cunningham's left Cascade."

"See?  I told you you'd feel better!"

Edwards was quite sure that David did not mean for his tone to be so triumphant, but it was worth it just to hear how much more confidence the kid had in himself.  The Guide Edwards had first met would never have dared to insist on anything.

Out of habit, he scanned the apartment before putting his key in the door, and the phrase 'quiet as the grave' flickered through his mind.  Even the traffic outside had stopped for once - although that was undoubtedly only temporary.

"Okay, you were right - and you told me so."  As he pushed open the door, Edwards grinned at David over his shoulder.  "Happy now?"

He got a wide grin in return.  "Ecstatic!"

David's grin was the last thing Edwards saw as the lights went out.

~'~

As Neds crumpled and fell, David automatically followed him down, grabbing desperately at Neds' jacket to save him from hitting the floor too hard.  "Neds!"  Polished black shoes got his attention and he stared up to find a Sentinel standing over him.  "Cunningham!"

"Hello, David."

Guide instincts forced him out of his shock and David surged to his feet, shoving the enemy Sentinel back.  "Get away from him!"

Taken by surprise, Cunningham stepped back but then came forward, grabbing for David's arms.  "Stop it, David.  I don't want to hurt you."  As Cunningham managed to wrap his arms tightly around him, he added, "Pierson!  Pull Clement in and shut the door."

David stared for a second as he saw the other Guide with a half-scared, half-triumphant look on his face, then he resumed his struggling.  He didn't know what they were planning on doing, but he had to protect Neds.

Dexter hurried past and David heard him grunt a few times, then, "He's too heavy."

"Hell!"  Cunningham's face contorted with fury as David continued fighting.  "David, stop it!"

With his arms trapped, David's options were limited, but he remembered a few things Ned had told him, and suddenly jammed his foot down on the Sentinel's instep.

The screech of pain told him that he'd hit home, and he twisted free.  For a second, hope surged in his heart - if he could get away, get to the phone, smash Cunningham over the head with something - then a hand yanked him back, spinning him to face the Sentinel, and a fist flew towards his face.

~'~

As David went down, Smedley cursed.  He hadn't wanted to hit the boy.  Taking a few breaths, he hurried over to Clement's body and dragged him forward out of the way of the door, hastily shutting it as soon as the feet were clear.  Thank God no one had passed while they were struggling.

Pierson had been worse than useless, but that didn't surprise Smedley.

He took a moment to straighten his tie and smooth his hair, before removing the vial and syringes from his pocket.  The drug would keep Clement out long enough for Smedley to get away and have David flatlined and revived, and when Clement came around he would be too confused to analyse what was going on.  That small but important point would work in Smedley's favour.

Kneeling beside Clement, he administered the injection, then moved over to where David lay and did the same thing.  He really would prefer David to stay unconscious until after he'd been revived - Smedley didn't want to frighten his Guide.

Once the pair of them were sedated, he beckoned Pierson over.  "Strip."

As Pierson began to remove his clothing, Smedley noticed that the boy's hands were trembling with nerves, and his dislike for the Guide surged to new heights.  Now was not the time to be nervous; if Pierson delayed him by fumbling with buttons and zips, he'd undress the boy himself.  He took a second to admire his own rock-steady hands before removing David's jacket.  Working in the Stock Exchange, one got used to pressure and you soon learned how to operate under it.  There was no room for anyone weak in the cutthroat world of high finance.

Once David was stripped to his underwear, Smedley dressed him in some of his own clothes.  He could have dressed him in Pierson's, but the idea of having that Guide's scent all over his own Guide was a repulsive one.  Finishing, he deposited David in a nearby armchair and turned to see how Pierson was doing.  "Good."  The boy was dressed although his hands were still unsteady.  "There's nothing to worry about, Dexter.  Everything will be fine."

"Nothing to worry about!" Pierson licked his lips, his voice unsteady.  "You're not the one who'll be here when he comes around."  His frantic gaze moved past Smedley and the smell of his fear grew sharper.  "He'll know - he'll realise.  And when he does, he'll kill me."

"No, he won't."  Smedley kept his voice firm.  "When he comes around he'll be too confused to realise that you're not David.  You smell of David - his scent is all over those clothes you're wearing.  With the bond broken, he'll panic.  His Guide's scent will be in front of him, and he'll bond with whoever bears that scent."

From the way Pierson was breathing, he didn't believe him.  "And what happens after he realises?  What happens then?"  His voice rose to a near shriek.

"Keep quiet!"  Smedley glanced over at the white noise generator.  Even with it on, there was no point in taking risks.  "By the time Clement realises, it'll be too late.  He'll be bonded to you and I'll be bonded to David."

