The Wrong Guide

by Arnie         Arnie1967@btinternet.com

 

"Man, oh, man, I can't believe I agreed to this!"  Blair Sandburg paced up and down while waiting for the car to arrive, feeling his curly hair bouncing with every agitated step.

 

"You know I appreciate it, Blair.  You do know that, right?"  Gerry glanced at him, his pale eyes quickly moving back to watching the gateway for any sign of a limousine.

 

"Yeah, I know.  And no, I'm not gonna pull out but...man, they're gonna know!"  Blair damned his innate curiosity that had persuaded him to go along with this.  The lure of seeing a pack of Sentinels at a social gathering had been too much to resist, but now that appeal was fading rapidly leaving a cold, unsettled feeling in the base of his stomach.

 

"Look, it's only for a weekend.  You check the place out then tell me all about it so I don't make any slip ups.  The Senior Sentinel Prime is out of state at some big cop shindig somewhere, so you won't meet him.  I'm due to bond with the guy next weekend and by the time I meet up with any other Sentinel, it'll be too late for any of them to point out that I didn't spend the weekend makin' nice with the Clan."

 

"What if one of them has met you before?  They'll know.  They'll notice - they're all Sentinels, for God's sake!"  Blair looked his friend up and down, noting the grey-blue eyes and short fair hair.  "It's not like we're twins or anything.  Even non-Sentinels can tell us apart, ya know!"

 

"Relax!  I haven't met any of them before.  I'm sure of that!"

 

"And if Dean Edwards finds out about this -"

 

"She won't!  Listen, by the time anyone realises that Bonded Guide Gerry Westward is not the same Gerry Westward that spent a weekend with the Clan before the bonding, it'll be too late to change a thing.  And once I'm Senior Guide Prime, I can order them to keep their mouths shut."

 

Blair stared at him.  Was that all he was bonding for?  A bit of power over a pile of Sentinels?  Okay, so Blair wasn't exactly on solid moral ground here.  The only reason he was in Guide School was that it was financially far easier to attend Rainier University while studying at Guide School too, but even so.  He opened his mouth, not sure whether he was going to argue further or simply announce that he wasn't going after all but was forestalled as Gerry hooted triumphantly, "Here's the car!"

 

He turned to stare at the posh limo that was crunching its way down the long, impressive gravel driveway.  "Gerry!  I can't do it!  You'll have to find yourself someone else - or say you're sick and can't go!"

 

"What?  Are you nuts?!  I can't get someone else now."

 

"So say you're sick."  Blair grabbed his arms and shook him.  "I can't do it, I can't.  They'll find out and when they do, I'll be expelled!"

 

Gerry pulled his arms free and laid a calming hand on his friend's shoulder.  "Hey, I'll be Senior Guide Prime.  I'll protect you.  If necessary, I'll order a Sentinel to bond with you, okay?"

 

"You know that's not what I want, and, man, you are way too hung up on ordering Sentinels around.  That's not how it works!"

 

He smirked in reply.  "It will be when I'm in power, trust me."  The limo finally came to a halt and Gerry grabbed the door handle.  "Have a great time!"  Not even giving the chauffeur time to get out of his seat, he yanked the door open and Blair found himself pushed into the car, his backpack tossed in after him.  "Take notes!" Gerry reminded him, then the door slammed shut.

 

Blair scrambled up and grabbed at the door handle, intending to carry on arguing with Gerry, but the sight of Dean Edwards emerging from the Guide School's main entrance changed his mind.  He shrank back onto the seat.  "Okay, let's go!"

 

The limo pulled away and Blair twisted in his seat to watch as Gerry disappeared into the bushes lining the drive, leaving Dean Edwards alone on the front step.

 

Sighing in relief, he turned back.  If she'd caught them, if she'd caught him...his days in Guide School would have been over, and no university would have touched him once Dean Edwards was through blackening his name.  Gerry would have been fine, of course.  His prestigious family name, to say nothing of his family's wealth, would have ensured that the most Guide Westward received was a mild ticking off.  Blair Sandburg, with no prestigious family name and as sure as hell no family wealth, would have been tossed out of Rainier University and the associated Guide School before you could say "seeya, sucker".  A prickling feeling told him that he was being watched and his eyes flicked up to meet the dark eyes of the chauffeur in the rear-view mirror.  "Hi."  He smiled nervously.

 

"Good day, Mr. Westward."  The tone was formal and the name was a shock.  "I am your chauffeur for the day, you may call me Martin.  The drive will take approximately twenty minutes, and there are refreshments in the refrigerator if you get thirsty."

 

"I'm fine, thanks, Martin."  Blair sank back out of view of the mirror.  Westward.  He'd have to remember that his name for the weekend was Gerry Westward, or he'd be sunk.

 

~'~

 

The drive was over far too quickly for Blair's taste.  In fact, he would have preferred it if Martin had crashed the car, leaving Blair to make a getaway from the crushed wreckage.  But Martin was totally unaware of his passenger's wishes and he managed to get them to their destination without the limo receiving so much as a scratch.

 

The gathering of the Clan was being held at a Cascade hotel which prided itself on catering for the crème de la crème of society.  Mr. Ellison, Senior Sentinel Prime Ellison's wealthy father, had been in charge of organising the gathering for the Clan to meet their future Senior Guide Prime and, so far as he was concerned, the more expensive the better.  Of course, Mr. Ellison hadn't been too pleased when his son, the aforementioned Senior Sentinel Prime, had claimed a previous engagement that simply could not be broken.  If William Ellison didn't know better, he'd have sworn his son didn't want to spend any time with his impending Guide.

 

Totally unaware of all this, Blair gazed, his mouth open, at the awe-inspiring front of the hotel.  This wasn't the type of place he was comfortable in - in fact, this wasn't the type of place he'd ever been in before.  Even his days working as a porter in a hotel had seen him at a much lower class place than this!  He gulped nervously and glanced down at himself.  His suit, borrowed for the occasion from Gerry, was immaculate and was definitely of a good enough quality to get him past the manager.  His backpack, 'I should've borrowed a suitcase too!', would probably cause a few raised eyebrows though.  Fortunately, Gerry had insisted on lending him a couple of suits, so his worn jeans and flannel shirts could stay in the backpack out of sight.

 

The car stopped and Blair watched as Martin hurried around to open the door for him.  Fingering his collar nervously, Blair decided that his tie was definitely too tight but he didn't bother to adjust it.  Hopefully he could skulk off to his room and hide out there for a while, a long while.  'Like maybe the next day or two.'  Stepping out of the car, Blair took his backpack with him hoping that the hovering porter wouldn't be too disappointed at not being able to fill the waiting luggage trolley with umpteen cases of the very best luggage.

 

He smiled and shrugged as he handed over his scruffy backpack, then headed towards the door.  Listening intently, he noticed the few seconds of hesitation before the porter finally followed him, pushing the almost empty luggage trolley with the air of a king.  Obviously, if a man of Gerry Westward's stature, inherited stature anyway, chose to travel with one worn backpack instead of an array of Louis Vuitton luggage, who was a lowly porter to gainsay him?

 

Gerry's assigned suite was another shock.  Blair stared around the luxurious surroundings open-mouthed, before he collected himself enough to hand over a presentable tip to the manager who had personally escorted him up there.  He wasn't sure if you were supposed to tip the manager, but Gerry had insisted on handing him a wad of cash and told him to tip everybody who worked at the hotel, so he assumed that Gerry knew what he was talking about.  The manager didn't refuse the tip anyway, so he guessed it was okay.

 

Blair kept a smile on his face until the door was shut, then he hurriedly locked the door and sank down to sit on the massive couch.  He couldn't do this, he couldn't spend the weekend pretending to be Gerry Westward.  He was going to get found out, he was going to be exposed, and when he was, that crowd of Sentinels who were waiting to meet their future Senior Guide Prime were going to tear him limb from limb.

 

The ominous feeling that had been plaguing him all day intensified and Blair finally caved.  'Sorry, Gerry.  No can do.  First, I'll get out of this suit then I'll get the hell out of Dodge.  None of the Sentinels have seen me yet, and maybe they'll just head to the Guide School and go looking for you - that's who they were expecting, after all!  You can explain things to them.'  To think was to act, and Blair headed towards the bed where his backpack sat in solitary splendour upon the brocade cover.

 

"It's a four-poster bed!"  He stared at it.  He had no idea there were hotels outside of England that even bothered with them.  It even had curtains on it - brocade, naturally, to match the cover.  Shaking his head, he pulled open his backpack and started getting changed.

 

A knock interrupted him and he paused, jeans in hand.  Tiptoeing over to the door, he called out, "Who is it?"

 

There was a second's pause then, "Jim Ellison."

 

He froze.  'The Senior Sentinel Prime is outside my door.  What the HELL is the Senior Sentinel Prime doing outside my door?  He isn't supposed to be here, for Christ's sake!'

 

There was another knock.  "Are you all right?"

 

"Uh...just a minute!"  His voice was half an octave higher than normal and he scrambled into his jeans as quickly as he could while panicking madly.  'What am I gonna do now?'

 

~'~

 

Outside the door, Jim leaned against the doorpost and inhaled again, noting the fear that was flooding his Guide's scent and souring it.  The intoxicating tingle that had rushed over him at the first scent of his Guide remained, but his concern was growing.  When he'd agreed to bond with his father's chosen Guide, it had been because, after years of searching for his Guide, he'd finally given up hope.  Ironically, he'd flown back from the supposedly-unavoidable police convention intending to tell this socially acceptable Guide that he'd changed his mind.  Being landed with a Guide was bad enough, being forced to rely on a Guide who wasn't his one true Guide, well...after a lot of thought and more than one sleepless night, he'd finally decided that he couldn't do it.  He'd do without until a zone out, or an accident during a zone out, ended it all.  To discover that the Guide his father had chosen for him was his true Guide, his reaction to his scent had told him that, was amazing.  He'd never have supposed that his father had such good taste, for one thing.

 

Tilting his head, he listened to his Guide's heartbeat; it was going off the scale.  He knocked softly on the door again.  "Gerry, open the door."  If there was something wrong with his Guide, 'My Guide, mine, mine, mine,' he rejoiced silently, he wanted to be on the same side of the door as him, not looking at a mahogany door that was polished to within an inch of its life.

 

"Just a minute!"

 

There it was again, 'just a minute' with a world of panic in the tone.  Listening, he realised that his Guide's heartbeat was receding, as though Gerry was moving away from the door.  He heard the window open and the heartbeat moved even further away.  Old instincts surged to the forefront as he realised that his Guide was escaping.

 

Furiously determined to follow and stop him, the Sentinel turned the handle sharply and put his shoulder to the door.  Growling as it refused to give, he backed up and kicked forcefully at the lock.  Two kicks and the door flew open.  He rushed into the room and headed straight for the window.

 

~'~

 

Blair shook his hands, hoping the stinging from the scrapes would recede, and kept up his sprinting run.  If Ellison 'What the hell was he doing at the hotel when he was supposed to be miles away?' did give chase, the sachets of sage he'd dumped by the window and at the bottom of the drainpipe he'd shimmied down should delay the Sentinel for a while at least.  Hopefully long enough for Blair Sandburg, idiot extraordinaire, to escape.  He couldn't believe this had happened...well, actually, he could.  He should have realised when Gerry first broached the idea that there were a thousand things that could go wrong with it, but the Senior Sentinel Prime turning up to inspect his future Guide had not been one of the nightmare scenarios that had plagued him.

 

He dashed between the huge wrought-iron gates that marked the exit to the hotel's grounds and took a moment to heave a breath of relief.  He hadn't heard anyone chasing him, and he was pretty sure that he would have heard one furious Sentinel, or a Hunting Pack of Sentinels, crashing through the undergrowth behind him.  He hoped so, anyway.

 

Thanking all the deities he could think of, including a few that he was pretty sure were false ones, that the overpriced hotel chosen for the Clan gathering was in Cascade and not in the middle of nowhere, he set off towards the nearest bus stop.  If he was lucky, he'd be able to catch Gerry at his girlfriend's house before he went off to the wild weekend of parties he'd chosen to attend rather than meet all the stuffed shirt Sentinels of the Clan.

 

~'~

 

The sachet of sage had held Jim up for quite a while.  In fact, he'd almost zoned on the smell.  Unfortunately for one fleeing Guide, it had only reinforced the Sentinel's decision that his Guide needed to be found, and quickly.  If his Guide was panicking this much at the idea of bonding, he could be panicked into running from Cascade itself.  And losing his Guide was not an option.

 

Returning to the main foyer of the hotel, the Senior Sentinel Prime called out his Clan.  He had a Guide to find and they were going to help him.

 

~'~

 

Gerry rolled over in bed as the furious banging on the front door continued.  "Get up and see who that is," he groaned, shoving at his girlfriend's shoulder.

 

Patricia glared at him.  "I'm not dressed!"

 

"Neither am I."  He put a pillow over his head and tried to recapture his dreams of a minute beforehand.  They still had a few hours to go before Sam's bash started and he planned on getting a few hours' sleep before he went.  He'd spent the night before with one of Patricia's girlfriends, although Patricia had no idea, and he hadn't had much sleep.

