Disclaimer: The main characters are not mine, this is an amateur effort written purely for the fun of it, and no money has exchanged hands, and it is not intended to breach the copyright of Paramount and Pet Fly Publication.

With thanks to Connie and Gail for their help, any mistakes are mine.

The story starts around the time of “A Little Knowledge, and continues on the story curve from “Be sure your sins,” it is a standalone story, but to fully enjoy it I would suggest reading the other stories  first.

Be Sure your Sins 2

GDP Series

The GDP Correction Facility

Cadet Training Programme.

GDP Cadet Sian Bahn was in her mid-twenties; she removed her black forage cap and smoothed her short blond hair down, and gave Roger Franks a smile. He had been trying to get her to go out with him for the last three weeks and she was enjoying the chase, she had decided to string him along for another week before allowing him to take her out. She pointedly ignored the look that Dave Lash gave her; the man was always too keen, too clingy for her liking.  Automatically she excluded the other female cadets, she only saw them as competition. She had an above average intelligence and she knew it. She had looks, and a body the guys would kill for, so she did not need female friends. As far as she was concerned they were jealous of her.  After all they couldn’t boast that their uncle was the right hand man of Dr Claydove, the director of the Institute of Sentinels and head of the GDP, and through her family connection she was guaranteed a plum GDP posting when she was finished.  It just annoyed her that she had to attend the classes. If you had pull why not use it?

Both of her parents were GDP and just glad that her rebel phase was over. She had even gone so far as to join the Guide Liberation Army to get back at them. But now that she was back in the fold they would do anything to please here, and daddy had already spoken to Uncle Daniel.

With a groan she realized that Cadet Lash was about to try and take the seat near her, so when Rosemary Farmer slid into it for the first time she was pleased to see her.  Usually she had no time for the girl, but now she was actually pleased to see her.

Today’s lesson was one that actually interested her. They were actually going to get to see a rogue guide receiving training, and for once she had studied the course notes.  Sian opened her notebook, folding it back so she could lean it on the GDP Manual and make her notes.

Her attention fixed onto Sentinel Prime Mark Hudson, now there was a sentinel, good looking, strong, and a body that would not stop. She tuned out Rosemary and admired the man, pity about the non-fraternization rule between trainers and cadets. Reluctantly she tuned into Rosemary, as she was gushing about how noble he was devoting his life to helping rogue guides.

“Bet he’s a real gentleman.”

“Sorry Sian, did you say something.”

“No just thinking out aloud.”

Just then the lecture started, the rogue guide was brought in, and she leaned forward to get a good look at him. She ignored some of the crude remarks from some of the other students and the laughter that greeted them. As they commented on his naked leashed body.

Rosemary nudged her “He’s nice looking.”

“The guide? For gods sake Rosie you getting a taste for rough trade?”

Lash leaned forward, “Ted Ward told me all about him. You know he swings both ways. He came onto me in the van, the little perves been pawing his own sentinel during the bond, worse kind of …” He never got to finish as Mark Hudson started his lecture.

None of them saw the GDP Commander slide into the back of the lecture gallery and take a seat.

Sian took notes and asked questions as the rogue guide was put through his paces.

Then suddenly his sentinel burst in. One look at him, and wow, there was something so primal about him, that made her lean even further forward.  The controlled violence got her heart pounding, as she imagined him in the bedroom, and her as his willing prey. 

Then her academic brain cut in, the one she tried to ignore, and a thought began to form, why not study the Sentinel Prime condition, no one had done that for a thesis subject, and the topic she had chosen was much too dry. 

At the back of the gallery the GDP Commander got to his feet, he had seen enough.

24 hours later:

Sian came in to the office of Lieutenant County, and saw Rosemary Farmer at work inputting file details; the rest of the office was deserted. She knew that at 10.00 am, the Lieutenant was out on her home visits.

“Hi Rosie,” Sian made her voice friendly, she smiled //pathetic she was actually pleased to see me.//  Aloud she said, “So they have you crunching the keyboard.”

“It’s not too bad, but the computer went down yesterday, and I have a back log to process.”  She blushed as her stomach rumbled. “What can I do for you Sian?”

“The notes for old frosty lecture on the Guide feeding program, mine were lost when they went through the washing machine, could I borrow yours.

“Of course.”

“Look why don’t I carry on while you get a sandwich.”

“Thanks I won’t be long, and I’ll make you copies of the notes.”

Once the door was closed Sian cleared the screen and punched in:

Elison

Search not found.

//Damn.//

Ellison

Search Ellison James Joseph

She dropped the file box on the screen and clicked send to, then typed in her email address, and hit send. A copy of the file was on its way. Quickly she paged through the file and found the link to Guide Blair Jacob Sandburg’s file, and brought that up.  Then sent that report on its way.