Pierson glared at him.  "He'll break the bond - yours and mine!  He'll have me flatlined."

"You're a Guide, Dexter," Smedley said soothingly.  "He can't harm you."

In reply, Pierson pointed to David.  "He's a Guide and you're going to flatline him!  He'll flatline me - he'll kill me."  The scent of his fear grew ever more pungent.  "I shouldn't have done this, I shouldn't have got involved!"

Smedley swung around as Pierson rushed past him, his hands scrabbling at the door handle as Smedley fought to hold onto him.  "This was your idea, remember?"

"Well, I've changed my mind!"

He cursed mentally as the Guide began to struggle harder, his panic fuelling his attempts, and Smedley's hatred for the weak, pathetic creature in his arms grew.  Furiously, he slammed Pierson's head against the doorframe and caught the body as the boy slumped into unconsciousness.  Pierson was right, damn him.

The nebulous, niggling thoughts that he'd had since he first decided upon his course of action solidified into certainty.  Clement wouldn't believe it.  He'd know that this worthless creature was not his glorious Guide - he'd know and reject him and then...come searching for his own.

Calm filled Smedley as he finally faced the truth he'd been hiding from.  The only way for him to succeed was for Clement to die.  Suicide.  Suicide because he believed that his own Guide was dead.  Smedley had been right in the first place.

His gaze dropped to the weak empath in his arms.  Pierson wasn't really a Guide, not really.  He'd only been accepted into Guide School because of his family's wealth - his talents would never have got him there.

Smedley's mouth twisted.  Why couldn't Clement have bonded with Pierson?  It was really too bad of them all to put him in this position, forcing him to do what had to be done.

Well, he was a Cunningham.  Cunninghams throughout history were always able to seize the moment, and he was not going to let his bloodline down.

Refusing to think about the actions he had to perform in the next few minutes, he calmly carried Pierson into the sitting room and laid him on the floor, before gathering up the boy's abandoned clothing and depositing it in one of the bedrooms.  Returning, he grabbed Clement under the armpits and dragged him through, cursing the ex-Marine silently for the solid weight of muscle that was making it so awkward to manoeuvre him.

He dumped Clement next to Pierson and stopped to consider.  If he knew where Clement kept his gun, that would work - and it would mean that the weapon would be lying handy for when Clement, in grief and fury, took his own life.

Now, how to find it?  He looked around vaguely, then stopped.  Scent, of course.  Was he or was he not a Sentinel?  Smirking at his own cleverness, Smedley sniffed.  He had no idea what gun oil actually smelt like but he assumed it would smell vaguely oil-like.  Ah!  Following the faint aroma, although he considered distastefully that he probably looked like a bloodhound sniffing the air, he moved around then zeroed in on Clement's body.

Of course - the police officer would be wearing his gun.  Recalling details from a detective show he'd once seen part of, he rolled Clement onto his back and checked under his jacket.  Yes, he was right, there it was; a shoulder holster.

As he reached for the gun, he paused: fingerprints.  For a moment, he berated himself for not remembering such an important detail but then he stopped.  He was a Cunningham.  Naturally, he was not used to having to consider such matters as fingerprints.  And if it wasn't for Clement's stubborn bullheadedness, he thought, with a flash of fury, he would not be forced into the position of having to consider them now!

Calming himself, he pulled out his handkerchief and gripped the butt of the gun and tugged.  It refused to budge.  He ground his teeth with frustration as he struggled with the holster.  How on earth did these police officers get their guns out when they needed them in a hurry?  It was no surprise that crime was rife - the criminals probably knew they'd be long gone by the time the police got their guns in their hands.  He had a good mind to complain to the Commissioner about it the next time he saw him at the club.

Finally, Smedley got the gun free and he sat back, panting a little.  Trust Clement to make things as awkward as possible.

With the gun in his hand, his handkerchief between it and his grip, securely preventing any fingerprints from betraying him, he turned his gaze upon the other body.  Fury filled him again.  It was not his fault that he'd been driven to this!  If he'd met David first...if Clement had bonded with - with....

It was not his fault.

Smedley aimed the gun at the back of the body's head, then stopped.  He'd almost forgotten about the noise of the gunshot.  What did criminals do?  Glaring at the gun, he thought that he might have realised that Clement wouldn't have a silencer.  Ah!  He knew.

Still on his knees, he scrambled across to the couch and grabbed one of the cushions.  This always worked in the movies and it would have to do, as he really didn't have time to go out and buy a silencer.  His breathing calmed as he covered the back of Pi - the body's head with the cushion.  There, it wasn't so bad.  He was just firing a bullet into a cushion, that was all.