 

Muttering furiously to herself, Patricia got up, grabbed her robe and made her way to the front door.  "Blair!"

 

Gerry sat up as he heard the name.  What was Blair doing here when he should be at the most expensive hotel in Cascade?

 

"Hey, Patricia, I need to speak to Gerry."

 

"Blair?  What the hell are you doing here?" Gerry demanded as he chucked the pillow on the floor.

 

Blair appeared in the doorway, his face paler than normal.  "Ellison turned up at the hotel."

 

"What?!"  Gerry swore as he kicked off the covers and grabbed for his pants.  "What happened?"

 

"I got off through the window.  He never saw me."

 

"Whew!"  The would-be Senior Guide Prime dropped his pants and sat back down on the bed, ignoring his nudity.  "For a minute then, you had me panicked."

 

"Well, panic!  I had to escape from the hotel leaving Ellison behind with no explanation as to where his Guide had gone to."

 

"No sweat, Blair.  I'll just say I came over all nervous and had to get away for a while.  First night nerves, ya know?"

 

"Fine, whatever.  But I had to dump some sage by the window and beneath the drainpipe - I needed to delay him to get away - so you'll have to explain that too!"

 

"Sage?"  Gerry was astonished.  No Guide was supposed to carry sage.  "What were you doing with sage?"

 

"Just in case of emergencies - and be grateful I had it.  If he'd caught me I'm sure he would have noticed during bonding that you weren't the guy who tried to run out on him at the gathering."

 

"Okay, okay.  I'll explain it somehow.  Don't worry about it."  Gerry grinned.  "I would have loved to have seen his face though!  Are you staying to go to these parties with us?  You've got a free weekend now."

 

"No, I just came to warn you in case Ellison turned up looking for you.  And before I forget, here's your cash back.  I tipped the porter and the manager."

 

"Considering how long you didn't stay, you needn't have bothered tipping them at all!"

 

"I didn't realise I wasn't stopping then.  I'll see you next week, Gerry.  Bye, Patricia."

 

Gerry shrugged as Blair left.  It'd be fine.  The whole thing was a done deal anyway.  Ellison's father and his had made sure of that.

 

~'~

 

Fifteen minutes after Blair had left Patricia's apartment, a Sentinel Hunting Pack arrived at Patricia's apartment.  Senior Sentinel Prime James Ellison, determined to track his Guide down before that panicked individual could leave town, had visited the Guide School and persuaded (as in intimidated) one of Gerry's friends into handing over an address where he was likely to be found.  He hadn't needed to threaten Gerry's friend.  The sight of one Sentinel, a feral glare in his eyes, as he loomed over him demanding information had been enough to make the unfortunate friend impart anything and everything he knew about Gerry's life away from Guide School, before reconsidering his own future as a Guide.  Gerry's main girlfriend, Patricia, had been mentioned prominently during the discourse, along with the fact that she had no idea she was one girlfriend among many.

 

~'~

 

Back in bed with her boyfriend, Patricia fumed as he sent her to open the door again.  She yanked the door open in a foul mood, and glared at the tall military-looking man standing there with a veritable gang of people behind him.  "What?" she demanded.  The returning glare could have frozen a lake and it suddenly hit her that she was looking at the Senior Sentinel Prime, complete with his Clan.  "Uh...uh...oh f*ck."

 

"If you insist."  The coldness of the voice matched the ice in the blue eyes.  "Where's Gerry Westward?"

 

She smiled, or tried to.  "Just give me a minute."  Shutting the door as far as she could, (one Sentinel foot was in the way), she fled back to her bedroom.  "Gerry!  I think that Ellison guy is here!"

 

"What?"  Gerry grabbed for his pants again.  "Go and stall him!"

 

"No need for that."

 

Patricia cringed as Ellison passed her in the doorway, then flinched as someone grabbed her arm.  "Let go!"  She stared up at the tall female.

 

"We'd better leave them to it for a while.  C'mon."

 

Patricia's eyes widened as she took note of the Sentinels and Guides filling her apartment.  Clutching her robe around her, she did her best to take control of the situation.  "Coffee, anyone?"

 

~'~

 

Back in the bedroom, the Sentinel's nose twitched as he took in the myriad of scents in there.  His Guide's scent was present, but his Guide was not.  Glaring down at the man who was scrambling to get dressed, the Sentinel demanded, "Where's my Guide?"

 

His pants in place, Gerry straightened and gave a smile.  "Right here, Jim.  It is Jim, isn't it?"

 

The Sentinel growled in return and stalked around him, circling to return to stand in front of him.  "You're not my Guide."

 

~'~

 

Gerry stiffened.  He didn't know what the hell Blair had done or what this guy Ellison was up to, but he was the next Senior Guide Prime.  "I'm Gerry Westward, your Guide, remember?"

 

There was another growl.  "You weren't at the hotel."

 

"I uh...panicked.  I left."  He swallowed as the Sentinel leaned in closer to stare into his eyes.

 

"You're lying."

 

Tilting his chin in defiance, he glared back.  "I'm your Guide."

 

"Westward, do you know what happens to people who lie to the Senior Sentinel Prime?"  The voice was soft but threatening.

 

"I'm a Guide; you won't hurt me."

 

"You're no Guide - I'd guess your father bought your way into Guide School.  You're just someone who's trying to keep me from my Guide, so I'm within my rights to kill you."

 

Gerry swallowed again, suddenly unsure.  His eyes dropped and sweat broke out on his forehead.  He was really starting to rethink the advantages of being Senior Guide Prime if it involved putting up with this guy - he was totally out of control!  It wasn't like he needed to be Senior Guide Prime to have social position, although the power would have been great.  Nonchalantly, he shrugged, dismissing his former ambitions for the sake of his skin.  "Blair Sandburg was the guy at the hotel.  I uh...asked him to take my place this weekend because I was busy."

 

"And he agreed?"

 

Gerry shrugged again.  "He's studying anthropology.  He was curious to see a bunch of Sentinels interacting."

 

"And you thought you'd take advantage of that."  It wasn't a question.

 

"I had plans for this weekend, Blair didn't."  Mentally, Gerry was kicking himself for having chosen wild parties over the Clan gathering.  If he'd known it would lead to this much trouble, he would have gone along like a good little Guide.  Then again, considering how much of a hard ass Ellison appeared to be, maybe it was better it had all fallen apart.  He really didn't want to bond with this guy.

 

"So where's Blair Sandburg now?"

 

Gerry swallowed again.  He might have used Blair...a little...but he didn't want to get the guy into trouble and, considering how white Blair was looking when he came rushing in to warn him, maybe telling Ellison where to find him wasn't a good idea.  At least, not until he could warn Blair that Ellison was after him.  "I don't know.  He might have gone back to Guide School."

 

"You don't think he did."

 

'Damn!'  "Look, I don't know for sure where he'll have gone.  Home, maybe."

 

"And where would that be?"

 

"He lives near the docks, in a warehouse down there."  Gerry glanced up into the hard-as-granite eyes, then looked down again.  He was going to have to try and find Blair first - there was no way he could let him walk into this with no warning.

 

"Address?"  There was silence until Gerry handed over the address, then he got a feral smile as his reward.  "There.  That wasn't too painful, was it?"  Gerry watched the Sentinel turn to the door then tensed up again as the Sentinel turned back.  "Oh, and, Gerry," there was silence until the would-be Senior Guide Prime looked the Sentinel in the eye, "don't bother trying to bond with anyone in my Clan.  It would be a mistake."

 

The door shut behind him and Gerry exhaled, suddenly realising that he'd been holding his breath for the last few minutes.  He heard the Sentinels leave and grabbed his shirt.  With any luck, Blair had headed for the library instead of for home - not that that run down warehouse was much of a home.

 

~'~

 

Ellison would have agreed with that assessment if he'd known it.  He frowned as his eyes swept over the outside of the warehouse, and his displeasure deepened as the heartbeats of several rodents impinged upon his hearing.

 

"Nice place.  If you like warehouses."

 

Ellison exchanged a glance with his second in command, Edwards, and grinned suddenly.  "He won't be living here for much longer."

 

"He might not agree with that," Lisa chimed in.  The tall Sentinel would have dragged her Guide out of this place in an instant, but she had been bonded for years.

 

The Senior Sentinel Prime's jaw set itself rigidly.  "He'll do as I tell him."

 

No one dared to disagree.

 

"He's not here.  We'll go back to the Guide School and see if he's turned up there.  If not, we keep on looking.  We'll check the whole university if we have to."  Ellison turned towards Lisa and her Guide, beckoning another Sentinel and Guide pair over.  "Lisa, you're in charge.  You four stay here.  If he turns up, phone me - and don't let him leave."  With that, Ellison headed for his truck.  The longer his Guide was missing, the more edgy he was becoming.  Even though he now knew why his Guide had run in the first place, the fact that his Guide had run at all was unsettling the Sentinel.

 

~'~

 

"Blair!"

 

Blair looked up, startled.  "Gerry!  Keep your voice down, man.  You don't want the librarians throwing us out."  He watched in bewilderment as the frantic man hurried across the room to his side and grabbed his arm.

 

"We have got to get out of here anyway.  This'll probably be the next place they'll look!"

 

"What?  Who are you talking about?"

 

"Ellison and his crowd of Sentinels.  They turned up at Patricia's place."

 

"So?  I told you he was looking for you."

 

"He's not looking for me, he's looking for you!"  Gerry shook his arm for emphasis.

 

"Me?  Why on earth would he be looking for me?"  Blair looked at his friend in concern.  Had he been drinking already?

 

"He's planning on bonding with you."

 

"What?!"  Blair's voice rose.  "He can't do that.  He's the Senior Sentinel Prime - you're his Guide, not me!"

 

"He's changed his mind."

 

"He can't have changed his mind.  Well, I mean...he can, obviously, but why would he?"

 

"I don't know.  All I know is that he practically battered down Patricia's door demanding to know where you were."

 

Blair thought his heart would stop beating with the shock.  "It's the sage.  He doesn't want to bond with me - he's furious about the sage!  He's gonna kill me!"

 

Gerry shook his head.  "He demanded to know where his Guide was - and he meant you!"

 

Blair shook his head again as he hurriedly grabbed for his books and started stuffing them into his backpack.  "It's gotta be the sage, man, nothing else explains it.  I mean, he didn't even get to see me.  How can he want to bond with me when he's never even seen me?"

 

"Scent will do it every time, Chief."

 

The duo's heads snapped up in unison, their eyes fixed on the figure in the doorway.

 

"Ellison!"  Gerry sounded as appalled as Blair felt.

 

"I told you before not to get between me and my Guide, Westward.  You might want to consider leaving now."

 

"Gerry?"  There was an appeal in Blair's voice but although Gerry's eyes met his, there was no hope of him answering it.

 

"Sorry, Blair."

 

Blair watched him go, absently noting the wide detour he took to avoid Ellison.

 

"Good luck, Blair," and he was gone.

 

Blair's eyes snapped back to the intimidating figure who was the only other person left in the room.  With a couple of textbooks clutched protectively to his chest, he backed away.  This did not look good to him.

 

"It's all right, Blair, I'm not going to hurt you."  The Sentinel took a few steps forward, hunger flaring in his eyes.

 

"Look, about the sage...I knew you'd be pissed about Gerry not being at the gathering -"

 

"The sage doesn't matter."

 

"If you say so, man," Blair muttered as he tried to think of something else to say that would stop the guy in his tracks.  Unfortunately, nothing was coming to mind.  He backed up as the man moved forward again.  His eyes skittered around the room, his mind trying frantically to think of something, some way to escape.  If he'd had more sage in his pockets, he'd have been sorely tempted to use it, and damn the consequences.  Taking a gulp of air, he tried to calm himself.  He could get out of this situation, he'd been in bad situations before, all he had to do was think...or act.  Suddenly, he hurled the textbooks at the Sentinel and made a dash away from him.  If he could reach the other door he could duck down the stairs, maybe lose him on one of the lower floors.

 

He never reached the door.  An arm that felt like steel wrapped around his waist and yanked him off his feet.  He was swung around and his back was shoved up against a bookcase, the Sentinel right in front of him, pinning him in place.

 

Blair's hands fell on the man's shoulders and he pushed, desperate to escape, but the Sentinel was as solid as a rock and didn't move.  A hand grabbed Blair's hair and pulled firmly, forcing his head back and exposing his throat.  Blair wriggled frantically - this couldn't be happening to him! - then he gasped as the Sentinel's head dipped towards his neck. "No!"  'He's going to -'

 

He cried out as the teeth bit into his throat firmly, his back arching in reaction.  For a few seconds he remained like that: his body arched against the restraint, his mind flooded with disbelief, then the bonding heat kicked in and any thought of resistance left him in a sigh of chemically induced euphoria.  Relaxing against his Sentinel, he tipped his head back further, allowing him greater access to his throat while trying to pull his Sentinel closer, needing to merge with him.  Vaguely, he was aware of the Sentinel's hands running over him, mapping him, learning him, but he was more aware of how feverish he felt, and of the memories that were filling his mind.