Once that was done, she brought the original file back up and began to input the data as she had promised.

When Rosemary came back she made a few minutes of small talk, then left. On the way out of the building, she crumbled up and threw away the copy of the notes. Now all she had to do was retrieve the reports.

In her room in the GDP Cadet dorm, she opened her laptop, accessed the internet and began to read her e-mail. Both files had made it safely.

Opening the first one gave her a guilty thrill as she began to read the life story of James Joseph Ellison.

Suddenly there was a heavy knock on the door.

Part Two

Ranier University

Six months later

Sian Bahn was working on her Masters, and there was the problem. She was seated opposite her tutor and by the looks of it he was about to trash the first chapter of her dissertation. 

Dr Woodward, flipped through the pages of the chapter again, Sian had potential but no discipline.  “Your idea is basically sound, but, you have to back it up with research work,” he made the one word stand out. “At the moment any committee member could blow you straight out of the water. Facts and research you must have them. It’s no use having a good style if there is no substance to it. Have you made any effort to find a sentinel and guide pairing that would agree to your documenting them? You do realize that you are talking about the bond, the most private and sensitive part of the whole sentinel and guide relationship.”

“But I believe that my findings.” Sian cut in trying to make Dr Woodward see her point.

“That is not good enough Sian, you have to back it up in black and white with facts. Now both your parents are GDP, surely they can find.”

Sian cut in, “No, when I tried to broach the subject with my mother, she told me straight off that no sentinel would agree to me photographing and recording them during the act of bonding, and certainly not to wiring them up like lab rats. Those were her exact words.  If my own mother says that what chance do I have with someone else?”

“Then Sian you may want to look at your outline again.  Now I am sorry but I am over seeing some lab tests for Blair.”

“Sandburg, he’s a guide isn’t he.” Sian curbed her tone, she was not a GDP cadet here, and she did not want to alienate the doctor.

“He is a TA and a doctorate student, his other career is as a guide.” Dr Woodward smiled, “now if you would excuse me.”

“Could I observe the tests please?”

For a moment Woodward paused, “Well, Carol called in sick today and she was going to help us, and you do have lab experience,” he paused for Sian it was the longest seconds of her life. “I am sure that Blair will appreciate the help.” 

00-0-0-0

Sian was clutching her books as she watched her prey. He bounced along, hands flying in all directions, by his side walked his sentinel.

The man’s hand suddenly lashed out and his prey skipped out of the way with a chuckle and a beaming smile.  She caught the look on the sentinel’s face, he was laughing as if it was the best joke ever, and boy he had a killer smile. He caught his guide and pulled him close as he ruffled the long curls with genuine affection.

Then together they mounted the steps of Hargrove Hall.

Somehow she had to get close to these two, if she was going to get her evidence for her thesis.

She checked the video camera that was hidden in her bag; although the tape would be illegal she had high hopes of recording them bonding.  The tape itself had value and would be of use in getting some legal footage that she could use.

When the GDP Correction Officers had entered her room and confiscated her laptop with the stolen personnel files on it, she had thought that her career was over, but Uncle Daniel had pulled a few strings. She’d been put on serious probation and had lost one year’s worth of credits.  When *the commander* had come along, she had jumped at his offer. If she was successful she would have the evidence for her thesis, and be reinstated with all of her credits.  What had shocked her was that Rosie had been the one to betray her to her placement boss.  The little creep had noticed that the alert flag was flashing. It had been easy for her to backtrack which files had been accessed, and then she had pressed the panic button.

Sian knew she would get the last laugh though. When Rosemary was floundering in records, she would have a plum position with Uncle Daniel then see who was laughing last.

The Sentinel testing labs at Hargrove Hall, were the envy of the GDP, Blair has booked them two weeks ago when he had first put the idea to Jim. Much as he had expected Jim backed off, with a grouchy “I am no one’s lab rat Sandburg,” but slowly he had agreed to the tests.

Blair was bouncing along by the side of his sentinel, talking a mile a minute his hands flying in all directions as he described aspects of the testing to his friend.

“See Jim, only a couple of sensor pads to check your vital signs nothing to worry about.”

“So what’s the test?”

“Now if I told you that, it would not be fair, I couldn’t get a true reading on you. Nothing painful, promise man. Trust me big guy.”

“Always Chief.” Jim’s hand dropped to brush his guide’s shoulder. The power of the emotions , Jim was openly broadcasting through their link, rocked the empath. The trust he had in him was breathtaking. He vowed never to let him down.

Dr Woodward smiled “Morning Detective Ellison, thank you for coming. It shouldn’t take too long, and it will help Blair with his thesis.”

“Sure,” the tone was resigned, but the eyes flashed with humor and Woodward had seen it.