He thumbed off the safety catch, then hastily wiped at it with a corner of his handkerchief, cursing himself for his stupidity.  He couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

All he had to do was pull the trigger.  That was all.  One simple movement of muscles and tendons, and this would be over.  Turning his head, Smedley glanced over at David.  This was worth it, for his Guide's sake.

Steeling his resolve, he pulled the trigger firmly.

Instantly, the stench of blood filled the air and Smedley recoiled, gulping down his urge to vomit.  It really was too bad of Clement to force him to such lengths.

Standing, he threw the cushion back on the couch, then bent and slid the gun into Clement's hand.  There, all done.  He moved over to David's chair, and looked around to make sure that he hadn't forgotten anything.  The white noise generator.  He had to take that with him.

Stepping carefully to avoid the pool of blood, he picked up the small machine and turned it off before pushing it into his pocket.  It would ruin the line of his suit, but he wasn't expecting to meet anyone who could judge him sartorially, so that wouldn't matter.

Turning to head back towards the door, he paused, fascinated by the slow, gradual movement of the blood.  It looked almost like a living thing as it spread out from the body, reaching across the polished floor towards Clement.  It touched the lax hand and moved across the gun, as if seeking to cover the cause of its release from its bodily imprisonment.  So much blood.

Smedley's gaze moved slowly to the source of it all.  He'd never really considered blood before, and now, he was watching as Pier -

His mouth twisted and his gag reflex took over.  Hastily, he grabbed the wastepaper bin and held on with trembling hands as his stomach voided itself.  Straightening, he wiped his mouth quickly with his handkerchief, keeping his eyes averted from the dark red pool that still moved sluggishly.

Looking down, he realised that he couldn't carry the bin and David through the building.  While his Sentinel hearing would enable him to avoid anyone on the way out, even the dullest of noses could pick up the stench of vomit.  Hurriedly looking around, he found his way to the bathroom and emptied the bin down the toilet, panic nibbling at the edges of his mind as he flushed, then flushed again, using the time between flushes to rinse out the bin.  This delay was dangerous; he needed to be gone, to get David safely away to his house.

Finally, the bin looked vaguely clean, and he took it with him.  It would be awkward to carry both David and the bin, but he could dump it once he was outside.

Hurrying back into the sitting room, he hauled David over his shoulder and listened carefully at the door before pulling it open and slipping out.  The door snicked quietly shut behind him, and he sighed.  It was done.  All he had to do was get David back to his own home and have the doctor he'd hired flatline his Guide.

~'~

Jim turned off his ignition and leaned his head against his headrest, feeling the tension seep from his body as he watched Edwards and David leave.  Like Edwards, he had no idea what Cunningham was up to, but at least he was out of the city for now.  Hopefully, he'd given up on his idea of claiming David.

He shook his head.  If he were so lucky as to find his Guide, he had no doubt he'd be willing to fight for him, but this sneaking around was beyond him.  If Cunningham were really interested in bonding with David, he'd challenge Edwards and have done with it.  Of course, he also had to know that he had no chance of beating Edwards in a fair fight.  A smile tugged at Jim's mouth as he considered that fight.  Edwards would wipe the floor with him in five seconds flat.

Getting out of his truck, he headed for the elevator, fully intending to get back to his desk and get some work done before his long-suffering captain put out an APB on him.  Simon was as patient as he could be where all things Sentinel were concerned, but he had his limits.

The elevator doors had just begun to close when he heard a shouted, "Jim!"

He hastily hit the 'open doors' button and waited until Henri, another shining light in Major Crime, came diving in.

"Thanks for waiting, babe," Henri panted, leaning his hand against the side of the elevator.  "I'm late as it is, and I didn't want to have to wait for this thing to come down again!"

Jim grinned.  "You could have run up the stairs, H.  I bet you would've made it before me then."

"Uh, yeah, man.  Sure."  The look Henri threw him said it all.  "A supersonic jet, that's me."

"Faster than a speeding bullet," Jim retorted.

Fortunately for both of them, Simon was out of his office and so missed seeing the pair of them sneak in late.

Leaving Henri to get on with tormenting his partner, Jim picked up one of his files and got stuck into his paperwork.  He had no idea why bureaucrats needed him to file report after report but the sooner he got it done the better.

As he worked, he became aware of something niggling at the back of his mind.  Something he'd heard, something he'd seen was important, although he hadn't realised it at the time.  Frowning, he shoved the thought away.  If it was important it would come back to him.  In the meantime....