 

Ellison's mind continued to flow into his; names and faces he'd never known whirling dizzyingly through his mind as his internal temperature soared.  For a second he felt caught in a boiling whirlpool of memories that had never been his before blackness overwhelmed him and he slumped against his Sentinel.

 

~'~

 

The Sentinel straightened, his arms tightening around his unconscious Guide.  His Clan would make sure that they weren't disturbed until his Guide had recovered enough to be moved.  Glancing around, the Sentinel almost regretted bonding there and then - there was no comfortable place for him and his Guide to rest - but at least it was done and his Guide would learn that he could not run from him again.

 

Deciding that one of the armchairs looked about the most comfortable place to sit, he carried his Guide over there and settled him down on the seat.  He was pleased when a break in the physical contact between them forced an incoherent murmur of protest from his exhausted Guide, and he perched on the arm of the chair and pulled Blair closer, revelling in the link that was flowing between them.

 

A knock at the door interrupted his reverie, and he stiffened then relaxed as he recognised the intruder.  "Come on in, Edwards."

 

The door opened slightly and Edwards half-stepped into the room.  Newly bonded Sentinels were notoriously on edge, especially where the safety of their Guides was concerned, and he was obviously being cautious in his approach.  "We've cleared a route to the elevator and down to my car.  If you want, I'll drive you both back to the loft."

 

Jim looked down at his sleeping Guide.  Getting his Guide to his territory was imperative although he would have preferred to give him more time to recover.  Nodding, he said, "Give me a few minutes."

 

Edwards nodded and the door closed softly behind him.

 

"Blair."  Jim waited then tried again, "Sandburg."

 

"Mmm?"  The eyes remained shut.

 

"Wake up.  We need to move.  Once we're at the loft you can rest all you want."

 

"Mmm...okay...."

 

Jim wasn't sure that Blair had understood, but he hauled the younger man to his feet anyway, one arm around his waist ensuring that he stayed upright.  "Can you walk?"

 

"Sure...."

 

Blair's head leaned against Jim's shoulder, his eyes still closed.  Jim repressed a grin.  It looked like the kid would be walking in his sleep.

 

~'~

 

Sighing, Blair forced his eyes open, blinking sleepily as he tried to wake up.  He slowly became aware of his surroundings, realising that he was lying on a couch, there was a blanket over him and his shoes were missing.  He also realised that he'd never felt so tired in his life.  Frowning, he regarded the fireplace he could see - he didn't recognise that, did he?

 

"You're awake then."

 

His eyes shot open and remained open as memory came rushing back.  Sitting up, he stared up at his Sentinel in horror.  "Oh my God!  You bonded with me!"

 

The smile on the man's face spoke volumes.  "Yep, I certainly did.  Would you like some coffee?"

 

Blair shoved himself up onto his knees as he watched the man over the back of the couch.  "How can you be so calm?  You bonded with the wrong Guide!"

 

He got a frown for that one.  "You're not the wrong Guide, Chief.  Put that thought out of your head."

 

"Hello?  My name's not Gerry Westward!"

 

"No, it's Blair Sandburg."  Jim looked concerned.  "How much of this afternoon do you remember?"

 

"Enough!"  With a groan Blair flopped back down on the couch.  His life was ruined.  "You were supposed to bond with Gerry...next weekend as a matter of fact.  So first of all, you're early, and secondly, I'm not Gerry!"

 

"No, you're Blair.  And you're my claimed and marked Guide."  There was a hint of steel in the voice that suggested he'd better accept that fact and hurry up about it.

 

"Look, Sentinel Ellison -"

 

"Jim."

 

"Jim."  Blair fought to find the right words to explain to the Sentinel exactly what a debacle this was.  "Everyone knows you're supposed to bond with Gerry next weekend.  Don't you think people are going to be a little bit confused that you bonded with someone else this weekend?"

 

For a man in the middle of a monumental mess, Jim looked remarkably calm.  "Relax, Sandburg, it's not like a wedding.  We don't have to cancel any ceremony or return any gifts."  He grinned, "There's not even any preacher involved."

 

"I know that!  But what about your Clan?"

 

"They already know.  Who do you think helped track you down?"

 

"They...you...."  Blair felt like he was choking on the words.  They'd tracked him down?

 

"Maybe you'd better have that coffee."

 

Blair sat up again and glared at his Sentinel who was now busy in the kitchen.  Even his back had a hint of smugness about it as if he was perfectly happy with how things had turned out, while all Blair could see were the looming explanations and upset people - how on earth would Gerry's and Jim's fathers react?  They'd arranged the whole thing!

 

"Stop worrying about it!"

 

Lost in his thoughts, he hadn't noticed his Sentinel's return.  Silently, he accepted the mug being held out to him and moved up on the sofa so that Jim could sit down too.  He watched as Jim took a minute to drape the afghan that had been keeping him warm over the back of the couch, then sat back, unsurprised when the Sentinel chose the seat right next to him.

 

"The Clan will be fine with you."  Jim smiled, wryly.  "I think they're relieved that I didn't bond with Gerry after all."

 

"There's nothing wrong with Gerry!"  Blair hastened to the defence of his friend.

 

"So what was he planning to do this weekend while you attended the gathering?" Jim demanded.

 

Blair's gaze dropped to contemplate the pattern on the mugs as he searched for something that was close enough to the truth to be accepted while not actually being the answer: "he wanted to attend a series of wild parties".

 

"You know, I will be able to tell if you lie to me."

 

Blair glanced up at Jim's smiling face then away again.  Sighing, he accepted defeat.  "He had some parties to attend."

 

"Uh huh.  Parties.  He should have been at the gathering meeting the Clan and instead he chose to attend...parties."

 

He could feel a flush of embarrassment covering his face.  "Yeah."

 

"And you chose to attend the gathering out of curiosity."

 

He sank back into the cushions, feeling the flush deepen.  Heaven knew what the Clan thought of him now!  "Yeah."

 

"I think, of the two, you come out of it looking better, Chief."

 

Blair looked up again then back down.  Jim was still looking amused, which was something, he guessed.

 

"The Clan will accept you, Chief, don't worry about it."  Jim's head tilted slightly and he stood up and headed towards the door.  "We're bonded and that's all there is to it."  He ended the discussion by opening the door. "Hello, Dad."

 

"Jim!  I've just had a call from Christian Westward - he had this garbled story about Gerry and a friend of his called Claire or something."

 

"Blair.  Why don't you take your coat off and you can meet him?"

 

Blair shrank back even further, wishing he could disappear into the cushions and wishing, irrationally, that he knew where his shoes had got to.  It looked like he was going to find out firsthand what Mr. Ellison's reaction would be.

 

"Blair, Claire...what difference does it make?"

 

Jim sounded amused again.  "I think it makes quite a difference to him, Dad.  Claire's a girl's name."

 

"Jim!  The point is that Christian said that you won't be bonding with Gerry as you've bonded with this Blair instead!"

 

"That's right, Dad, I have."  There was a warning bite to Jim's tone that Blair couldn't miss.  "And he's sitting on the couch."

 

~'~

 

For a second, William considered keeping his coat on and storming out, but Jim had always been stubborn and he knew that it would take quite a bit of talking to get him to see sense, and walking out would just put his back up.  Accordingly, he slipped off his coat and handed it over.  He was about to walk over to the couch to meet the upstart who'd upset his and Christian Westward's plans when his arm was grabbed.

 

"Don't embarrass my Guide, Dad.  I bonded with him, he didn't have much choice in the matter."  The words were hissed in his ear and the tone reminded William that this was the Senior Sentinel Prime of Cascade who had spent several years being a Ranger.

 

William plastered a fake smile onto his face and waited until his arm was released until he tried to move again.  "Well...Blair."  He stepped forward and shook hands politely, his eyes flicking over the scruffy figure, taking note of the bite mark that stood out on the Guide's neck.  Why on earth had Jim chosen to bond with a boy who looked like he shopped at Wal-Mart?  Sitting down, he leaned back in the chair, looking totally at ease.  "So, when did you and Jim first meet?"

 

"At the gathering, Dad," Jim interrupted sounding tense, as he put the coat on the coat rack, then perched on the arm of the couch in between his father and his Guide, almost blocking the older man's view of the younger man.  "Gerry decided he had better things to do than attend and asked Sandburg to go instead."

 

"Better things?"  William frowned.  Christian Westward had neglected to mention that small part of it.  Maybe if his son had done what he was supposed to, he wouldn't be sitting here gazing at some nobody whom Jim obviously regretted bonding with.  "I see.  Well, I suppose Blair should be commended for his dedication to uh...duty."  He paused, considering the name Jim had given.  "Sandburg... Sandburg...I don't think I know the name."

 

A flush spread across the boy's face then receded, leaving him looking pale.  "No, I didn't think you would."

 

"And what does your fa -"  William was interrupted as Blair jumped up.

 

"Jim, I'm sure you and your father have plenty to talk about.  I'll head home and see you tomorrow, okay?"

 

Standing, Jim blocked his path to the coat rack.  "That's another thing we have to discuss, Chief: your living accommodations."

 

"There's nothing wrong with where I live."

 

William politely pretended to ignore the very quiet argument that was developing in front of him, all the while listening eagerly.

 

"There's plenty wrong with it, Chief, but I'll discuss that with you later."

 

The emphasised 'later' wasn't lost on William and he rose to his feet.  "I'll let you discuss it now, Jim.  I only called in to make sure that Christian hadn't made a mistake."  He accepted his coat refusing to allow one atom of his fury to show.  There would be time enough to deal with this upstart.  "I'll see you both soon, all right?  Blair, it was a pleasure to meet you."  He didn't assume that his act was fooling his son's Guide, the boy was an empath after all, but if he had any sense, he'd keep his mouth shut.  Then he was gone, shutting the door quietly behind him.

 

It wasn't until he was sitting in his car that he allowed his anger to show.  Pulling out his cell phone, he dialled the number of his favourite highly priced investigative service that had previously dug up enough dirt on his rivals to bury them.  "Hawkins?  William Ellison.  I want you to find out all you can about a Blair Sandburg."

 

~'~

 

The door shut behind William, leaving Sentinel and Guide facing each other in the loft.  They waited in silence until they were sure William couldn't hear them, then the 'discussion' continued.

 

"A warehouse is not a suitable place to live."  The Sentinel crossed his arms and prepared to do battle.

 

"That's my choice to make," the Guide retorted.

 

"No Guide of mine is living in a rat-infested warehouse, Chief, so get that through your thick skull.  We'll go and collect your things tomorrow, you can move in here."

 

"I'm not moving in with you!" Sandburg spluttered, indignantly.  "I've got a perfectly good place down near the docks!"

 

"It's freezing, it's unsafe, it's rat-infested and it's a warehouse.  You're not staying there."

 

"It's my choice to make!  You're my Sentinel, you don't own me!"

 

"That's right, Chief, I'm your Sentinel."  The Sentinel stalked forward to stand over his defiant Guide.  "And you're not living in a rat-infested warehouse, now or ever.  We'll fix up the room under the stairs, buy some furniture for it and get it all sorted tomorrow after we've collected your stuff."  He could see that Blair was ready and willing to continue arguing so he held up his hand.  "End of discussion."  Moving past him, he collected the empty mugs and took them into the kitchen.  "Are you hungry?"

 

He listened to Sandburg fuming quietly, then grinned when he heard a demanded, "Where are my shoes?"

 

"You don't need your shoes to eat dinner, Chief.  What would you like to eat?  You can check out the cupboards or we can order in: Chinese, Thai or pizza."

 

~'~

 

Blair was furious.  In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been as angry.  "Why won't you give me back my shoes?!"

 

Jim turned, a set of menus in his hand.  "You don't need your shoes to eat dinner and we're not going anywhere."

 

There it was, that hint of steel again.  His anger draining away, Blair sat dejectedly on the couch, not moving as Jim sat next to him and slid an arm around his shoulders.

 

"I can't let you live in that warehouse, Sandburg.  It's not safe.  And there are rats in there."  As opposed to the arguing of before, Jim's voice was quiet but still firm.

 

Blair dropped his head forward, his long hair hiding his face.  "It's my decision to make."

 

"Not any more, Chief."

 

The arm tightened and Blair looked up into Jim's face.  The Sentinel was holding back, obviously wanting to bond, wanting to reassert his claim, but obviously equally unsure that his Guide would be willing right now.  It seemed typical of the man that he was willing to give the Guide the choice to bond or refuse.  Blair gave a  rueful smile and dropped his mental barriers.  While he might be arguing with Jim, for some reason he really didn't mind being bonded to him.  "Sentinel, claim your Guide."

 

~'~

 

The weekend flew past.  When Blair looked back on it, he had a confused jumble of memories.  He'd given in and allowed himself to be installed in the room below the stairs.  The warehouse had been cold and lonely and the rats had been huge and no company at all, so the weekend consisted of cleaning, bonding, painting, bonding, briefly buying furniture (the Sentinel had objected to the salesperson getting anywhere near the Guide), bonding and moving all of his things.  And underlying it all, like a gold thread that shone through without overwhelming the rest of the tapestry, was Jim.  His Sentinel.  Okay, the gold thread definitely made its presence felt where bonding and furniture buying was concerned, but it was just there the rest of the time.