“Who’s the girl? This is not a peep show.” Almost immediately a shutter dropped down, leaving only the icy cold patented Ellison look.

“Sorry, Detective Ellison, Blair, this is Sian Bahn, she is a transfer student from Chicago University. She is working on her Masters, and since Carol has come down with the flu, she’s agreed to help up. Shall we get started?”

Jim hesitated. He personally liked Carol. She had proved that she was Blair safe, and he trusted the woman. But this one was an unknown factor and he didn’t like them near his guide.  Blair saw the look, and placed his hand onto his sentinel’s shoulder. It broke the intense look that he was giving the girl; she was already shifting uncomfortably under the gaze.

“Come on big guy, let’s give her a break, its not like she’s covert GDP. You can always check her out later.” Blair’s tone was light and soothing. Then he added quickly, “Just a joke man, okay, just a joke.” He patted Jim’s back.

Blair positioned Jim in the chair; “right, what we are going to do is this, we know that you can locate me through the imprint, so what I want you to do is find me.”

Jim’s hand was lightly holding Blair’s jacket keeping his guide close to him.

Slowly Blair pulled back, breaking the contact between them. Then almost reluctantly he walked out, for a moment he leaned against the wall and took a couple of steadying breaths. “Okay, let’s do this.”

In the changing room he turned on the shower and stepped under the pounding water. He washed his hair and body, using the unscented sentinel safe soap of the GDP, then dried off and pulled open the plastic over the clothes on the bench.  Dressing quickly, he glanced across at Paul Stewart.  The other student was dressing in the clothes that Blair had carefully prepared. He had worn them for one day so they were impregnated with his scent. The student had showered to remove as much of his own scent as possible.  Now that Blair was covered by Paul’s scent, they had exchanged scent identity. Now to see if Jim could find him.

Jim was getting edgy. His senses rebelled against the sterile non-smell of his surroundings. He had reluctantly allowed the doctor to switch the white noise generator on, and blindfold him. Leaving him with the sense of smell, touch and taste to locate his guide.

The sentinel’s head tilted to one side, and his head jerked round. His bound eyes staring straight at them, as he locked on the two people who had just come in.

Dr Woodward’s voice came over the intercom, “Detective, I would like you to remain seated, but find your guide.  If you could open up your senses for me.”

Jim had to fight against the flash of fear knifed through him, as he opened up his remaining three senses, pushing the dials up, when at first he scanned the two people stood out of reach.  Immediately he locked onto Blair’s scent, //easy//, then as he raised the dial on smell, he realized that something was very wrong.  Blair’s scent to him was a ginger, musky, white chocolate scent, //yes located that, but there was more, a base line of sour lemons to it// a growl vibrated lower in his throat, //this was not Blair, it was some imitation of him.// 

Blair stood perfectly still, as Jim’s covered eyes moved towards him. This time the head tilted and he inhaled deeply, his mouth opening as he tongue flicked across his lips, //Jim was tasting the air.// 

Blinded the sentinel got to his feet, and headed towards his guide now even the foreign scent was no longer a mask, he could easily push past it. The decoy Blair stepped in front so that the sentinel reached him first. Blair’s hand shot out to pull Paul out of the way. He saw the tightening of the jaw, like this his sentinel was in no mood to play games. Without warning, Paul pulled off the tight surgical glove that covered a small cut, and ripped the band-aid off. Sian has been clear on that point, for an extra 50 he had to see what the reaction he got from the scent of blood on the decoy guide.

Sian leaned forward. This was going to be interesting, if it worked then it would put the sentinel into Blessed Protector overdrive, and there would be a need to take his guide. If the need was strong enough the bonding would be then and there. If Paul got hurt, it would be his bad luck, he had accepted the money.

The metallic scent of blood hit the sentinel, and Jim roared, tearing off the blindfold.  Now searching for his guide, the real one.

Even as he did it, the decoy Blair suddenly realized his mistake. He knew that Ellison was a dark sentinel, but to be honest all he thought that meant was the guy had better senses than most sentinels, but the look on the sentinel’s face almost made him wet himself. It did not look human, the breath caught in his throat, and he stumbled back chancing a look at Blair Sandburg. How the hell did the guide survive with that animal.

The Dark Sentinel grabbed the fake Blair Sandburg by the scruff of the neck and threw him out of the room, and after locking the door turned his attention to his guide.

In the monitoring booth Dr Woodward leaned forward, the camera’s were still rolling, he would never have condoned what Paul had done, but what was done couldn’t be undone, and there was still useful information to be gathered.  Blair had a safe word, and if he used it, the Doctor would flood the room with an odorless knockout gas, that would put the sentinel down.