Fifteen minutes later, he gave up working on the paperwork and ran through the morning's events in his mind.  It wasn't until he mentally reached the elevator that he got something.  Henri.  Something H. had said.  "I didn't want to have to wait for this thing to come down again."

Jim shook his head.  Why was that niggling at him?  Down.  Gradually, the nebulous thought took shape: what goes up, must come down.  The unease he'd been feeling spread, leaving a cold lump in the bottom of his stomach, and he shoved his chair away from his desk with a curse.

Just because Cunningham went up in the plane, didn't mean the plane stayed up.  There were plenty of fields between Cascade and Illinois where a plane could land and its passengers disembark.

~'~

Jim didn't think he'd ever be able to forget the sight that greeted him as he and several of his Clan burst through Edwards' front door.

The Guide Prime was dead; his blood spread out around him like a blanket.

"Dear God!" Doctor Harvey exclaimed, for once shaken out of her usual calm.

Jim glanced at her.  "God had nothing to do with this."  It was Cunningham, he was sure of it, although he couldn't understand why.

Edwards was still unconscious, and Jim was thankful for that.  If he'd come around with his gun in his hand, David's blood on his hands, and David dead on the floor, he would have killed himself without a doubt.

Bending, Jim removed the gun first, wrapping his handkerchief around it.  That would have to do until they got Forensics in here to examine the scene.  He laid the gun on the table, and turned his attention back to Edwards.  "Niven, Collins!  Help me here."

Between them, the three of them got him into David's bedroom and onto the bed.  Leaving Doctor Harvey and her Guide to clean Edwards up, Jim returned to the sitting room, his stomach turning over once more at the sight of the dead Guide on the floor.  What the hell had happened here?  Why had Cunningham snapped and killed David?  It didn't make any sense.

"Senior Sentinel Prime."

He looked up, dragging his eyes away from David's body.  "Yes, Sentinel Pais?"

Her eyes resolutely held his gaze and Jim knew why.  "The Sentinel Prime's bedroom window was forced open, and someone was sick in the bathroom."

Following her through the apartment, Jim sniffed cautiously.  The smell of blood had permeated the air, but it was fainter here allowing the scent of vomit to be picked up.  Jim didn't blame Cunningham for throwing up at the sight of the dead Guide, but why, if he was the one who'd killed him, would he be so upset at the sight?  Unless...  "He must have brought Pierson with him."

"Pierson?  You think Cunningham did this?"  Pais looked confused.  "I thought he wanted to bond with the Guide Prime?"

"He did."  Jim scowled, turning to glare at the door that blocked his view of the body.  "I don't understand why he'd do this - or why he'd...."

"Senior Sentinel Prime?"  Karl's hand ghosted across his arm.

Jim moved away as Pais' hand latched onto her Guide's shoulder.  "Pierson."  The image of the weak empath came to his mind's eye and he swung around to face the bonded Sentinel.  "It's not David!"  Stalking back into the sitting room, he bent over the body, moving to see the face, then recoiled sharply.  Cunningham was smarter than he'd thought; obviously the exit wound would be larger.

Looking up to where Pais and her Guide were standing, identical confused looks on their faces, he demanded, "Can you filter out the scent of blood?"

The Sentinel blinked at him, plainly not understanding.  "Uh...yes."

"Scent him."

Shock flitted across her face before her professional mask slid back into place.  "Yes, sir."

Jim moved back, away from the sight of the shattered face, and waited, willing himself not to zone on the overpowering smell of blood.  At least if Pais zoned in the attempt, her Guide would be able to bring her out of it.

She zoned briefly, Karl moving to bring her back before she sank too deeply, then gritted her teeth and tried again.  A few moments later, she stared in shock at Jim before blurting out, "It isn't David!"

"I didn't think so; it's Dexter Pierson.  Niven!"  Jim all but ran to the front door where Tina was hiding, her scent filled with distress.  "Find out what properties Cunningham owns in Cascade.  We'll try his home first but in case they're not there, we need to know where else he can go."  Leaving them, he made his way back to the bedroom where Edwards was.  At least he had good news to tell the Sentinel Prime - assuming he'd stay alive long enough to hear it.

~'~

A gentle slapping on his face and the ache in his head brought him back to consciousness, the darkness sliding away, leaving him to float towards the surface and the familiar scent that was there.

'David.'  Edwards inhaled, then his eyes flew open as the emptiness within him registered and his senses began to spiral out of control.  His hands instinctively reached for what he could smell, but there was no Guide to be bonded with, instead David's pillow was there, the precious scent faint but present as it brought his senses back into line.  "David!"