 

He didn't know if he'd been fortunate or whether all Sentinels and Guides became friends, but he and Jim just seemed to click.  While their characters and tastes were wildly different, they complemented each other.  Even their disagreements had their good sides.  Well, so far, anyway.

 

"Sandburg!"

 

The roar almost startled him into dropping some books he was trying to fit into the new bookshelves and he hurried into the living room to see what was wrong.

 

Jim was standing by the couch pointing at Blair's tribal mask, which was propped up in one corner of the living room, with a look of horror on his face.  "What is that?"

 

"It's a tribal mask.  You said I could put some stuff in the living room."

 

"Of course you can, this is your home too.  But that's looking at me."

 

"It's not looking at you, Jim.  It's a mask."

 

"It'll stare at me while I'm watching TV.  It'll put me off.  You have to move it."

 

Blair looked at Jim for a few seconds before deciding that Jim was, in fact, serious about the mask needing to be moved.  "Okay..."  He picked it up and moved it from the corner it was in to another corner.  "How's that?"

 

Jim walked around.  "No good.  It can see me while I'm cooking."

 

"It's not a cookery critic, Jim, it's just a mask."  In spite of his comments, he tried another corner.

 

There was another walk around the loft before Jim claimed it'd be giving him the eye when he came out of the shower in the morning.

 

Blair muttered, "You're not worrying about not measuring up, are you, Jim?" totally ignoring the fact that the Sentinel could hear him.

 

"Hey, hey!  A little respect for the Sentinel, please!"

 

Blair grinned and moved the mask again.  "There.  Now all it can see is the window.  Will you be outside in your towel and maybe get intimidated?  Or perhaps you'll move the TV onto the balcony?"

 

Jim wandered over and checked out the positioning of the mask.  "That's not sarcasm, is it, Chief?"

 

"No, Jim, it's a tribal mask.  I explained that before."

 

"Very funny, Darwin.  Now that that mask has been moved out of the way, perhaps you'd like to help me make dinner."

 

~'~

 

By law, all newly bonded Sentinel/Guide pairings had to take a week off in order to settle into the bond.  Too many incidents when a newly bonded Sentinel had overreacted to a stranger's nearness to their Guide, just as Jim had with the furniture salesperson, had ensured that the Government didn't put up any kind of a fight when the bill was proposed.  As neither Jim nor Blair had intended to bond that weekend, neither of them had arranged for time off, therefore Monday morning would be spent making the arrangements they should have made earlier.

 

Considering the blossoming promise of the weekend, Blair was half expecting Monday morning to start out with thunderstorms and arguments but, to his astonishment, he and Jim worked amicably in tandem preparing breakfast and getting ready to face the day.  The Sentinel had even insisted that his Guide have his shower first in order to be sure that Blair got a hot shower.  Blair, used to the quirky if not downright temperamental hot water system of his previous home, had thoroughly enjoyed his hot shower.  He realised that Jim hadn't enjoyed his hot then cold shower, but Jim restrained himself to commenting that he had to get a bigger hot water tank and used Blair's guilty conscience to claim the right to use the phone first.

 

Jim's time off was sorted with a phone call to his boss, Simon.  Simon had been attending the police conference with Jim before common sense kicked in and Jim flew back to Cascade to break off his impending bonding with Gerry.  Left alone to face the rigors of exceptionally long-winded Police Chiefs who loved the sound of their own voices, Simon had spent the weekend plotting revenge on his friend and planning to make Jim's life miserable for at least a week or two.  He was grumpy as hell to get a phone call from Jim explaining that he was now bonded and wouldn't be in work that week, but the news that Jim hadn't bonded to his father's chosen Guide, but had in fact found his own Guide, cheered Simon up immensely.  He'd had no faith in Mr. Ellison's ability to pick out anyone that Jim would like to spend time with and was relieved that Jim had gone ahead and bonded to someone totally different.

 

Abandoning his plans for revenge, Simon promptly offered the loan of his holiday home for a week.  Holiday home was perhaps too grand a title for the wood cabin he'd inherited from his uncle, but it was miles from anywhere, chock full of peace and solitude and it had indoor plumbing.  What more could a newly bonded pair ask for?  The newly bonded Sentinel declared that indoor plumbing was all they required, Blair made no objections, and they accepted the offer with pleasure.

 

Blair's time off was almost as easily arranged.  After contacting his main tutor and explaining why he'd be gone for a week, it only took a few phone calls to call in enough favours to have notes taken at all of the classes he was studying.

 

Accordingly, the pair packed their bags and headed for the Cascade police department.  Simon, knowing full well that Jim would be loath to take his Guide into a crowded police station at the moment, arranged to meet them in the PD garage to hand over the keys and give them directions.  He even got to see part of Blair as the Guide peered over his protective Sentinel's shoulder in order to say 'hi'.  Jim silently congratulated himself on getting his Sentinel side to calm down enough for Simon to see half of Blair's face, and the pair decamped to Simon's cabin in the back of beyond for a week of relaxation, bonding and fishing.

 

Stopping on the way to buy enough groceries to last them a week, Blair pre-empted any hostile moves by the Sentinel by sticking closely to his side and using the bigger man as a shield if anyone got too close.  There was a slight fracas when a large bodybuilder attempted to pick up the no-fat milk Blair was reaching for, but a loud growl from Jim persuaded the heavily-muscled man that the Guide had every right to take all the milk if he wanted to, and the situation was averted.

 

~'~

 

The cabin turned out to be all the pair wanted and more.  The peace and solitude had been wonderful, and the indoor plumbing had worked well.  It wasn't until Saturday night, when they were both sitting by a blazing fire, that Jim remembered something.

 

"I was supposed to bond to Gerry today."  He bit his tongue as soon as he'd said it.  He guessed there was some etiquette (or common sense) involved here.  Like never discussing your ex-wife with your wife, you never discussed your ex-possible-Guide with your Guide.

 

Blair looked up from his cocoa and marshmallows.  "I'd forgotten that!"  He shook his head, smiling.  "Where were you going to spend your week off?"

 

"Some hotel Westward owns."

 

"Just think, man, you could have been in the lap of luxury.  Swimming pools, Jacuzzis, room service.  And instead, what have you got?"

 

Jim grinned.  "A huge lake filled with fish and, more importantly, indoor plumbing!"

 

"Yeah, those high-priced hotels never have indoor plumbing."  Blair sipped his cocoa thoughtfully.  "I wonder if Gerry took Patricia instead?"

 

Jim choked.  "He'll have an entirely different kind of week then!"

 

"Well, there is that."  His gaze turned introspective as he dunked a marshmallow.

 

"No, I don't regret it."

 

Blair looked up, surprise on his face.

 

"That's what you were wondering, Chief."  Jim shook his head.  "I went to the gathering to tell Gerry that I'd changed my mind.  I wasn't going to bond with him."

 

"But you needed a Guide!  You told me yourself that your senses were spiking!"

 

"I know.  I just couldn't bond with someone who wasn't my Guide.  I'd been trying to talk myself into it, and finally I realised that I couldn't do it.  So I went to the hotel to tell Gerry that and found you instead."  He grinned.  "In the end, it all turned out for the best."

 

Blair stared at him.  "And I've been feeling guilty for stealing Gerry's Sentinel!"

 

The Sentinel took the mug from Blair's hands and set it down on the coffee table with a clink, then moved in to trap his Guide in the corner of the couch.  "No need for that, Chief.  I was never his Sentinel."

 

~'~

 

"Jim, it's your father here.  Could you find some time to come by my office?  I need to talk to you."

 

Jim frowned at the answering machine.  When William Ellison wanted to talk to you, it generally meant that he intended laying down the law about something.  At the moment, there was only one bone of contention between them and he was currently unpacking his backpack.  Carefully deleting the message so that his Guide wouldn't hear it, Jim moved into the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil.  Sandburg was intending to return to Rainier University in the morning so he would go and see his father then.  He had no intention of exposing Sandburg to his father's wrath or educate him about his father's Machiavellian nature.  And if William Ellison thought that he could intimidate or manipulate the Senior Sentinel Prime into giving up his Guide, he was much mistaken.

 

~'~

 

Like the previous Monday morning, Blair felt that this Monday morning was filled with promise.  Instead of the usual rain, Cascade was bathed in a gentle sunshine that warmed without being too hot.  Blair turned his face up to bathe it in the sun for a minute before he followed Jim to the truck.  Smiling to himself, he watched his Sentinel unlock the truck's doors.  Knowing that Jim had had no intention of bonding with Gerry had removed the last of Blair's reservations about their bonding and he felt truly happy.

 

"You going to stand there all day, Sandburg?"

 

Jim's voice yanked him back to reality.

 

"Just enjoying the sunshine, man."  He got into the truck and put on his seatbelt, a smile still playing about his features.

 

"Make the most of it, Chief.  The weather forecast is for rain this afternoon."

 

Blair continued to smile.  It wasn't only the sunshine that had him in a good mood but he wasn't about to tell Jim that.  He noticed the glances Jim was giving him and smiled even more.

 

"You on happy pills or something, Chief?"

 

"No, Jim, just happy."

 

He won an answering smile at that before Jim continued, "I'll be back to pick you up for lunch.  Don't forget."

 

"I won't forget.  I don't have any classes this afternoon and I should be able to pick up my notes after my last class."

 

Jim nodded and the rest of the journey was spent in a companionable silence.

 

They reached the university in plenty of time for Blair's first class and he hopped down from the truck happily.  "See you at twelve!"  He stopped at Jim's sudden scowl.  "What's up?"

 

"Westward."

 

Blair glanced over his shoulder.  "Hey, Gerry!"  Ignoring his Sentinel's displeasure, he greeted his friend happily.

 

"Hi, Blair.  Sentinel Ellison."

 

"You okay?"

 

Gerry's gaze finally met Blair's and he leaned in to talk to his friend confidentially.  "Look, I know my dad created hell with Sentinel Ellison's dad...I just wanted you to know that I - I," he started stammering as Jim got out of the truck and made his way around the front of it, "I didn't...I mean..."  He took a step back as Jim stepped between him and Blair.  "I told him I didn't bond with Sentinel Ellison but I tried to tell him that I changed my mind too!  I don't know what he said to Mr. Ellison but, seriously, Blair, I had nothing to do with it!"

 

"It's okay, Gerry!  I'm sure everything will calm down."  Blair put a soothing hand on his Sentinel's arm.

 

"Well...I'm not sure.  Dad insisted that I leave Guide School."  His gaze flickered up to meet Jim's then fell again.  "He uh...wasn't happy.  I don't really mind, I mean...I realised that I'm not cut out to be a Guide."

 

"That sounds like a sensible decision."  Jim's voice wasn't quite as icy as before.

 

"Yeah, well, I guess things worked out for the best then, huh?  I only came in this morning in the hope of catching you."  He looked at Blair then glanced around as a very expensive limousine approached.  "Gotta go, my ride's here.  Take care of yourself, Blair."

 

"You too, Gerry."

 

"Sentinel Ellison."

 

"Bye, Gerry."

 

The pair remained silent as Gerry got into the limousine and left.  Finally, Blair spoke.  "I guess his dad really is angry then."

 

"Why do you say that, Chief?"

 

"Well, pulling Gerry out of Guide School like that."

 

"Gerry wasn't meant to be a Guide, that's all there is to it."

 

Blair looked doubtful but didn't bother arguing.  He knew that Jim still thought badly of Gerry, in spite of how well things had worked out for them.

 

"Will you be okay?"

 

He looked up in surprise to find Jim's eyes assessing him shrewdly.  "Sure, man, I'll be fine.  I am gonna be late though!"

 

"Okay, Chief.  Phone me if you have a problem."

 

"Sure, Jim.  I'll see you later."

 

~'~

 

Having left Blair to head into the main building at Rainier, Jim drove across the city to his father's office.  He would far sooner get this interview out of the way before going to see his friends in Major Crime.  He intended to take his Guide into the bullpen after lunch so that he could meet the men and women he'd be working with part-time.  If Jim was honest with himself, he didn't really want his Guide working with him.  The situations he got into could be dangerous and putting his Guide in danger was something the Sentinel was extremely unhappy with.  But, he was a detective and his job was important to him.  Deciding that he'd simply have to make sure that his Guide was protected at all times, Jim put the worry from him and concentrated on driving.  The sooner he saw his father, the better.

 

As he had expected, his father kept him waiting.  It was an old trick of his that used to unsettle Jim when he was a child.  However, he was now a grown man, an ex-Ranger, a police detective and the Senior Sentinel Prime of Cascade, so he recognised the trick and refused to react to it.  Perhaps his father realised that as Jim was only kept waiting a few minutes instead of the fifteen or more that he'd expected.

 

~'~

 

"Jim!  It's so good to see you!"  William Ellison made sure that his greeting sounded warm, even though he was furious at having been kept waiting a whole week to see his son.  Hadn't he understood how urgent his message was?  "I expected to see you last week though - you weren't ill, I hope?"

 

Jim answered calmly, apparently unaware of his faux pas.  "No, Dad, I went out of town with Blair.  I didn't get back until yesterday."