The Dark Sentinel had dismissed the fake Sandburg the moment he was thrown out of the room. He had a Guide to claim, and that need overrode every other emotion.

Jim Ellison pounced on his guide, pinning him to the wall and lifting him so that they were nose-to-nose. 

Blair saw the way his sentinel’s jaw was clenching and unclenching the aggression radiating from the sentinel was off the scale, and it battered against the empaths barriers.  A  hip pushed against him  to keep him in place his feet did not even touch the ground.  Held like this the sentinel was able to remove one hand. He brushed the back of his fingers against Blair’s face, then his hand suddenly pulled the shirt open, the buttons flying in all directions. The clothes stank of the fake guide and were a barrier that was stopping him from imprinting his guide.  Then dropping lower he was tugging at the waistband of the trousers.

One hand pressed to Jim’s chest, Blair tried to calm his sentinel down, it was like main lining red-hot lava.  “Easy man, easy, I’m here, yours only yours.” Blair paused as the larger older man leaned forward to snuffle at his throat. When he roared, Blair jumped, his head hitting the wall behind him with a thud.  “I can understand you want his scent off me, no problem big guy, but you have to back off.”

With his free hand Blair caught the larger man, pulling up and against him, showing that it was not force that was holding him in place. He could feel the aggression fading, then with the greatest care he was lowered to the floor. He pushed against Jim’s chest and the sentinel stepped back a bit.

The sentinel was pure primal, Blair felt a shiver run through him. This was not just the dark sentinel, this was the panther. He had seen it the first time in the apartment, when he had been attacked by a GDP traditionalist. Now it was back.

The Dark Panther Sentinel loomed over him again closing the distance between them. Blair met it’s gaze, the Dark Guide in him rising to the surface. He knew what was to happen, and part of him needed it as much as the sentinel, but at the same time, he was determined to remain in control.  Blair made no effort to stop the Dark Panther when he openly scented him, nose flared, inhaling deeply. With a snarl the Sentinel reached out and tore the rest of the clothes off him, leaving him only in his boxers, throwing the now rags across the room in his anger, in his need to get to the true source of his guide’s scent; his actions brutal.

Then the touch changed as with almost delicate care he reached up and stroked his guide’s face with the back of his fingers. The sensitive fingertips brushed across his lips, before moving up to pull the hair net off his head, and threw it in the same direction as the clothes, allowing the mass of dark curls to tumble down round his shoulders.  With ultimate care he carded through the long hair, leaning into the smaller body, to scent it.

Blair laid a hand on Jim’s chest as with a chuckle he said, “You like that don’t you big guy, always have.”

“Blair.”

“Yes.”  The smaller man, saw the shake of the head, Jim hadn’t been asking him something, merely stating the fact, that it was him. The texture drew the sensitized sentinel back to Blair’s hair.

The sentinel’s hand moved from his head to stroked down his shoulder and flank, then slid round his waist and he was pulled close. Blair gave a gasp as the cold metal belt buckle touched his stomach.  In this primitive state, his sentinel looked round, making sure there was no threat to his soul mate, then tugged him closer.

There was an audible click, “Blair are your all right,” and it was the voice of a very concerned Dr Woodward.

Sian, swore. The old coot had spoiled it all. She had pressed record without him noticing and was just about to get a recording of what had promised to be a very unusual bonding, and he had spoiled it. //Damn him.//

Blair caught Jim’s face in his hands, at any time the sentinel could have pulled free, but he luxuriated in the feel of his guide. He dipped his head to scent his hand, and rubbed his face like a giant cat against them. The growl had developed into vibrating purr.

“You can put the cat back in the cage, Jim he’s not needed there is no threat here, just a bunch of academics that you could break in two with one hand behind your back, big guy.”  Blair leaned his head forward nose to nose with his sentinel, his friend and smiled, as he saw the layers pull back. He caught his breath as he saw the dark sentinel look back at him, then it became Jim again.

“What happened Chief?”  There was an edge of panic, as he pulled back from his guide, so that he could sweep his senses over the smaller man, first sight then touch. Running his hands over his guide’s head and shoulders, back and chest, flanks and thighs. Needing to know that he had not hurt him. 

Jim saw the camera and with a roar the primal sentinel returned, grabbing a chair he swung it round so that it hit the glass of the monitoring room. Doctor Woodward grabbed Sian’s arm and pulled her out of the room, the re-enforced glass had held but he was not sure for how long it would.  Sian’s hidden camera continued to record.

Only then did the sentinel return to his guide, his eyes sweeping over him, With a smile twisting his lips, Jim reached out to pull him close his arms round his guide, savoring his warm scent. Then Blair shivered.