Fighting against Ellison and Collins, he tried to get up.  Unfamiliar panic filled his mind as he recognised the stench of blood in the air.  His Guide was dead.

"Edwards!"

He continued fighting, trying to wrench himself free as he ignored Ellison's shouting.  With his Guide dead, there was no need for him to live.

"David's alive!  Cunningham's kidnapped him."

The Sentinel within him screamed its fury.  His Guide was gone and now he needed to get away; he had to escape in order to rejoin his Guide.

"Pierson's dead.  Listen to me!"

Clothes that reeked of Pierson's scent were thrust into his face and he recoiled.

"Pierson was here and Cunningham killed him.  He kidnapped David!"

Hope filtered through his desperation, and the dull throb in his head registered at last.  He'd been hit.  Jumbled thoughts flitted across his mind as he tried to make sense of what he could, and couldn't, feel.  The bond was gone...but he'd been hit...attacked.  Who else but Cunningham and why else but David?

"David needs you."

The thoughts stopped swirling as the Sentinel within him calmed; cold fury and hard determination taking the place of grief.

Ellison's gaze was intent as he insisted, "Cunningham has him; he must have flatlined him to break the bond."

Now that he wasn't fighting, the hands were gentler, less confining...more comforting, and his sudden lunge upwards from the bed gained him his freedom.  Pushing Ellison back, he snarled, "I'll kill the son of a bitch!"

~'~

Smedley smiled as the doctor left the room.  His Guide was going to be fine.  His heart, as evidenced by the beeping of the monitor - even if Smedley hadn't been able to hear it for himself - was beating steadily and soon, very soon, David would wake and then they would bond.

Leaning over the gurney, he gloried in the sight.  If he ignored the I.V. in David's arm and the medical paraphernalia that surrounded them, he could almost believe that his Guide was sleeping peacefully, instead of having recently been revived from the dead.

He frowned.  It should not have been necessary to flatline his Guide; Clement had a lot to answer for, forcing such distasteful acts upon Smedley.  However, that really didn't matter now.  Clement was dead by his own hand, or would be shortly, and David would soon be awake and ready for his new bonding.

Smedley's breath caught in his throat as the dark eyelashes fluttered slightly and David's heart sped up.  His Guide was waking.

~'~

A slow, rhythmic beeping was the first thing to impinge upon his consciousness.  It called to him, leading him up through the layers of darkness to a place where his mind could start to function once more.

Pain was next.  His chest felt tight, as if he'd had the flu, and his head was aching.  A small pricking feeling in his hand added a strange counterpoint to the sensations that were forcing back the dull lethargy that filled him.

"David?"

He frowned.  That wasn't Neds' voice.

Then, like a wave crashing across rocks, the echoing emptiness within his mind hit him.

The beeping in the background went crazy and his eyes flew open as he panicked.  He couldn't see Neds, he couldn't feel Neds; the bond was gone.  Crying out with shock and pain, he tried to sit up, to look, to find - anything.  Neds wouldn't leave him, Neds wouldn't abandon him -

Strong hands held him down.  "It's all right, David.  You're safe."

'Cunningham.'  "Neds!"

"Shhh.  It's all right, you're safe."

Ignoring the assurances, he wailed again, calling for his own Sentinel.  Desperately, he looked around, his eyes seeing but not comprehending the medical equipment around him.  No Neds, just Cunningham.  Memories flooded back: Cunningham and Dexter in their apartment; Neds on the floor...and David grasped at the realisation of what they had done.

Fury filled him, overriding the physical sensations of loss and pain, and he pushed his way up, rolling from the surface beneath him, screaming his anguish at the death of his Sentinel.

As something ripped its way free of his hand, he used the sharp stinging to urge himself on, flailing his arms at the Sentinel who was trying to control him.  Cunningham had killed Neds, had destroyed his Sentinel.  Anything less than the death of Neds' murderer was unacceptable.

He struck out, wrenching himself free from whatever was trying to hold him back, and took a sharp pleasure as the frantic beeping changed into a long wail of alarm.  Even the universe was grieving for his Sentinel.

"David, stop it!"

Blinded by the tears that filled his eyes, he forced himself on; hitting, striking, flailing.  Cunningham's hands grabbed at his arms, but the power of his grief gave him strength and he fought back.  Other hands joined in the fight, and pulled him backwards against the gurney, its cold edge pressing into his back, allowing Cunningham to gain the upper hand.  But his defeat was brief as the hands on his shoulders disappeared and he threw himself forward once more.