 

"Oh, of course.  Your bonding week."  William returned to his side of the desk and moved a few files around, making sure that Blair Sandburg's file was on the top.  "How did it go?"

 

Jim smiled.  "It was great."

 

"That's good, Jim."  William managed to keep his anger out of his voice, surprising himself with how calm he sounded.  Why on earth was Jim looking so happy about spending a week with that worthless hanger on?

 

"So, what did you want to see me about?"

 

"Oh, well..."  William paused, rather taken aback by Jim's impatience.  However, it was time to make his son face up to the mistake he'd made, so he might as well get on with it.  "I had a little checking done on your Guide."  Even William couldn't miss the fury that settled on the Sentinel's face.  "Now, don't look at me like that, Jim, it was for your own good."

 

"My own good?  You checked up on my Guide because he isn't the perfect Guide you picked out for me, that's all there is to it!"  To William's shock, he leaned over the desk, his presence threatening.  "Leave my Guide alone."

 

"Jim!"  The tycoon could not believe that his own son was acting this way towards him.

 

"My Guide, mine.  No one else's!" Jim practically growled the words.

 

Dimly, William realised that the Sentinel was detecting a threat to his bond and reacting accordingly.  Hastily, he sought to recover his position.  He needed to calm the Sentinel down if he was to get Jim to see sense.  "Now, Jim, I have no intention of taking your Guide from you.  He's your Guide, no one else's.  I just wanted to make sure that he isn't some gold digger after you for your money."

 

"I don't care what he is!  He's my Guide!  I bonded with him, he didn't choose to bond with me!"

 

William was indignant.  Considering how Blair Sandburg started in life, he would have thought that the boy would have leapt at the chance to bond with William Ellison's son and heir.  "And why not?!  You're James Ellison, you're my son!  And you're the Senior Sentinel Prime of Cascade.  Isn't all that good enough for the upstart?"

 

"Upstart?"  Jim's voice went ominously quiet as he demanded, "Who the hell are you to judge my Guide?"

 

William ignored the Sentinel's fury this time and returned to his earlier argument.  Obviously Sandburg had been cleverer than he'd thought and it was even more important that Jim listen to him.  "That Guide as you call him is the misbegotten son of a hippie!  He has no father.  And he's a pauper, Jim!  If you think that he didn't plan to trap you into bonding with him, you're a bigger fool than I thought you!"  For a second he believed the Sentinel was about to attack him and he almost gibbered with fear, but instead he was nearly dragged across his desk as he found himself almost nose to nose with his irate son.

 

"If you ever make another accusation about Blair or make any attempt to harm him, I'll declare a Vendetta on you."

 

He was thrust back into his chair and gasped for breath as he tried to reach his son.  "Jim, I only -"

 

"Stay away from my Guide."

 

The door slammed shut behind the Sentinel, and William was left alone.

 

~'~

 

Furious and feeling totally unsettled, the Sentinel drove straight back to Rainier University.  He needed to see his Guide, he needed to see for himself that his Guide was his.  As he drove, he damned William Ellison to all the corners of Hell.  Who did he think he was to go checking up on his Guide?  Sandburg was good enough, more than good enough, for the Sentinel and that was all that mattered.  He was his Guide and any threat to their bond would be removed.

 

Jim pulled back at that thought.  While the Sentinel would be quite happy to tear William Ellison into shreds and jump up and down on the remains all the while roaring out his fury, James Ellison had no intention of hurting his father.  Well, not physically, anyway.  If his father persisted in this ridiculous notion that Jim's Guide wasn't good enough for his son and heir, then he wouldn't see his son (and probably ex-heir) any more, it was as simple as that.

 

~'~

 

"Mr. Sandburg!"

 

Blair looked up from where he was scribbling notes to see Dean Edward's secretary standing by the door of the lecture hall.  The professor, interrupted mid-sentence by the icy tones of the lady in question, looked at Blair, as did all the students present.

 

"Yes?"  Blair had a sinking feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do with Jim's unhealthy choices for breakfast food.

 

"Dean Edwards wants to see you.  Now."  To make her point clear, the secretary held open the door and waited, obviously impatiently.

 

Blair gathered up his stuff hurriedly, dread filling him.  This didn't look good to him.  He paused to smile and shrug his apologies to the professor and got an encouraging smile in return.

 

"Come see me later, Blair.  You can borrow my notes to find out what you missed."

 

"Thanks, Professor Stoddard."  In spite of his favourite tutor's support, Blair still felt sick with apprehension as he followed the secretary out of the hall and through the main building to the Guide School.

 

Taking a breath to calm himself, Blair knocked at the door to Dean Edward's office.

 

"Come in."

 

The sick feeling grew.  While Dean Edwards never sounded warm and caring, her voice would sink the Titanic at that precise moment.  He took another breath and pushed open the door.  No matter what, he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing him upset.

 

"Mr. Sandburg."

 

Forget the Titanic, this voice was giving the whole of the Antarctic a run for its money.  "You wanted to see me, Dean Edwards?"  Blair was quite proud of how calm and cool his own voice sounded.  Her eyes met his and he restrained a shiver.  Despite his mental barriers, he could feel the ice seeping into him.

 

"I received this letter last week during your unauthorised vacation from the university.  It's from Mr. Christian Westward."

 

Blair swallowed, keeping his face as disinterested as possible.  Whatever he'd said, it couldn't be good.  "Yes?"

 

"In it, he states that his son, Gerry, who was intended to be the next Senior Guide Prime is, instead, leaving the Guide School unbonded."  She paused to glare at him.  "I don't suppose you know why, do you?"

 

"No, Dean Edwards."

 

"No?!"  She rose to her feet at that point, apparently too indignant to remain sitting.

 

Blair remained calm, well, he appeared calm.  "No, I have no idea why Gerry's father has decided he has to leave the Guide School."

 

"He was removed from the Guide School because he is no longer going to be the Senior Guide Prime!  This school has benefited greatly from Mr. Westward's patronage, Mr. Sandburg."  The sneer made it obvious that she thought the school had not benefited from him in anyway, but he ignored it.  "And now, his son, his only son, has been removed because the Senior Sentinel Prime did not bond with him!  What do you have to say to that?"  She barely gave him time to formulate an answer before she swung around to grab a thick file.  "This is your file, Mr. Sandburg.  It's hardly the material that Senior Guides Prime are made from, is it?"

 

Blair felt the flush that covered his face at her scathing tone.  He guessed that no one was thinking he was suitable as Senior Guide Prime.  Well, apart from Jim that was.  "Sentinel Ellison chose me to be his Guide -"

 

"And what did you do to make him do such a thing?" she demanded.

 

"Do?  You don't do anything to make a Sentinel want to bond with you!  He either does or he doesn't!"  Blair's pretended calm had abandoned him and he didn't particularly care to go chasing after it.  He was sick and tired of people making it clear that he wasn't good enough to be Jim's Guide.

 

"Until he met you, Sentinel Ell...the Senior Sentinel Prime had every intention of bonding with Gerry Westward.  I cannot see anything in your file that suggests that he could possibly have chosen you over Guide Westward."

 

"Well, he did!" Blair snapped.

 

"Mr. Sandburg!"  Dean Edwards stood as tall as possible.  "I will not tolerate such behaviour as this.  You are expelled from this university!  Remove yourself from the premises forthwith!"

 

Blair felt as though his heart was going to beat its way through his chest, taking his heaving lungs with it.  "So you're expelling the Senior Guide Prime?"  He saw the realisation hit her.  No matter what he'd done in her eyes, he was the Senior Guide Prime and therefore the chosen Guide of the Senior Sentinel Prime.

 

She opened her mouth, and he knew, without a shadow of a doubt that she was going to retract everything she'd just said, and all because of his position.  Nausea rose in him, stronger than ever.  He couldn't play their game; he couldn't use his connection with Jim this way and he was furious that he'd allowed himself to be pushed into saying the words that reminded her exactly who he was now.

 

"Goodbye."  His tone was strangled and his vision blurred as he staggered from the room.  He knew that he had one hell of a migraine just waiting to kick in, but he had to get out of there.

 

~'~

 

Jim reached the university and headed for Professor Stoddard's class.  He'd memorised Blair's timetable so that he'd know where his Guide was supposed to be while he was at the university.  Not that he was an over-protective Sentinel or anything.

 

Reaching the right lecture hall, he paused outside the door and tuned out the professor's voice.  He hadn't come to hear a lecture, all he wanted to hear was his Guide's heartbeat.  Sifting through the heartbeats present, he searched for the only one he wanted then, with a shock, he realised that it wasn't there.  Worried and furious, he shoved open the door and stalked into the hall.  "Guide Sandburg, where is he?"

 

The professor stopped talking, apparently dumbfounded for a second.  Then, "He was called out to see Dean Edwards."

 

"Where do I find the dean's office?"  Jim was aware that he was sounding rather abrupt, but the uneasy feeling he'd had was growing and the need to see his Guide was growing with it.

 

"Oh."  Professor Stoddard had to stop and think for a moment and Jim guessed he wasn't used to having to go there.  "It's in the Guide School building.  In through the main entrance and it's on your right somewhere.  Just follow the signs."

 

"Thanks."  Letting the door swing shut behind him, Jim made his way to the dean's office.  Fortunately for him, the way to Dean Edwards' office was well sign-posted, as it wasn't to the right at all.

 

"May I help you?"  The ever-so-superior woman sitting behind the impressive desk obviously had no doubt that she could help, although Jim doubted her willingness to.

 

"I'm looking for my Guide, the Senior Guide Prime."

 

"Oh!"  The woman's attitude changed in a heartbeat.  "Senior Sentinel Prime, what an honour it is to have you here!  I'm sure that Dean Edwards would love to see you!" she gushed.  She pressed a button on her desk and leaned forward to speak into the intercom.  "Dean Edwards, the Senior Sentinel Prime is here to see you."  Not waiting for an answer, she jumped to her feet and gracefully led the way to the door.  "Do go in, Senior Sentinel Prime."

 

"Thank you."  Jim waited until the door had shut behind him then regarded the shocked woman sitting behind the even more impressive desk.  She stared back at him, horror in her eyes, and he didn't need to be a Sentinel to smell the fear in the room.  "I'm looking for my Guide, Blair Sandburg."

 

Smoothly, a civilised mask slid into place, hiding her emotions.  "I'm afraid Guide Sandburg isn't here.  He left."

 

The gaze that met his was calm enough, but he could hear her heartbeat pounding away and he could see the pulse in her throat as it broadcast her fear loud and wide.  Inhaling, the Sentinel could smell that his Guide had been there - and had been distressed.  "What did you say to him?"

 

"I - I didn't say anything to him!"

 

Her respiration was increasing and the smell of fear doubled.  Growling, the Sentinel made himself a silent promise.  He'd teach them that they shouldn't upset his Guide - but now wasn't the time.  He needed to find his Guide first, then deal with these interlopers.  "When did he leave?"

 

"A-about half an hour ago!"

 

Snarling, the Sentinel stalked back into the outer office and out into the corridor again, ignoring the secretary's attempt to socialise with him.  Blair's distress had soured his scent but it was still fresh enough for the Sentinel to follow, his task made easier as most of the students were still in class and the corridors were not busy.  He trailed his Guide to the doors, but lost the scent there in the fresh breeze that was blowing.

 

It was possible that Blair had returned to the loft.  Accordingly, he pulled out his cell phone, and dialled hurriedly.  He got a busy signal.  Running to his truck, he yanked open the door and threw the cell phone on the seat.  He'd check the loft first.

 

~'~

 

Blair dropped the phone on the couch and groaned.  Jim's cell phone was busy.  It had taken him ages to dial the number with his pounding headache and distorted vision - in the end, he'd had to stare at his fingers and use his peripheral vision to find the numbers he wanted.  And now, Jim was on the phone!

 

He leaned his head against the back of the couch and tried to relax.  All he'd wanted to do was to let Jim know that he wasn't at the university, although he had no doubt the Sentinel would realise he was upset and demand to know why.  Not phoning Jim wasn't an option as he suspected his Sentinel would go berserk if he reached Rainier at lunchtime and found his Guide missing.  And having the Clan track him down twice in one fortnight was too much for any Guide to live down.

 

Picking up the phone he tried to hit re-dial, then cursed loudly as his finger missed and hit another button.  Now he'd have to dial the whole number again.  Closing one eye and squinting with the other, he looked at his fingers, doing his best to spot the numbers around the bright arc that was distorting his vision.

 

It was while he was trying to find the last number, which was stubbornly remaining out of sight no matter where he directed his gaze, that Blair heard the door open.  He looked up, tilting his head to try and see around the sparkly arc that was almost surrounding his entire vision now.  "Jim?"

 

"What's wrong with your eyesight?"

 

"Migraine."  Blair sighed with relief and put the phone on the coffee table.  At least now he could stop hunting for that damn number.  "I was trying to phone you."

 

His Sentinel's hands were gentle as they moved over his head, tilting his face up so that his eyes could be checked.  "Have you taken anything for it?"