For a moment it hung into the balance would the sentinel or the man take the lead, then the man returned, and Jim shook his head as if to clear it, and his expression was almost comical quickly he slid off his jacket and pulled it round his guide, covering his near nakedness, the old man colored as he remembered what he had done.

With a chuckle Blair patted his chest, “It’s okay big guy, no harm no foul, and you can fuss over me tonight promise.”

“Sentinel night” Jim’s voice had a slight shake to it.

“Yeah Jim, Sentinel night, and I am all yours.”

0-0-0-0-0

Dr Woodward found the student in the corridor, and he had no time for small talk, “Mister Stewart what were you playing at in there? It has taken weeks of work to get the Senior Sentinel Prime to come in for testing and your stupidity has endangered that.  I will certainly be getting in touch with Dr Morris, to let him know, and believe me this is the last time that I will be using you.”

He turned round as Sentinel and Guide left the room, Blair was walking behind Jim, but so closely that he was almost plastered across his sentinel’s back, his fingers gripping into his shirt, and with his other hand he kept the jacket in place. 

Dr Woodward, grabbed Paul Stewart and pushed him against the wall, moving in front of him, as he saw the look on Jim Ellison’s face. The only thing that stopped him dismembering the fake Sandburg, was the real one.  “Come on man, its a bit chilly here.”

Only then did the sentinel continue on his way.

0-0-0-0-0

As Blair sat in the truck; picking the lint of the pair of trousers, he was thoughtful. Jim had been hovering round him, all the time he showed and dressed as if worried that someone would try to take him away.  He had been in full Blessed Protector Mode all the way to the truck and now the guide  had to make it right.

Jim needed to know that he was his guide. Once they were back at the loft he would prove it, and hopefully he would have time to get back to the Hall later on, and collect the tapes. He was sure the doctor had had the recorder running when Jim went primal. There was some information there he would need.

A warm hand on his arm, brought him back to the present, and he saw worried eyes watching him, he smiled “I am okay, Jim. Just want to get home.”

0-0-0-0-0-0

Once in the loft, Blair didn’t waste any time, he could feel the emotions of his sentinel building, he had almost been bundled into the lift, and Jim had been all over him. Thankfully no one else had been around to see it.

Blair quickly pulled the cushions off the sofa and laid them on the floor, then reached out both hands to his sentinel, drawing him close.

He placed his hands on Jim’s shoulders and then slowly his eyes never leaving his sentinel’s face moved down his body, until he knelt in front of him, then leaning forward placed his head against Jim’s thigh, submission the beta to the alpha.  But there was nothing weak in Blair Sandburg, this was just a tool to bring the sentinel to the bond, and there he would be controlled.  The guide had control of the bond, a little truth some of the GDP didn’t like him making public.

Jim’s hand dropped to rest on Blair’s head, stroking the long curly hair, only then did the sentinel settle down on the cushion, and with strong hands ease Blair down onto his side.  Then he spooned up behind the smaller man, his arms round him.  Blair leaned back into the warm body and snuggled against him, rolling his head to one side so that Jim could nuzzle at his throat, the lick of the tongue against his skin made him jump, but he was held close with one hand, as with the other the sentinel stroked down his body, his sensitive fingers ghosting over the compact muscles, stroking across his stomach, then back up to his chest, his hand never stopping as he opened all his sense and reinforced his imprint on his guide, his brother, his lifeline, his salvation.

The bond under Blair’s control now mellowed and the harmony of sentinel and guide was achieved.

From his position Blair could just see the clock, once Jim was calmed down, he would be able to slip out, and then he would be in for the night.

He could see an evening of comfort food, bonding, and petting in his near future.

0-0-0-0-0

Four hours later.

Blair pulled through the entrance to the University. He had been lucky to get out, and only his pleading, and the fact that Jim was really relaxed and mellowed allowed him to get permission to collect his papers from the lab. He had a tight schedule if he was a minute late, Jim would be down here, and he didn’t want to see the explosion.

0-0-0-0

Sian was angry, she had been unable to get back into the testing suite earlier to get her camera. All she needed was some lab assistant to open it up and she would be out on her ear.  Sitting in her car she watched the last of the students and TA’s leave the Hall.  Only then did she get out and make her way through the back door, it was common knowledge on the campus that the cleaner left it open when he worked. More than one forgetful TA has been pleased to get in and out again without being noticed.

Her dark clothing merging well into the darkened halls, she pushed open the door to the observation room, and with a soft cry of triumph snagged her bag.  When she turned her heart went into her mouth as she saw Blair Sandburg standing there.

His eyes fixed on her as he stalked across the room, and pulled the bag from her hands. Yanking the zipper open, he grabbed the camera.