Cunningham fell, and David followed him down, striking viciously at the hated face that had destroyed the best thing, the only thing, in his life.  He, who had never hurt another living thing, would kill this destroyer, would avenge his Sentinel.  Even as he took delight in harming, in hurting, even as he screamed aloud in pain and fury, his heart wept within him for his loss.  Let the world end now taking him with it; without Neds, without his Sentinel, his life was worthless.

Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him back from the evil before him.  Screaming his rage, he tried to fight his way free, but the arms were stronger even than his grief, and he was trapped.  As he twisted to face his new attacker, still caught in the cage of arms that surrounded him, he bucked and fought, then wailed.  Even his revenge was to be denied him.

The arms tightened, and rocked him, trying to soothe him, but David rejected their comfort.  His Sentinel was dead and there could be no peace in this life for him.

A hand on the back of his head pressed his face into a warm shoulder, and he drew a shuddering breath then stopped, not believing the scent that filled his nose and mouth.  It was a trick, it was false, it was impossible.  Blinking his gaze free of the blindness of tears, he stared up into Neds' face.

"It's all right, David.  It's all right."

The hand pressed his face against the shoulder again, and he leaned in willingly, pulling one arm free to wrap it around his Sentinel's neck as his body convulsed with the sobs that were still shaking him.

Dazedly, he realised that he must be dead.  Neds was dead, but Neds was here, so he must be dead too.  Smiling into the shoulder that cradled his head, he knew that he didn't care.  What did death matter as long as he could be with his Sentinel?

~'~

As David calmed in his arms, and clung to him instead of fighting to be free, Edwards smiled.  Then, as the feel of clammy flesh registered on his consciousness, his smile disappeared as he realised that his Guide was dressed only in a pair of sweatpants, Cunningham's sweatpants.  Stripping off his jacket, he wrapped it around David as best he could; the garment serving the threefold purpose of shielding his Guide from other Sentinels' gazes, masking the alien scent that was contaminating him, and calming Edwards slightly as his and David's own scents mixed once more.

When he'd burst through the doors to find his Guide being attacked by both Cunningham and one of Cunningham's sycophants, the smell of David's blood in the air, he'd almost lost his mind.  Now, the sycophant lay unconscious on the other side of that damned gurney while Cunningham, Edwards' eyes narrowed as he stared at his Guide's attacker, was trying to get to his feet.

David had certainly done a good job of defending himself against his assailant.  The Sentinel's face was bloody and dark bruises were already beginning to show.

The relentless wailing of the heart monitor finally stopped as someone unplugged the damn thing, and Edwards smiled even more as he watched Cunningham trying to gather his wits.  Edwards would kill the destroyer of his bond, then reclaim David but, for now, he looked down at his Guide, he needed to hand David over to Ellison to be shielded.  With their bond destroyed, his Guide's mind was open and vulnerable.

Raising his eyes, his gaze met the Senior Sentinel Prime's.  Ellison would protect, but not claim; he knew that David was not his Guide.  A nod from Ellison showed that he understood, and Edwards dipped his head to speak quietly into the ear beneath his chin.

"David, I need to hand you over to the Senior Sentinel Prime.  He'll shield you."

The arm around his neck tightened, and the head shook frantically.  "No, please, no."

Ignoring the repeated denial, Edwards spoke again.  "He'll shield you while I deal with Cunningham.  I have to do this, David."

"No, Neds, please."  David's arm clung to his neck while his other hand scrabbled to find a solid handhold, the distress in his scent growing.

"It's only for a little while."  Edwards ground his teeth together.  At no point did he want to hand David over to any other Sentinel, but he had to.  Cunningham could not be allowed to leave the room alive.  "He'll shield you; keep you safe.  Then we'll leave and I'll reclaim you."

The frantic clinging faltered.  "You won't leave me?"

"Of course I won't leave you - you're my Guide, David.  No one but me will ever claim you."

He got a halting breath in reply, then a desperate whispered, "Promise?"

"I promise."  He unwound the arm from around his neck, and took a moment to wrap David up in his jacket properly before allowing Ellison to take him.  "David," he waited until the haunted eyes met his, "I always keep my promises."

Even to Sentinel ears, the reply was barely audible, "I know."

Edwards found it hard to stop himself from growling as his Senior Prime wrapped his arms around his Guide.  Even though he knew that Ellison was merely protecting David, it was still hard to see.  Resolutely, he turned from the sight to face Cunningham.

The other Sentinel had remained silent, and Edwards suspected that Cunningham was still rather dazed, not only by the rapid turn of events but also by David's attack.  Who'd have thought that his shy, unconfident Guide had that amount of anger in him?

He waited as Cunningham, on his feet and getting steadier by the moment, blinked to clear his gaze, then raised a hand to wipe away the trickling blood.

