New
Arrivals
Author-Amanda
Titles
Catalyst
by Amanda
Disclaimer: All Sentinel characters belong to Pet Fly Productions.
In light of the final horrible episode for the third season this story may annoy as it deals with another Sentinel. But, honestly, I wrote this a month ago and has nothing to do with it. I had no idea of the season finale and please try and read this in a new light.
Any of you know the Australian group called Human Nature??? Michael is a dead ringer for Blair at about 20 years of age. He’s cute as a button.
"Ha! Thank you very much, gentlemen," Jim laughed, dragging the chips toward him. He’d just won his second hand at poker.
Simon chewed on his unlit cigar in frustration, "Ellison, it’s only because Sandburg isn’t in on this one. I may hate it when he beats me but I love it when he beats the rest of you!"
Taggert harrumphed and Brown sat back in his chair resignedly. They’d had a good evening so far. Sandburg had volunteered to go out for more beer. That had been half an hour ago. Ellison glanced at his watch, merely taking note of the time. 11pm.
"Where’s Sandburg with that beer? Shall we start another game?"
Jim frowned, "Yeah, why not."
************
11.30pm.
Ellison sat back and stretched the kinks out of his back.
"Shouldn’t the kid be back by now?" Brown was beginning to become concerned.
Ellison nodded silently. He was about to stand and grab his keys when Simon looked toward the door. They could hear footsteps approaching the door, "This could be him now."
Ellison leapt to his feet. Brown could have sworn he heard the man growl.
"It’s not him."
The sound of keys turning in the lock and the door swinging open. A big man stepped through and regarded them all at the table. As tall as Jim and short blonde hair similar to his he seemed to fill the doorway. Simon looked at his detective. The two could have been brothers. Ellison stepped away from the table and to one side. For some reason his friends still seated had the notion that these two were natural enemies and they were about to witness a fight of incredible proportions.
Each man glowered at the other. Steel blue eyes drilling blue.
"Where is he?" Ellison’s guttural demand almost caused Brown to shiver.
"Sentinel."
Ellison almost swallowed his tongue, "Where is he?" he demanded again.
"Safe."
Simon drew himself to his feet, "You have Sandburg? Why? Jim, what’s going on?"
"He is mine now."
"Hairboy?" Brown also stood.
The deadly eyes were still fixed on Ellison. It was if the others in the room didn’t exist, "I’ve been watching the two of you for some time now. You don’t respect him. He is capable of so much more. Together we will reach our full potential. He is no longer your Guide."
"Guide? What the fuck are you on, man?" Brown was getting very agitated. Sandburg was somewhere he probably didn’t want to be and this man knew where.
"I’ll leave it up to him. He can choose." the man stepped further into the room. A small, lethal looking gun appeared in his hand.
"He is mine," Ellison growled.
"No longer."
"He - is - mine."
"Have you hurt him?" Simon interjected.
For the first time the big man looked at someone other than Ellison, "Of course not. I could never harm him. He will be the other half of my soul," he looked again at Ellison, "Sentinel, I am as you. I need your Guide. Mine is dead."
"How did he die?" Ellison thought frantically. They couldn’t let this man leave.
"She....died. It was an accident."
"How?"
The man shook his head, "NO! You don’t need him anymore. I have come for his journals. He....he can help me," he started to back out of the loft.
"No. Don’t leave. Tell me where he is." Ellison pleaded.
The gun waved in their direction, "Get your handcuffs."
Ellison gritted his teeth.
"NOW! Or I shoot one of you."
Ellison relented and retrieved his set from his jacket.
"Both sets. I know you have two."
Ten minutes later all four men were secured to one of the others. The tall man returned his gun to its hidden holster and made his way into Sandburg’s room. Ellison could hear him going through his room mates belongings. A cry of frustration reached them.
"When did he get a safe?" the man rejoined them in the living room, "What’s the combination, Ellison?"
"How would I know. It’s his safe."
The big man stormed out of the room and out the front door. Ellison dragged himself to his feet almost dislocating Banks’ arm in the process.
"Whoa, Jim. Gimme time...."
Ellison froze, "Blair," he stated staring at the door.
Moments later the man was back, herding Sandburg ahead of him. The young man had a glazed look in his eyes. He staggered a bit as the big man drew him to a halt.
"Hey, Guys, what’s happening?"
"Your safe," the man said softly to him, "open it."
Blair craned his neck to look up at him, "What? No. Who are you."
"You are my Guide now."
"What? No I’m not. Jim!" Blair’s confused expression worried them. He didn’t seem quite right.
"Blair!" called Ellison, "Are you OK? What’s he done to you?"
"Nothing!" shouted the man, "Open your safe now!" He rounded on Blair, threateningly.
"No!"
The man grasped his arm and propelled him toward the door, "Now!"
Miscalculating how far the smaller man would travel, the shove was unnecessarily strong. Blair was slammed up against the door to his room and slid to the floor in an ungraceful puddle. "My God!" the man ran to him, lifting him up, "I didn’t mean it, Sam."
Blair felt himself gently lifted. The man wiped a hand across his brow to check for injuries. Blair pushed his hand away. Stepping back from his tormentor he drew close to the others. Running to Ellison and the Captain he felt their hands. Damn, handcuffs. Key. He looked frantically about him. The man smiled at him and approached. Blair walked around the lounge, keeping it between him and the other.
"Why are you doing this? Why did I come in with you? I went to get beer...."
"I need your help. You are to be my Guide."
"No, I can’t be. Already taken. I can help you, though, if you want me to."
The man smiled slightly and went to sit at the poker table. Blair left his position behind the couch and sat down in a chair opposite the man, "If what you say is true, I can work with you. Help you to understand what is happening to you."
"Sam tried."