 

Blair almost nodded but he suspected that his head would fall off if he did.  "Yeah, I've got to go to bed though."  He could sense his Sentinel's concern and hastened to reassure him.  "I'll be fine in a few hours."  'Uh oh.'  The Sentinel was still checking him over with his senses, clearly unhappy at this turn of events.  "It's just a migraine, Jim.  I've had them before.  Couple of tablets, a couple of hours' sleep, and I'm back to normal."

 

"All right."  The words were growled but the hands that helped him from the couch remained gentle.

 

"I'm fine, Jim, honestly."

 

The Sentinel refused to back off and Blair found himself escorted to his room, undressed to his t-shirt and underwear, and tucked into bed.  He stopped himself from making a sarcastic comment about bedtime stories or goodnight kisses as he suspected that the Sentinel wouldn't appreciate the joke - and neither would Jim.  Plus, the way his head was pounding he was pretty sure that the ability to form a coherent sentence was rapidly escaping him.

 

He snuggled into his pillow then got a bit of a shock as the bed behind him dipped.  "Jiiim?" his voice was slurred with tiredness.

 

"Go to sleep, Chief."

 

He felt the added warmth as his Sentinel lay behind him, one arm curled possessively around his chest.  Sinking into the bond together, Blair felt the pain in his head recede.  He was too worn out to enjoy the novelty of being pain-free but he managed the vague thought that they should bottle the bond and sell it as a migraine reliever, before sleep overwhelmed him and he was lost.

 

~'~

 

The brief ringing of the phone brought him back to consciousness, fortunately it was a pain-free consciousness.  Rolling over, he looked at his alarm clock.  It was almost one.  His eyes widened - he and Jim were supposed to be at the Cascade PD at one.  Groaning, he threw back the bedclothes and ran to the bathroom.  It wouldn't take him long to get ready.

 

Diving back into his bedroom, he grabbed for his clothes and started pulling them on rapidly.  Hopping on one leg as he fought with his jeans, his eyes met those of his Sentinel.  Jim was leaning against the doorframe, obviously enjoying the floorshow.

 

"Do you always dress in such a hurry?"

 

"We're due at the PD at one!" Blair reminded him, wondering where the hell the other leg of his jeans had gone.  Realising that he'd put his right leg into the left trouser leg, he yanked off his jeans and tried again.

 

"Relax, Sandburg.  I phoned Simon and said we'd be in tomorrow."

 

"And he was okay with that?"  Blair was surprised.  He didn't think detectives could just take time off like that.

 

"I told him some stuff came up."  Jim shrugged then added, "Anyway, I have a ton of holiday time accrued.  I think he's glad I'm finally taking some."

 

Blair frowned as, finally fully dressed, he followed Jim to the kitchen.  "What came up?"

 

"Hmm?"

 

If he didn't know better, Blair would guess that Jim's Sentinel hearing was on the blink.  He waited until Jim had finished looking in the fridge and repeated, "What came up?"

 

"Sandwiches and soup okay with you?"

 

"Yes, fine.  What -"

 

"Anything you need to avoid after having a migraine?"

 

"No.  Oh...was it my migraine?  You could have gone into work - I would have been fine!"

 

"No, Chief, it wasn't the migraine.  Well, not totally."  Jim's gaze met his and there was a hint of sternness in the depths.  "I need to know what happened in the dean's office."

 

Blair shrugged and shook his head.  "Nothing happened."

 

"Riiight.  So you got a migraine for no reason then?"  Jim didn't pause as he spread mayo on the bread.

 

Blair gave it up as a bad job.  It's not like his Sentinel wouldn't be able to tell when he was lying, after all.  "She had a letter from Christian Westward.  He's furious that Gerry didn't bond with you, she's furious that Gerry didn't bond with you, and she's furious that they've lost Mr. Westward's patronage.  He donated a lot of money to Rainier in the past."

 

"And she took it out on you."  He didn't need to look up to know that Jim's eyes were fixed on his face.

 

"Kind of.  She got annoyed, I got annoyed.  I got expelled."  The last was muttered.

 

"She what?"  The half-sliced tomato was abandoned as Jim stared at his Guide in disbelief.

 

"Well, I would have left anyway.  It's not like I need to graduate from Guide School now that I'm bonded.  Uh...Jim?"  The Sentinel had headed straight past him and was reaching for the phone.  "Oh, no, Jim, don't phone her!"  Blair tried to grab the phone away from him but Jim fended him off with one hand, while dialling with the other.

 

"I want to speak to Dean Edwards."

 

The snooty tones of the ever-so-helpful secretary reached him.  "I'm afraid Dean Edwards isn't available at the moment.  May I help you?"

 

The Sentinel growled and disconnected the call.

 

"Jim, calm down, man!"

 

The Sentinel glared at him.  "Stay here, Guide."

 

"Jim, where are you - don't go and see her!"  He held onto his Sentinel's arm and leaned backwards, bracing his feet against the wooden floor.  It was useless.  He was towed towards the door then his hands were disentangled from Jim's arm and sleeve.  "I wouldn't go back to the Guide School if they paid me!"

 

"Stay here."

 

"C'mon, man!  You can't do this!"  He stared at the shut door then sank down to sit on the floor.  Ever since he'd bonded with Jim, it had been one thing after another.  No one he'd met so far had been pleased with their bonding - and who knew how Jim's friends and colleagues would react?  He'd been feeling so good about things this morning too.  Why couldn't life be simple?

 

~'~

 

"Jim!"  Sentinel Edwards looked up in surprise as the Senior Sentinel Prime marched up to his desk.  "I thought you weren't coming in until tomorrow?  Captain Banks said you'd called in."

 

"I wasn't, but this is important.  Blair's been expelled from the Guide School."

 

"What?!"  Edwards didn't need Sentinel sight to see the muscle working overtime at the corner of Ellison's jaw.  "He's the Senior Guide Prime - they can't expel him!"

 

"That's what we're going to explain to Dean Edwards."  The muscle relaxed slightly as a devilish gleam appeared in Ellison's eyes.  Whatever it was he had planned, Edwards guessed that Dean Edwards (fortunately no relation) wouldn't like it one bit.

 

Edwards glanced around at the assembled Sentinels and Guides who were all raring to go.  "Well, then.  Let's go see her."

 

~'~

 

"Dean Edwards is busy and does not wish to see you."  Delicia Adams, the superior secretary to the most superior Dean Edwards, looked down her nose at one ex-student of the Guide School and sneered.  She'd known that this one would amount to nothing.  Not the right background, you see, and definitely the wrong clothes.  When she had been a student at the Guide School, all the students dressed and spoke well.  Not that she'd chosen to bond, of course; her work kept her more than happy.

 

The ex-student facing her sighed.  "Can you please just tell me if the Senior Sentinel Prime is in there now?"

 

She raised an eyebrow, shocked at the young man's question.  "I hardly think that the Senior Sentinel Prime's whereabouts are any of your concern!"

 

"Look, you have no idea how important -"

 

Delicia talked over him effortlessly.  She'd had years of practice.  "And you, young man, have no right to be asking these questions.  I suggest you leave before I ask security to escort you out of here!"

 

"I think I might have something to say about that."

 

The voice was ice-cold and filled with fury.  Delicia smirked slightly as she met the gaze of the Senior Sentinel Prime, then smirked even more as she looked upon the horror-filled face of the ex-student.

 

He gulped audibly then turned to face the irate Sentinel.  "Hey, Jim."

 

Delicia gasped.  Of all the impertinence; to refer to the Senior Sentinel Prime as 'Jim'!  She waited, eagerly, for the Senior Sentinel Prime and his companions to deal with the upstart.

 

"I thought I told you to stay in the loft?"

 

She frowned.  What kind of a question was that?  Unless...  Unease crept into her mind.

 

"Well...you did...but...."

 

"You thought you'd try to stop me from dealing with Dean Edwards?"

 

The irate look was just as she expected, but the whole situation felt wrong.  Delicia had a sinking feeling that she'd misjudged the scruffy young man badly.

 

"It's not that -"

 

"Edwards, David!"

 

The Sentinel and Guide thus addressed promptly stepped forward.

 

"Guard my Guide."  The order was practically snarled.

 

The ex-student moved backwards until he was almost leaning back across Delicia's impressive desk.  "Jim, I don't -"

 

He was ignored as the Senior Sentinel Prime and the rest of his clan marched into Dean Edward's office.

 

"Why don't you sit down, Blair?"  The Sentinel's voice was kind.  "I'm sure that the Senior Sentinel Prime won't be long."

 

Delicia watched with horror as the scruffy ex-student was gently escorted to a seat.  She almost made an automatic protest as the seats were saved for visiting dignitaries and not usually offered to students, scruffy or otherwise, but she managed to rein herself in.  This was no scruffy student, this was the most superior Senior Guide Prime, and she had made the biggest mistake of her career.

 

~'~

 

Dean Edwards barely managed a squeak as she found her office invaded by the Senior Sentinel Prime and his clan of Sentinels and Guides, all of whom seemed unusually large today for some reason.

 

"Dean Edwards."

 

She gathered her dignity around her like a rather tattered cloak and managed to stand.  She was, after all, the dean of Rainier University and its associated Guide School, not some lowly student.  "Senior Sentinel Prime, what an unexpected surprise."

 

"Surprise?"  The voice sounded almost genial.  "I think I'd call it a shock, wouldn't you?"  The voice hardened.  "You expelled my Guide.  Explain yourself."

 

For a moment, she vacillated, torn between the two choices she'd been considering since Blair Sandburg had left her office.  One: brazen it out and refuse to accept the Senior Guide Prime back as a student.  Unfortunately, that wasn't an option, regardless of her feelings in the matter.  If she had had any doubts about the Senior Sentinel Prime backing up his Guide by whatever means possible, she no longer had them.  His face alone assured her that any attempt to disgrace his Guide would lead to retaliation.  And, as the most effective retaliation would be to have his Clan scorn the Guide School and insist on bonding with Guides from another school, he could easily bring her to her knees.

 

That left option two: insist that Guide Sandburg had misunderstood her and that she was horrified to realise that he believed he had been expelled.  Of course, that option depended on both the Senior Sentinel Prime and his Guide being willing to accept the 'misunderstanding'; she did not delude herself into thinking that she could lie to a Sentinel.  Reminding herself that being Dean often called for great sacrifices, she plunged into an explanation.

 

"Expelled?"  She managed to sound horrified on Guide Sandburg's behalf.  "I am aware that Guide... the Senior Guide Prime left my office believing that he had been expelled, but I can assure you, Senior Sentinel Prime, that he was not."  The sweetness in her voice would have had flies pouring in from all directions.  "I attempted to correct his mistake but I believe that he was feeling unwell, and he left before I could make him understand that nothing was farther from my mind."

 

She'd faced an irate board of University Governors before now but that was nothing compared to facing a furious Clan who were determined to protect the reputation of their Senior Guide Prime.  She felt a trickle of sweat begin to slide down her back, irritating and tickling her skin as it went.  Almost as if he was aware of it, the Senior Sentinel Prime was silent until the sweat reached the waistband of her immaculate skirt and was soaked up by the material.

 

"I see."

 

"Of course, as Guide Sandburg is now a bonded Guide he does not need to return to the Guide School.  Instead, he will, of course, be given the option to graduate immediately.  With honours.  After all," she attempted a laugh, "he is the Senior Guide Prime."

 

The face remained carved in stone, the eyes granite-like, as the Sentinel replied, "And in the university?"

 

She tried to hold a smile in place as her face muscles trembled.  "Naturally, the Senior Guide Prime's studies are most important to Rainier University."

 

Finally, after an ice age, he spoke again, "I'll let my Guide know.  We'll be in touch."

 

It wasn't until the door shut behind them that she allowed her quivering muscles to give way.  Her smile disappeared and she sat down far less gracefully than she had in years.

 

~'~

 

Blair had no doubt that Sentinel Edwards could hear every word that was being spoken in the dean's office, but he had no way to eavesdrop on the confrontation.  Leaning back in his chair, his thoughts turned inwards.  He knew, he had known from the start, that he should not have come to the Guide School in an attempt to ward off his Sentinel's confrontation with his ex-Dean, but he hadn't been able to stop himself.  Jim had been furious when he'd left the loft and Blair had had no doubt that Dean Edwards was in for the shock of her life.  While part of him had relished the idea of the snobbish Dean being put in her place with all the fervour of an angry Sentinel, the Guide part of him had insisted that he had to try to save his Sentinel from being in any situation while he was so extremely irate.

 

Of course, getting caught trying to sneak into the dean's office to warn her of her impending doom had gone down like a lead balloon with the said irate Sentinel.

 

Blair glanced up at his guard.  Edwards was standing approximately two feet in front of his chair, which meant that any attempt to run would be easily thwarted.  He had no doubt that that was not a mere coincidence.  Even so, if it wasn't for the fact that he knew that running would set his Sentinel off even more, he would have been sorely tempted to give in to his flight instincts which were screaming with all the urgency they could muster.

 

As the door to the office opened, he did his best to stamp down on his feelings.  He didn't need to push his Sentinel over the edge into Blessed Protector mode - he guessed that the journey home would be bad enough as it was.

 

The Clan emerged with, Blair was hopeful to note, satisfied smirks on their faces.  All the Sentinels reminded him of cats who had just caught and eaten a rather large bird, and the Guides weren't that far behind them.