As soon as Cunningham's confusion seemed to clear, Edwards spoke.  "I should let them jail you for Pierson's murder."

Shock, as though the other Sentinel had forgotten about the other Guide, filled Cunningham's face.

"But I won't."  Edwards smiled.  This would end now.  He would not, could not have his Guide kidnapped, killed and revived, and not take action against the Sentinel who had done these things.

"I -"

"You'll die."  Edwards moved closer.  Sooner or later, Cunningham would attack, and Edwards wanted him to.  Wanted him to try for the first blow.  Wanted it to be a fight as opposed to the putting down of a rabid dog.

Cunningham's eyes skittered about.  If he was looking for mercy from the assembled Clan members, he would not find it.  David was their Guide Prime and this attack affected them all.

"I just did what I had to!"  His gaze moved to beyond Edwards, to where David was, then, as Edwards took a step to the side to block that view, he looked back at Edwards.  "He's my Guide!"

Edwards growled.

"He's my Guide and I claim him!"

Cunningham lunged forward, but Edwards was ready and his fist lashed out, aiming, not for the face, but for Cunningham's throat.

The force of the blow threw Cunningham backwards, and he landed on his back, then rolled to his side before realising what damage had been done.  Still down, his hands scrabbled at his throat as he tried to draw breath through his crushed windpipe.

Edwards waited impassively as Cunningham fought to breathe; the body flailing around, fighting the suffocation that was killing it.  He didn't move until the death rattle was silenced and the body lay still.

Taking a breath, Edwards forced down the Sentinel within him who was screaming to tear apart the body and obliterate any evidence of Cunningham's existence.  Cunningham was dead, that was all he needed to know.  Turning, he faced his Senior Prime.  "My Guide, Ellison."

Ellison's voice was quiet, there was no challenge to be found.  "Your Guide, Edwards.  Claimed and marked."

~'~

David sighed with relief as Neds wrapped his arms around him again.  He was safe now.  Leaning his head against his Sentinel's shoulder, he let his eyes slide closed, trusting to Neds to direct him as he stumbled forward; the arm around his waist the only thing that was keeping him on his feet.

"Where the hell are your shoes?"

He glanced up into Neds' face, then shut his eyes again.  He was dead; he didn't need shoes.

Neds obviously thought he did, as he swung David up into his arms and carried him.  Doors opened and closed, footsteps sounded, but David didn't open his eyes again until he felt fresh air on his face.

"Truck."

There was a few seconds' pause then Neds replied, "Yes, that's the Senior Sentinel Prime's truck and he's taking us to the Sentinel Suite."

"Okay."  David really couldn't work out how Sentinel Ellison was going to take them to the Sentinel Suite, or why.  Or even why the rest of the Clan seemed to be aware of them.  Maybe Sentinels could see ghosts, some people had speculated that they could although David couldn't remember who or when he'd heard it.  He shrugged and smiled, tightening his arms around Neds' neck as he was manoeuvred into the truck.  It didn't matter; none of it mattered now.

"It's all right, David.  We'll be at the Sentinel Suite soon."

"Okay."  That was another puzzling thing, David mused, vaguely aware of the truck starting.  Why weren't they going home?  Surely if they were going to haunt any place, it would be their apartment.  He would have liked to ask Neds, but that involved too many words for him to deal with right now.  Sighing, he rubbed his face against Neds' shoulder, and let the world slide away from him.

~'~

"How's he doing?"  Ellison's eyes met his briefly in the rear-view mirror.

Edwards shrugged slightly.  "He'll be fine."  David would be fine, Edwards knew that, but this prolonged silence with a few, small, short words was not like his Guide at all.  However, after everything that had happened, shock was only to be expected.  "Doctor Harvey can look him over once we're there."  That wasn't what he wanted, if he was honest with himself.  It had been hard enough to hand David over to Ellison temporarily; having another Sentinel poking and prodding David - even for medical reasons - was not to his liking.  However, David's hand needed looking at too.  The site where the I.V. had been was torn, although the bleeding had stopped quickly.

"She and Jon are right behind us."

"Good."  Edwards didn't need to look out of the rear window to know that the rest of the Clan was following them to the Sentinel Suite.  The place was going to be crowded for a while.

~'~

A stinging in his hand woke David and he tried to pull his hand free from the grip that was holding it.

"It's all right, David.  Let Doctor Harvey see to your hand."

'Neds.'  David smiled contentedly.

"I'm almost done, Guide Prime."

'Doctor Harvey?'  Confused, David opened his eyes to find the Sentinel Doctor smiling kindly at him.