“I was talking to Doctor Woodward and he said something about your bag, the way you wouldn’t let anyone touch it, and I began to wonder about Stewart, so I had a little chat with him. You know what he told me Sian, that you had paid him for that little display in the room. Now why would you do that?”  Blair took another step forward; “Maybe because you know that a Sentinel in BP has to bond, and that is what you wanted isn’t it, to catch Jim and me on tape.

When I am finished Sian, you’ll be lucky to get to sit your stats at elementary school.”

Sian had moved forward to grab it, but she fell back. The hatred that burned in the man’s blue eyes was almost like a physical blow.

“Uncle Daniel would never believe you, Guide,” she spat the last word as an insult, but if she expected Blair to back down she was mistaken.

“Uncle Daniel won’t want to soil his hands with this, so don’t even bother.  You should know the bond is sacred and you violated about every regulation.”

Sian made a move to grab the camera, only to have Blair drop it so that it crashed onto the floor. He ducked under her fingers as with a screech she went for his eyes with her nails.

Then he brought her down onto floor, her arm twisted high up her back, her face pressed against the flooring,  “Try that again Sian and you’ll regret it,” Blair snarled as the Dark one came through. “You don’t like that do you, on your knees unable to move because someone is holding you down, next time you GDP scum abuse a Guide remember that.” 

With a hard push he sent her sprawling on her side, then he picked up the camera, tugged out the cassette, dragged out the magnetic tape and tore it.

Sian’s eyes opened wide and she shuffled back away from him.

0-0-0-0-0

Jim was sitting in the loft waiting for his Guide to return, Blair had told him it was important to collect the data from the lab.

After the excitement of the day, Jim had been of a mind to come on the heavy Sentinel with him, the lord and master, ordering him to stay home, but then the man had kicked in. He had promised Blair his own life and he would give him that.

When the phone rang, Jim scooped it up, the smile faded and his features began to harden.  The phone was slammed down into the cradle, and he grabbed up his coat and swept out.

Commander Slater was stood in the room, his heart was pounding, and his eyes were fixed on the smaller figure under the blanket.

Captain Simon Banks gave his shoulder a squeeze, it was times like this that he hated his job, when he saw Jim come through the door, he moved quickly to block the Sentinel.

“Its alright Jim, its not Sandburg.”

“I know, I would have felt the change in the bond. Who is it?”

“Sian, she’s a TA at Rainier, and she’s Dan’s niece,” Simon lowered his voice his eyes showing compassion, then the professional took over, “she was found strangled.”

“Blair was here this morning with one of his blasted tests” Jim rubbed a hand across his face, “it did not exactly go as planned.”

Simon shook his head, “The Sentinel pair that worked the scene said they picked up Blair’s scent and it’s very recent, less that an hour old.”  Looking past Jim, Simon questioned, “Where is Blair, Jim?”

“You don’t think that Blair would...?”  Jim left the question hanging in mid-air. Challenging his Captain to finish his question, ready to defend his guide.

“The cleaner Ozzy Mitchell, said that he heard Sandburg arguing with the girl, accused her of having a camera on during your bonding, if that makes sense.”

“We were doing a test for Sandburg earlier, she must have been recording it.”  There the beginning of anger building in Jim’s voice, so Simon continued hoping to avoid an Ellison vent.

“Well the kid was filming it, what we think is that Blair caught up with her, the tape was found smashed on the ground.” He dropped his voice, “you don’t think the other one would have come out to play, he’s not exactly the…”

“No he would not, never.”

“Then I suggest you find your Guide and find him fast, because I need answers.”

Jim turned on his heels and then paused before crossing to Dan Slater.

“Dan I am sorry,” then he added, “Blair would never have hurt her, you have to believe that.”

Dan lifted his eyes from the covered body, “The doctor at the hospital warned me that Blair was psychotic, unstable, I didn’t believe him.”

The Sentinel had to force himself to keep calm, “Blair is as sane as you or me, he would never hurt another living soul, in the light or in the dark, remember that Dan, and don’t buy into that crap they keep on trying to put around about him.”  His hand hovered over the GDP Commander’s shoulder then he headed out.

Dan watched him leave, //the light or the dark, the Dark Guide, Jim didn’t think that he would do it even then, but he has seen the feral dark guide and it had sent him cold.//

0-0-0-0-0

When Blair woke up; he was lying on his back on a mattress on the floor, his hands chained above his head with cuffs.  The room was in near darkness; he tried to make out the figure moving around towards the back of the room.

Then the man switched on a small light and Blair saw him for the first time.

He wore the overalls of a janitor but his smile was pure evil. The evil of a diseased soul. “Who am I now Blair?”

Blair breathed one word, “Lash.”

0-0-0-0-0

Rafe and H arrived quickly, what they had could not wait.  H caught hold of Jim’s arm, and let go quickly as the Sentinel turned on him with a growl, “You need to hear this, Jim.”