 

"Guide."

 

Biting down on his lower lip, Blair rose and obediently went to his Sentinel's side.  One large hand gathered him in and the Sentinel scented at his neck and ran his other hand over him checking for injuries.  Blair tried to relax but he knew it wasn't working as the arm tightened around his waist.

 

"Let's go."

 

With the Clan around them, they were escorted to Jim's truck.  Blair accepted being helped into the truck with all the tenderness a mother hen Sentinel could provide but, if the truth be told, he was dreading reaching the loft.

 

The Clan did not depart until Jim and Blair were at the loft door.  Jim unlocked the door, ushered his Guide in and locked it behind them and Blair was left to face his Sentinel alone.  Not that he'd had any hope of a Clan member being so foolish as to attempt to interfere between the Senior Sentinel Prime and his Guide.  Bonded Sentinels were not known for being suicidal.

 

"Go and sit down.  I'll finish making lunch."

 

The words were said quietly but Blair knew that the Sentinel was in control.  Instead of obeying, he followed his Sentinel to the kitchen, preferring to get any confrontation out of the way before trying to eat.  "I know you're angry with me."

 

~'~

 

The Sentinel turned to face his Guide.  Yes, he had been furious to discover that his Guide had disobeyed him but he understood why his Guide had done it: to protect his Sentinel.  In a way, it proved how right he had been to bond with Blair - his Guide was prepared to risk his anger in order to protect him.  And even if he had been inclined to remain angry, his Guide's distress had disarmed him.  Blair was insecure in his bond and Jim, and the Sentinel, recognised that fact, and realised why.  The urge to bond and to reinforce the bond, to make his Guide realise that this was for life and that no insecurity was needed, was growing, and while the Sentinel would have preferred to feed his Guide first, it seemed that the Guide needed reassurance more than he needed food right now.

 

Accordingly, the Sentinel reached for his Guide and pulled him to his side, scenting at his neck aggressively as his mind sought to enter his Guide's.  He was pleased when his Guide, instead of stiffening as he had in the secretary's office, relaxed and dropped his barriers readily, although the Sentinel noticed the relief that showed his Guide had been afraid his Sentinel wouldn't want to bond with him.  Tightening his grasp on his Guide, he hauled him towards the couch.  Lunch would have to wait.

 

~'~

 

Almost overwhelmingly relieved his Sentinel wasn't blocking him out, the Guide went willingly, not minding at all as he was unceremoniously shoved down on the couch and pinned in place.  Tilting his head back, he jumped as his neck was bitten harder than ever before, then melted into the bond.  His Sentinel needed to emphasise their bond more forcefully after the events of the day, and he knew that he needed that emphasis too.

 

~'~

 

As Jim had expected, Blair had crashed after bonding with him and was now out for the count, sprawled on the couch.  He covered up his Guide carefully to keep him warm, then smiled and stretched, popping his spine to his satisfaction.  He'd let Blair sleep for a couple of hours then wake him up to eat an early dinner.

 

His previous bad mood had disappeared, and Jim went back to the kitchen and finished making a sandwich with a smile on his face.  He had no doubt that Blair would still need reassurance in the bond, but he was more than willing to provide that, being quite happy to pounce on his Guide morning, noon and night in order to bond telepathically with him.

 

As for those who had upset his Guide....

 

Dean Edwards had retracted Blair's expulsion, and he doubted if she'd dare to give him any more trouble at all.  He knew that Blair would prefer to simply graduate from the Guide School but he hoped the kid would go back to the university and finish his degree.

 

His father, however, might pose more of a problem.  But if it came to a choice between his Guide and his father, there was no contest.  It might be a challenge to get his Guide to believe that but, as there was no chance of lying in the bond, he could always prove it that way.

 

~'~

 

Blair sighed and opened his eyes, then smiled at the hint of deja vu that swept over him.  He was lying on the couch, his shoes were missing and he was looking at that fireplace again.  However, this time he had no doubts about what had happened.  He and Jim had returned from the Guide School, Jim wasn't angry with him, and his Sentinel had practically dragged him into a bond.  Life was looking better again.

 

"It's about time you woke up, Chief - you need to eat."

 

He stretched and yawned then grinned as his stomach loudly agreed with Jim.  "I'm starving!"

 

"I'm not surprised.  You missed lunch, remember?"

 

"I'll settle for dinner, Jim, as long as it's food."  Blair paused, thinking back to the last time he'd woken up on the couch.  "Oh, and can I have my shoes back?"

 

"You don't need 'em to eat dinner," Jim retorted, his voice full of laughter, "and we're not going anywhere."

 

Blair grinned.

 

~'~

 

The next day saw them at the PD, where Blair got to meet Jim's colleagues in the bullpen and his boss, Simon.  He also got to see the break room which boasted a vending machine and a coffee machine.  Sitting at Jim's desk, he stared down into the cup of coffee Jim had bought him.

 

"Wow."

 

"Yeah, that's what we all said when we first tasted it," Henri, one of the Major Crime detectives, told him.  "But," he took a gulp and grimaced, then continued hoarsely, "after a while you get used to the taste."

 

Blair shook his head.  "I don't think I'll ever get used to this taste.  It's...different."

 

"Makes you wonder what they do to the coffee while it's in the machine, doesn't it?" Jim asked, taking his own gulp of coffee and then shuddering slightly.

 

Blair looked up, mischief in his eyes.  "Of course, with you having an enhanced sense of taste, it's worse for you, Jim.  Maybe you should tell the Chief of Police that you need a better coffee machine.  In fact, one of those espresso machines would be good."  At Jim's look he added, "All in the name of Sentinel comfort, of course!"

 

"Just so long as we get to use it too," Henri threw in.

 

"I'll see what I can do," Jim replied.  "But, speaking of Sentinels...it's time to meet the ones who work here.  C'mon, Chief."

 

Blair tried to hide his dismay.  "Okay.  Nice to meet you, Henri."

 

"You too, Hairboy," Henri grinned.

 

Jim paused for a second, smiled, then pulled one of Blair's curls before continuing out of the bullpen, his Guide right behind him.

 

"Senior Sentinel Prime, Senior Guide Prime."  As Sentinel Edwards greeted them, all chatter in the room came to a halt.

 

"I thought I'd bring Blair in to meet everyone.  Blair, this is the Sentinels' and Guides' break room."

 

"Is the coffee any better?" Blair asked, eyeing the coffee machine with trepidation.

 

"Only just," Edwards replied.  "How are you doing, Blair?"

 

"Fine, thank you, Sentinel Edwards."  Blair took a step backwards and collided with Jim as Edwards leaned forward to scent him.

 

"Relax, Chief, they have to do this."  His hand was warm on Blair's shoulder.

 

Blair did his best to relax but muttered, "They never mentioned that in Guide School!"

 

"They wouldn't.  Only the Senior Guide Prime is scented by all the Sentinels.  It's so they know you if they need to find you."

 

"Oh."  Despite the explanation, Blair still felt slightly freaked out as all the Sentinels in the room scented him.  His nerves weren't helped when Jim growled as one Sentinel leant towards him.

 

The Sentinel instantly stepped back.  "Your Guide, Senior Sentinel Prime.  Claimed and marked."

 

"Jim?"

 

"My Guide, claimed and marked," Jim replied, his tone as formal in return.  His hand flexed possessively as he murmured, a hard tone in his voice, "Sampson is unbonded."

 

"I've met a Guide at a mixer, Senior Sentinel Prime.  We hope to bond this week."  Sampson was looking nervous and Blair didn't blame him in the slightest.

 

"From the Guide School?" Edwards asked, breaking the tense moment.

 

Sampson took the opportunity to step back and turn away from the Guide in front of him.  "She's from out of state."

 

Jim's hand relaxed slightly.  "I hope you'll be happy."

 

"Thank you, Senior Sentinel Prime."

 

It wasn't until they were out of there that Blair had the chance to ask Jim about it.  The reply he got surprised him.

 

"Sampson is unbonded.  If he tries to talk to you, I'll break his neck."

 

Blair raised his eyebrows.  He guessed Jim was feeling a bit possessive today.

 

~'~

 

After a while, Blair got used to splitting his life between the loft, Rainier University and the Cascade PD.  True to her word, no matter how reluctant she was, Dean Edwards had allowed Blair to graduate (with honours) from the Guide School and he was more than happy to drop that part of his curriculum.

 

As an anthropologist, he found the police station to be fascinating.  Every team was like a little tribe of its own, with its own rules and hierarchy and a lot of friendly rivalry.  For instance, Homicide believed themselves to be far superior to Vice, who didn't believe that in the slightest and took every opportunity to point it out.  It certainly made for interesting times though as Blair got to know the different Sentinels and Guides in the departments.

 

The coffee in the machines remained awful, but Blair discovered that Simon, Jim's boss, had his own machine with coffee that tasted like nectar in comparison.  The Guide wasn't above begging his Sentinel to save him from the vile break room coffee, although Jim was running out of excuses to offer Simon.  Simon, for his part, played along.  The reports he was getting from Jim had improved a hundredfold since Blair had started writing most of them and, for that alone, he was willing to overlook the regular disappearance of cups of his coffee.

 

The only fly in Blair's ointment was his Sentinel's father.  Since William Ellison's disastrous attempt to interfere with their bond, Jim had refused point blank to have anything more to do with him.  Therefore, William was trying to make his apologies via his son's Guide, which wasn't pleasing the Senior Sentinel Prime at all.

 

If he was honest, it wasn't pleasing Blair either.  William Ellison, having very little actual knowledge about Sentinels and Guides (as there's nothing quite like burying your head in the sand), had a habit of laying his hand on the younger man's arm in an attempt to convince him of his sincerity.  And he was sincere.  However, he was severely underestimating how much information Blair could pick up from him every time he touched him.  Blair could easily tell that while Mr. Ellison was being honest, his actions were provoked by the fact that Jim was his only heir and not motivated by love for his son.  Blair also realised that the elder Ellison still had a major problem with his son bonding with a social nobody and, being human, this annoyed him no end.

 

Another ramification was that Jim could tell every time his father had been near Blair, and it was driving the Sentinel to become even more possessive of his Guide.

 

In the end, Blair took to ducking out of Rainier by the side or back exits in order to avoid meeting Mr. Ellison, as going home with William Ellison's scent on him was a sure fire way to ensure that his evening would be spent bonding regardless of what other plans he'd made.  He was inadvertently helped by Jim, in that the Sentinel still insisted on collecting him from and dropping him off at the university.  And Mr. Ellison was not so sure of his welcome that he'd chance running into his son in a public place.

 

Therefore, during the one lunchtime he spent at Rainier during the week, Blair ducked out of the side entrance and headed towards the library, reasonably sure that he wasn't about to bump into either Ellison.  He noticed the large black limousine parked in front of the Guide School but paid it very little attention.  There were quite a few children of wealthy parents who were studying at the Guide School as some, like Gerry's father, saw it as an opportunity for social advancement.

 

He spent a very happy hour in the library reading through some texts about Sentinels that had been widely discredited and were now counted as nothing more than Guide propaganda issued during those troubled first years when Sentinels and Guides had first stepped back onto the public stage.

 

In them, the authors had asserted that Sentinels were control freaks who would bond with whosoever they chose.  They would subsequently become exceptionally possessive and territorial over their Guides, even going so far as to fight other Sentinels in defence of their bond.

 

Blair couldn't imagine where they'd got such outlandish ideas from, but he wished he could show it to Jim just to see the resulting fireworks.  Unfortunately, the texts could not be borrowed by anyone, and only Sentinels or bonded Guides were allowed to read them.

 

Cynically, Blair wondered if they were afraid of putting off any prospective Guides.  There were a lot of financial incentives offered to anyone wishing to study as long as they also studied in a Guide School.  Therefore, the said schools were overwhelmed with applications from eager students who wished to avoid having a massive debt when they left university.

 

Grinning to himself, and wondering how much those applications would drop if the prospective Guides could read the warnings in those texts, Blair left the library to head back for his afternoon class.  The black limousine was now parked outside the library but it wasn't until he was passing it that he paid it any heed.

 

The driver's door opened and a well-dressed chauffeur, his over-developed muscles straining the seams of his uniform, got out, blocking Blair's path.  Glancing up at the impassive face, Blair muttered an, "Excuse me," and went to step around the man but the lights went out.

 

With a heavy cloth over his head, Blair automatically dropped his backpack in an attempt to fight.  A loud curse told him that it had landed on someone's foot, and Blair reeled away to one side as he tried to push the cloth off him.  Strong arms grabbed him and he yelled, his voice muffled, then something hit him on the head and the world slid away from him.

 

~'~

 

"Dean Edwards!"

 

The dean looked up and frowned severely as her normally unflappable secretary came rushing into her office.  "Delicia?"  Her tone was heavy with disapproval but, for once, it was ignored.

 

"They've just kidnapped the Senior Guide Prime!"  Delicia came to halt in front of her desk and panted for breath in a most inelegant fashion.