"There.  All done now."

She let go of his hand and David raised it to his face to examine it.  He could smell antiseptic, and a small butterfly bandage was covering a tear in his skin.

"Thank you, Doctor Harvey."

"It was my pleasure, Sentinel Prime.  As I said, he'll be fine.  He just needs to bond and then rest; but you don't need me to tell you that.  Jon."

A door shut and David frowned.  Things really were getting rather confusing.  He was dead; he didn't need antiseptic on his hand - or a butterfly bandage either.

"David?"

Bonding on the other hand....

David raised his head, smiling at his Sentinel, before he let his head fall back to expose his throat.

The arms around him tightened as Neds growled against his neck.  Then he was pushed flat on the bed, his Sentinel leaning over him.

He grinned and invitingly tilted his head back again.  A sharp nip to his throat made him smile even more, then he sighed with relief as his Sentinel pushed forward demandingly into his mind, almost aggressively storming into every corner of his psyche to reclaim him.  The bond clicked back into place as if it had never been missing, and Neds raised his head to stare down at him.

"Claimed and marked, Guide."

Even if David had been tempted to refuse, the tone warned him that his Sentinel would countenance no defiance.  Instead, he basked happily in the warmth of their bond as he replied, "Claimed and marked, Sentinel."

~'~

As David stirred next to him, Edwards woke, his arm automatically tightening to hold his Guide in place.

"Neds?"

"Go back to sleep, David.  It's still early."

Shock reached him through the bond and he opened his eyes as David twisted to face him, confusion on his face.

"What's wrong?"  There was silence for a few seconds, so he prompted him, "David?"

Green eyes met his, puzzlement in their depths.  "Are we alive?"

Edwards frowned, his concern growing.  He'd assumed that David would be fine after a good night's sleep.  "Why wouldn't we be alive, David?"

"I...guess we are then."  David buried his face in Edwards' shoulder and a muffled, "Night, Neds," reached him.

"David?"  Gently, he pushed his Guide back so that he could see his face.  David wasn't distressed; he seemed embarrassed.

Finally, David sighed and admitted, "I thought you were dead.  So when you turned up to save me, I was I was dead too.  Pretty stupid, huh?"

Edwards smiled, his relief at David's well-being too great to allow any other emotion in.  "I thought you were dead when I came around and couldn't feel the bond."

Shock, then concern settled on David's face.  "What happened?"

"Ellison knew that you weren't," Edwards replied carefully.  There was no way that he wanted to tell his Guide about Dexter Pierson's dead body in their sitting room.  Hopefully, David would just accept that his being kidnapped from the apartment was enough to make his Sentinel insist on moving to a new place.  Edwards had to admit that that reason alone would be enough.

David looked relieved.  "I'm glad he was there."

"Me too," Edwards replied quietly, forcing down the spurt of jealousy.  David had merely been concerned for him.  "Now go to sleep.  It's practically the middle of the night."

"Okay."  Wrapping one arm around Edwards, David settled back down.

Soon, his regular breathing and slowed heartbeat told Edwards that he was asleep.  Edwards smiled as he lay back and relaxed.  His Guide was safe now...and Cunningham could never threaten them again.

~'~

Two years later

Edwards glared in the mirror as he fixed his bowtie.  He really didn't see why they had to go to this...farce of a Gathering that no one in the Clan was happy about.  The Senior Sentinel Prime had claimed a prior engagement, so why the Sentinel and Guide Prime couldn't do the same thing was beyond him.  Then again, it really would be too obvious if all the senior ranking Sentinels avoided meeting the future Senior Guide Prime.

"You know, I've never seen a bowtie tied so...sternly before."

Edwards' eyes met David's.

"It must be a military bowtie."  He grinned suddenly.  "Does it get court-martialled if it comes untied?"

Scowling at the offending tie, Edwards tied it again.  "I really don't see why we have to waste an evening on this."

"I know, I know.  And Sentinel Ellison won't even be there."  David looked sad.  "Couldn't you talk to him again?"

"He won't listen, David.  I've talked, Niven's talked...everyone in the Clan has talked to him.  He's determined that since he can't find his own Guide, he'll accept this one his father's found."

"But he doesn't even want to spend the evening with him!" David pointed out.

"I know."  Edwards shrugged.  Personally, he thought that Ellison was heading for disaster, but the man's stubborn streak had surfaced.  Edwards hoped he was spending this weekend thinking things over and that he'd realise what a mistake he was making.  But for now, the Sentinel and Guide Prime had a duty to perform.  "C'mon, David, let's go meet Gerry Westward."

finis