Rafe waited for Jim to join them “We got a call over to the Housing 45 complex, the neighbors got worried about one of the tenants.  He was always helping everyone out and had just disappeared.  His name’s Ozzy Mitchell, he works as a janitor at Rainier.  We just got back to the car when we heard the call and came over. One of the uniforms said a witness called Ozzy Mitchell called it in.  Well that’s impossible because Ozzy Mitchell has been dead for a least four days.”

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The Campus Security Chief had arrived on the scene. Nancy Chan was all too aware that she had a very delicate situation on her hands, and that she was going to have both the police and the GDP breathing down her neck. 

A small woman and young for the position, she had won the respect of the hardened professionals, she had once been a police officer before a trauma had made her give up the badge.

She carried some videotapes with her, “These cover the access to the lab, and the time frame you’re looking at Jim.”

The tape was pushed into the nearest VCR.

The angle of the camera from the corner was pointing down slightly and to the right.  Nancy forwarded, and sure enough Sian arrived, looked round, then entered the lab.  There was a time lapse then Sandburg arrived, he was walking, almost bouncing, and then slowed as he approached the lab.  The third person arrived a little later, he was moving along with a cleaning cart, and kept his head down as he came level with the camera.  Leaning forward, Jim hit the freeze button on the video, and concentrated, his eyes tightening in focus. 

Jim suddenly started, and found himself looking at Simon, “I wasn’t zoning.”

Simon shook his head, “You were doing a damn good impression of one.”

“I saw his face reflected on the steel bucket. It’s Lash, David Lash.”

He pressed the button, there was a long delay and then the cart came back out again, and Jim stabbed the freeze button again, pointed to the left corner of the cart where just hanging out was part of a hand, the fingers nearly dragging on the floor.  “He had Blair in the cart.”

Slater was staring at the tape, “David Lash, the killer from the Sanctuary?”

“Yeah, a Vampire Guide, he violates their minds, and leaves them in a coma.  We have to find Blair now.”  Dan Slater saw the change come over the Sentinel Prime, and he knew that he was looking at the Dark Sentinel.

And the Dark Sentinel was on the Hunt.

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“Lash would have had to transfer Blair to a car or van, we need to know when they left the Hall.” Jim’s eyes didn’t leave the now frozen picture, “I want this bastard, and he’s going to pay for this,” the last words were said with a snarl. 

Simon walked away from the sentinel and pulled out his cell phone, and began to talk to control, he spoke quickly getting an APB out on Blair Sandburg, adding that if found, the man with him was to be considered dangerous and a that there was a possibility of a hostage situation developing.  He turned to watch Jim Ellison as he spoke, his concern for his friend very real.  His friend’s sanity now depended on finding Blair Sandburg and finding him alive, and he was not going to let him down.

Jim went through the tapes, every fiber of him wanted action, but he knew that if he rushed and missed a clue he could lose his Guide forever.  Looking up he saw that Dan was hovering round him.  The GDP Commander was beginning to grate on his nerves, but Slater had lost a loved one, and that was the only thing that stopped the sentinel from handing the man his head on a plate. When he spoke it was with a snap, but he had pulled back and it was down to a dull roar.

“What are you waiting for?” 

“Simon’s worried about the zone out factor, I am going to watch your back, I might not be Sandburg or a Guide, but I know enough to help you, and remember,” Dan paused, “I have a personal interest in wanting Lash.”

Slater knew that the sentinel would understand his right of revenge. But even so he received a warning.

“Just keep out of my way Dan, and we’ll get on, but no one puts Blair in danger. If you do anything to endanger him, I will put you down.”

His attention went back to the VCR and with an oath Jim sat back, “Lash, never left the building, I want this place searched top to bottom, and shut all the white noise generators off.”

Simon sent the uniforms out to each floor and threw the switch, turning white noise generators that insulated the rooms off. The bubbles of silence vanished to be replaced by the noise of electric equipment humming and buzzing.

Looking at Jim, Dan knew what he was going to do, this was dangerous without Sandburg’s back up, but he knew that he could not talk the man out of it.  So Dan waved the others back from the now grim faced sentinel, as Jim opened his senses up wide, and began a sensory sweep of the Hall.  The GDP Commander moved to his elbow careful not to touch him, “keep talking to me Jim, and tell me what you have.”

“People on the ground floor, three heart beats, move up to eight at the entrance,” each floor was detailed.  Then Jim froze and for a moment Dan was worried that he had zoned.

“Are there any passageways linking the buildings?”

Nancy nodded, then swore and pulled out her radio.

By the time they got to the other entrance of the other service tunnel Lash was long gone and the cleaning cart was empty.