 

For a second the dean froze.  Whoever it was who had taken him, they obviously had ill intentions towards the Guide.  Her mind hovered between hoping he'd be disposed of so that the Senior Sentinel Prime could have a Guide who was worthy of his position, and the memory of the Senior Sentinel Prime's face the last time she had seen him.  Her mind made up, she reached for the phone.

 

~'~

 

Blair groaned to himself as consciousness returned.  His throat was dry, his mouth felt as if something had died in it, and there was a brass band playing in his head.

 

His attempt to curl up into a ball in order to convince the orchestra that he really didn't want to listen to their symphony, thank you very much, maybe another time, was defeated by the fact that he couldn't move his arms or legs.  He tried to open his eyes in order to see why but that only encouraged the trumpet section, so he gave it up as a bad job and went back to hoping whoever had paid them hadn't paid them enough to keep on playing for long.

 

The trumpets were just packing up for the night, leaving the French horns to battle it out with the tubas when he heard a voice.  It seemed to be speaking to him but as he refused to open his eyes, having learned from the last time, it gave up and went away again.

 

It returned later bringing someone else to chat with, presumably because Blair didn't feel like being very good company.  Fortunately for him, the tubas and the French horns had apparently come to an understanding and were now playing somewhere in the distance, so he could hear what the voices were saying.

 

"- important meeting if you were going to give me a tour of your basement, Christian!"

 

Blair frowned.  He knew that voice.

 

"Now, now, William, be patient.  I wanted to show you something or, should I say, someone."

 

William...of course, William Ellison!  Blair started feeling quite proud of himself.  He'd vanquished the trumpets and now he was recognising voices.  The day was looking up.

 

"Someone?  Who on earth could you have in your base - Blair!"

 

Blair winced.  Did Mr. Ellison have to shout like that?  Uh oh, now he was touching him again.  Jim was gonna be pissed.

 

"What's he doing here, Christian?  And what's wrong with him?"

 

"There's nothing wrong with him, William.  My fool of a driver hit him over the head when he started struggling.  I had something to sedate him with that would have kept him out for longer, but it doesn't really matter now."

 

"Does matter!" Blair protested, although he wasn't sure the words were getting out.  "I had to listen to a brass band."  Ah, they were ignoring him.  He guessed he hadn't actually said anything then.  Well, either that or they were just ignoring him.  Given that one of them was William Ellison and the other was, he suspected, Gerry's dad, being ignored was a definite possibility.

 

"It does matter!"  Jim's father sounded almost indignant although that could have been because he agreed with Blair on something.  Blair put that thought to one side and tried to concentrate on the rest of what the man was saying.  "What do you think Jim's going to do when he finds out your driver hit Blair?  And what do you think he'll do to you when finds out you've kidnapped his Guide?  Did you think of that, Christian?"

 

Mr. Ellison was shouting and Blair wished he wouldn't.  The brass band might come back and start playing again and he didn't think he could take it.  However, Mr. Ellison was making a couple of good points in spite of the shouting.  "Take that, Christian!" Blair muttered.

 

"What?  What was that?  Blair, can you hear me?"

 

"Course I can hear you, Mr. Ellison.  No need to shout."

 

"He's barely conscious, Christian, and you say it doesn't matter.  We need to get him to a hospital!"

 

"Am conscious."  Blair winced.  He'd definitely sounded whiny then, however the other two were ignoring him again so maybe they hadn't noticed.

 

"We don't need a hospital, William.  We have everything we need right here."

 

There was silence for a few seconds and Blair tried to prise his eyes open again.  He was almost sure he'd got his right eyelid in a co-operative mood when Mr. Ellison started speaking again, his tone far quieter than before.

 

"What is all this?  What are you up to, Christian?"

 

"It's quite simple, William.  We have your son's Guide.  We break the bond between them, get your son over here, and your son and my son bond as they were supposed to in the first place."

 

"I - I thought their bond was for life?"

 

Blair had hoped that his ears had deceived him but, from Mr. Ellison's reaction, he didn't think they had.  He tried to talk once more but all he managed was a low keening sound as his grief filled him.

 

"It is.  All we have to do is flatline the Guide for a few seconds.  Once he's clinically dead, the bond is broken."

 

"Christian, that's murder!"

 

"Not at all.  We revive him straight afterwards and he'll be fine."

 

"You can't do this, Christian!"

 

Desperate hope crept in and Blair managed to silence himself as he waited, although the gulps of air he was taking were shuddering through him.  They couldn't break his bond with Jim, they couldn't - he'd sooner stay dead than live without his Sentinel.

 

"Look, William, you and I had plans for the Sentinel Clan before this nobody got in the way.  Are you telling me you're willing to give all that up?"

 

"I never planned for murder!"

 

"You're either with me or you're against me in this, William.  Now make up your mind - I don't have the time for your scruples!"

 

There was silence for a few seconds, then, "All right.  You're right."  The man sounded almost regretful as he laid a hand on Blair's shoulder.

 

"I knew you'd see it my way.  I'll go and fetch Gerry then call in the medical team.  The sooner we get this done, the better."

 

Footsteps showed that he was leaving and Blair gulped, trying to get his voice to work enough for him to argue, persuade, beg if he had to...but all he managed was a continuation of the low wails he'd started before.

 

The hand patted him again and moved away.  There were a few beeps then the man spoke again.  "Jim?  Now don't hang up on me - I know where Blair is."

 

Blair gulped again, this time trying to stop the tears of relief that were threatening to spill forth.

 

"How did you know?  Look, that doesn't matter now, just get here as quickly as you can.  Christian's planning on killing Blair to break your bond...all right...just hurry."

 

~'~

 

Jim disconnected the call and tossed the phone to his passenger, not caring as it bounced off Edwards' knee into the foot well.  He would have preferred to stay connected but the grieving sounds he could hear from his Guide were distracting him and he needed to stay in control to get his Guide out of there in time.  Briefly, he thanked God that Dean Edwards' secretary had recognised the limousine as belonging to the Westwards and that the dean had had the good sense to phone him.  He didn't know what Westward was up to, but he was going to kill the man with his bare hands.

 

~'~

 

"All right, Blair.  Just hang on, Jim's on his way."  William hurriedly grabbed at the straps holding his son's Guide in place and started working the buckles loose.  He didn't know how long they had before Jim would arrive, but he couldn't let them kill Blair.  If he did, he'd never get his son back.

 

Just as he helped Blair to stand up, he heard the door open again.  Christian was back.  Carefully, he propped Blair up on the gurney he'd been strapped to, hoping the boy would be able to keep himself upright, then turned, keeping his body between Blair and Christian.

 

"I expected better of you, William."

 

"Better?  Or more immoral?  Killing Jim's Guide won't make him bond with Gerry."

 

"Kill?  Blair?"  Gerry looked stunned, as well he might.  "Dad, what's going on?"

 

William chose to answer that.  "Your father believes that by killing Blair he can force Jim to bond with you."

 

Gerry shook his head, his mouth working but nothing coming out.

 

"Once the bond is broken, Jim will bond with any Guide near him.  And that'll be Gerry."

 

"No...no, Dad -"

 

"Be quiet, Gerry.  This is what we've worked for for a long time.  And that Guide isn't going to stop us."

 

"Us?  There is no 'us', Christian.  I'm not with you on this, your son isn't with you on this.  The only people with you are your hired flunkies."  William's voice was hard as he stared at the supposed medical team backing Christian.  "Whoever hurts his Guide will face the Senior Sentinel Prime and his Clan.  Are you paying them enough for that, Christian?"  He could see the doubt on their faces.  Obviously Christian hadn't mentioned just who the Guide was.  "Are you paying them enough to face a Sentinel Vendetta?  You know that Jim won't stop until they're all dead.  He'll destroy anyone who harms his Guide."

 

"It's true, Dad.  He threatened me and that was before they were even bonded!  And I hadn't hurt Blair - I just wasn't telling him who Blair was."

 

The medical team was thinning out now; the ones at the back taking the opportunity to slip away.  William did his best to memorise their faces.  He wouldn't let them get to Blair if he could help it, but he'd be damned if he'd just let them go.

 

There was a banging in the hall, then a crash which William presumed was the front door bursting open.  For a second they all froze, listening intently, then people started moving again.  Gerry hurried towards William although whether he was seeking refuge or wanting to protect Blair, William had no way of knowing.  The rest of the medical team fled, streaming away into the cacophony of noise that heralded a battle that was fast approaching their position.  Only Christian was left standing by the door.  Even his wealth couldn't protect him against a Sentinel Clan.

 

"Dad, for God's sake...just give up."

 

Christian's gaze met William's, the gleam of what was surely madness apparent.  "Never!" he spat, then whirled and ran up the steps into the hall.

 

Gerry made to go after him but William grabbed his arm.  "Don't!"  Nothing could save the man now.  He heard Christian shout a challenge and heard the answering roar from a Sentinel.  William had no doubt it was his son.  By his side, Christian's son began to shake.  William knew he understood what was happening not so far away.

 

"Jiiimm?"

 

Almost forgotten by both of them, Blair stirred at the sound of his Sentinel.

 

"It's all right, Blair.  He'll be here in a minute."  Turning, William put his arm around the boy.  "Y-you're safe now, don't worry."

 

Gerry's shaking intensified.  "It's my fault.  It's all my fault.  I should have just gone to that stupid gathering."

 

"Nooo...changed his mind.  Wasn' gonna bond...."

 

William didn't think that Gerry heard Blair as the Senior Sentinel Prime came into the basement, his Clan behind him and Christian Westward nowhere in sight.

 

"Dad!"  Gerry bolted for the door but was stopped by another Sentinel who shook his head.

 

Jim ignored them as he headed straight for the armful of Guide William was holding onto.  William let go readily as soon as Jim had hold of him and stepped back.

 

"Jiiimmm...?"

 

The Sentinel wrapped his arms around his Guide and held on tightly.  "It's all right, Chief, I'm here."

 

~'~

 

In the end only one ambulance was required, although the Senior Sentinel Prime insisted on two.  Gerry Westward, once he realised that his father was truly dead, had collapsed with shock, and Jim couldn't bring himself to allow Blair to travel in the same ambulance.  In the Sentinel's mind the Westwards were still a threat to his bond.

 

Once at the hospital, it was obvious that Blair was recovering from his concussion but the doctors kept him in overnight anyway.  Naturally, his Sentinel stayed with him.  It was soon after Blair had been installed in the private room William Ellison had insisted upon that a quiet knock at the door interrupted Jim's thoughts.

 

Pushing open the door, William stuck a foot into the room, but didn't come any closer.  He was obviously learning fast.  "Jim?  I brought some coffee."

 

Jim struggled with his Sentinel side for a second.  He knew his dad was no threat to his bond.  Not now anyway.  "Thanks, Dad."

 

"Is it okay if I come in?"

 

"Sure."  Jim took the cup and moved back to Blair's bedside, indicating the other chair as he went.

 

Picking up the chair, William moved it towards the door.  He really was learning.  "Sentinel Edwards took your truck back to the loft.  I thought I'd give you and Blair a lift in the morning, if you'd like."

 

"That'd be good, Dad.  Thanks."

 

He hesitated.  "I would never have..."  He shook his head.  "He's your Guide, Jim.  I couldn't hurt you like that."

 

"I know, Dad.  It's okay."

 

William nodded slightly.  "Captain Banks is here too.  I...I think he wants to see that Blair's okay."  He paused.  "The boy grows on people, doesn't he?"

 

"Yeah."  Jim smiled as he gazed at the fast asleep Blair, mouth open and a hint of drool escaping from one corner.  "He does."

 

"Well, I'll see you in the morning then."

 

"Okay, Dad."

 

William put his chair back and moved towards the nearby door.

 

"Dad?"  Jim waited until his father looked back, then smiled.  "Thanks."

 

"Any time, Jim."

 

The door shut behind him and Jim moved up onto the bed, spooning up behind his Guide, needing to feel that his Guide was safe.  Shutting his eyes, he took a breath, rubbing his face into the hair beneath his cheek.  His Guide's scent was overlaid with hospital smells and whatever that antiseptic was that was supposed to be Sentinel friendly but still stank like hell, but his scent was there.

 

His eyes shot open suddenly as Blair's heart rate changed, then Jim smiled as Blair turned his head to peer over his shoulder at him.

 

"How you doin', Chief?"

 

"I'm okay."  He shrugged.  "Head hurts a bit.  Are you okay?"

 

"I'm fine."

 

Blair frowned, concern filling his eyes and warring with the tired pain there.  "What about Gerry?"

 

"The doctors sedated him."

 

He got a sigh for that.  "You had to do it, man.  He was crazy."

 

"I know.  Don't worry about Gerry right now.  He'll be fine."  Personally, Jim considered that Gerry was better off without his insane father, but he doubted if Gerry was ready to face that thought yet.

 

"Okay."  Blair snuggled down into the pillow slightly then jerked his eyes open.  "Your Dad!  Is he all right?"

 

"He's fine, Chief."  The Sentinel tightened his arm around his Guide as they sank into a light bond.  "Go to sleep."

 

Blair sighed and the lines of pain faded from his face.

 

"Oh, and you know what?"

 

"Whaat?"  His Guide's voice was slurring.

 

"I think he likes you."

 

~finis~