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Lash looked down at his prisoner, “You really think that rogue fodder like you should be bonded to a Senior Sentinel Prime like James Ellison?  He’s too good for you, a corrections facility whore. How many did you put it out for Sandburg?”  He picked up a tape and waved it in front of his prisoner’s face.  “Three of them at once Sandburg and you liked it,” he sneered “all that crap about you being a victim.  Shit, once I saw you I knew that you were a hot little slut, and you got Ellison to believe your lies.  So he’s going to get better than you. Me.”

Blair snarled back at him, “You could not ever have him, you’re not good enough Lash.  Poor Lash, what’s the matter, doesn’t a Sentinel want you? You’re a pathetic, you can’t support anyone’s emotions, and all you can do is steal them.”  All Blair knew was that he had to get the other man to connect with him, as at the back of his mind the other, the Dark Guide began to prowl.

Lash closed the distance between them; he caught Blair’s hair and slammed his head back. stunning him.  His mind began to force its way into Blair’s, then Lash’s expression changed as pain started to rip through his mind, his fingers tightening on Blair’s hair and shoulder.  Enraged, finally Lash pulled away and struck out at the guide who dared to resist him.  No one had ever stopped him before. The blow was hard enough to knock the smaller man out, and with disgust Lash let go of the long hair, and Blair’s head lolled to one side.

The anger still burned through Lash, and as he stood up, he kicked out, his toe connecting with a thud into the unconscious man’s side. Sandburg was stronger than he looked.  He had pushed into the kid’s mind, greedy to take all that he could find, but instead had been thrown out.  And he knew that could not be right. 

For a moment he looked down at the pale face with the trickle of blood running down from the forehead, and reaching to his belt took out the leash, letting it run through his fingers gaining pleasure from the feel of the leather.  It would be so easy to kill Sandburg now, but that would achieve nothing. Once he had seen the Guide Porn tape in the shop and recognized the star, he knew that it had been a sign that he was destined to replace Blair Sandburg. He’d spent hours watching the tape, rewinding it then playing it again, and his anger had built. A cheap little slut like Sandburg didn’t deserve the prize that had fallen into his hands.  So he had good barriers, well all barriers fall, and he had the answer to that, and his face lit up with an unholy light as he remembered the drug from his days as a cadet.

All he had to do was get to the office on Richmond Street, and once he had the drug Sandburg’s mind would be stripped bare and he would feed on it like a choice morsel.

But first things first, humming he began to apply the leash, a nice little reminder if Sandburg woke up before he got back. He gave the still body one last kick, turned on his heels, closing the door behind him and locking it into place, before switching on the white noise generator.  Sandburg was his prize and no one was going to take it away from him.

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At the moment that Lash tried to enter Blair’s mind, Jim Ellison stopped dead in his tracks, it was as if he was zoning, his eyes took on a blank look, and then his head went back and he screamed.  It was the most primal noise that a human could make, the sound of a great predator in torment.  The Sentinel’s knees buckled and he fell forward. Dan only just managed to catch the man before he hit the floor, staggering under the dead weight.  Then with a shuddering breath the Sentinel came back to himself, he pushed Dan away almost violently, and when he looked round it was the Dark Sentinel that burned from his eyes.

The laser sharp blue eyes sliced through Dan Slater, and he felt himself weighed and found wanting, it was as if every sin he had ever committed against a Guide was written on his soul and this man had read it.

Jim Ellison snapped back, and looking at Dan, nodded towards the door, if the GDP Commander wanted to come then he could, but without a word being said.  Dan was well aware that he was on sufferance and that Jim was walking a very fine line, balancing the Dark Sentinel, the Cop and the Man, and at any minute he could lose it.

It was with some relief that he saw Edwards arrive. The SWAT Officer was the second in command of the Clan; as usual his guide was with him.

The younger man stood at his sentinel’s shoulder as he was filled in on what had happened.  He had always considered the young guide to be almost fragile, so when he moved forward, and laid his hand on Jim’s shoulder he expected to see the guide being carried away in a body bag, either from Ellison or his own sentinel.

Ellison bristled then calmed, his arms closing round David, as he lowered his head and inhaled his scent, rubbing his face against David’s hand as the young man petted Jim’s face.  Dan knew body language and he would see the guide relax in the hold, his own Sentinel was standing guard over the two of them.

Reluctantly, Jim eased David back, his thumb brushing the Guide’s cheek affectionately.  “Thank you.” then to the young man’s own Sentinel added “Edwards,” and nodded to him as he handed David back. So much said in just one word. The SWAT officer collected his guide close, the pride in him plain for all to see.

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Dr Maggie Speke sat in the car and watched as Dan Slater and James Ellison came out of the building. She watched the way the Sentinel stopped for a moment and pull