"Sam ?"
"My wife. My Guide."
"Where is Sam?"
"She....died. She said I was beyond help."
"How did she die?"
The man shook his head, eyes filling with tears. He glared at Blair who decided to drop the question for now.
"What’s your name?"
The man looked at him closely and then the others. It wouldn’t hurt for them to know it, "MacLean."
"Mr MacLean, you need help...."
"You think I’m mad, too. Like Sam."
Blair shook his head. Inside he thought, Yes. This is how Jim might have ended up if he hadn’t found him. Half mad from the painful stimuli bombarding him from all sides, "Listen. I will help you. But I can’t go with you. I have to do this voluntarily."
Simon nodded imperceptibly. The kid seemed to be defusing the situation. The captain hoped he could continue to weave his magic. Confuse them into a corner and then make them think you’re helping them get out of it.
"You’re mine now."
"I belong to no one. I will not help you by force."
Blair flinched from the hand that touched his cheek, "Never hurt you."
The man stood. Blair had the notion he had lost control of the conversation again. His head felt like it was splitting. Lights danced before his eyes. He rubbed in forehead in consternation, the pain was unusual. He felt his arm being seized again and himself being dragged toward the door. He couldn’t remember even putting up a struggle but he could hear his Sentinel’s last scream. "BLAIR!"
**********
Blair awoke to darkness. The bed he was on was uncomfortable, lumpy. Realisation hit him in an instant but he knew the aftereffects of chloroform and knew not to sit up straight away. He raised his head as high as he dared and took in his room.
MacLean sat nearby in a chair.
Blair sat bolt upright, head swimming he nauseously sank back down again. MacLean moved over to him and sat beside him on the bed. Blair shuffled away from him under the bedclothes. He was cold. Cold. No clothes. Quickly looking under the blanket he breathed again when he saw he still had his shorts on.
"Where am I?"
"Home. Your home."
"Please let me go."
"No, you’ll like it here."
Blair swallowed, "Ummm, I’m thirsty."
MacLean smiled, "I’ll get you something," he rose and left the room.
Blair threw back the blanket and climbed slowly out of bed. He went to the window. Bars. He pressed his face up against the glass, hoping to get a look at the street and the surrounding houses. The closest house was a good block away. It was still night so they couldn’t have travelled far. Chloroform wears off after a certain amount of time so he was sure they couldn’t have come far. They still had to be in Cascade. That meant the man was probably a local. Jim could track him down.
"You can’t get out, you know."
Blair nearly wet himself. He turned to watch MacLean place a tray with water and some fruit on the bedside table. He made no attempt to go near it.
"You can have a look around your new home, if you like."
Blair couldn’t quite believe the offer. He walked along the far side of the wall as far from the other as he could and into the hallway. He sauntered down the hall to where he supposed the front door would be. A quick look behind him confirmed that MacLean wasn’t following. He bolted for the front door. Locked. He pushed his face up against the pane beside the door but the coloured glass prevented him from seeing outside. He made his way to the back of the house through the kitchen to the back door. Locked. Bars on these windows, too. Knives. In the drawers. Then he thought whether he’d like to fight this man with a knife. He was as big as Jim. The voice behind him froze all thought.
"You’ll like it here."
Blair slumped over the kitchen sink, ignoring the man, his mind racing again. Hearing trials on the outside. They’d have to leave the house sometime. If this man was a Sentinel, though, he could track him. But was he? Blair had yet to see evidence of it. Was he being duped? Jim was the only one he had met with all five.
"Are you lying to me, Mr MacLean?" he whispered.
"No," came the answer, "I’m not lying. And call me Mac"
OK, so he had hearing, "What senses do you have?"
"The big three. Hearing, seeing and smell."
"I would have helped you anyway, Mac. You didn’t have to do it this way."
"Sam wanted to leave me. I said no but she wouldn’t listen. I think I frightened her. She couldn’t understand exactly what I was."
Blair hadn’t noticed him getting closer. When he realised, the man was only a foot away.
"I frighten you, too."
"I don’t know whether you’ll hurt me or not. You’re stronger and bigger than me. You can’t contain your anger."
"Never hurt you."
Blair edged his way out of the kitchen, "I think I’ll go to sleep now. I’m tired."
MacLean smiled, "Good, we have a lot to do tomorrow."
Blair couldn’t sleep. It was only a few hours until dawn. He tossed and turned restlessly. Sitting up he looked at the half moon through the window and walked over to it. Craning his head he could see the steps leading up to the front door and on them sat MacLean. He also watched the moon. Twisting his head sideways he looked straight at Blair who jumped in reaction. Both watched each other for a few seconds before Blair dropped his gaze and returned to bed.
**********
Simon Banks dropped a fax in front of Ellison.
"James MacLean. Former air force pilot. Wanted for the murder of one Samantha MacLean, his wife." Simon sat down next to his detective, "What is it about Sentinels, Jim. Are they all attracted to the military?"
Ellison looked him square in the eye, "You could be right. We have to be able to fight to protect what’s ours," he looked away, "But I didn’t protect much last night, did I?"
Simon clapped him on the shoulder, "We’ll get him back, Jim."
"She was his Guide, Simon. That’s what he said. He killed her. Why? Disobedience? That’ll get Sandburg killed in a day."
"Last known address 1424 Denison Street. Two blocks from where you live."
Jim started. Simon waved him down, "We’ve already checked it. He sold it six weeks ago. Brown’s checking all available records for a possible second address. He can’t have moved far if what he said about watching our treatment of Sandburg is true."
"Our treatment of him....I know we treat him like a kid sometimes, but we do respect him. In his own way, he’s smarter than most of us. We’re protective of him because he’s not had the training we have. He’s not used to the darker side of our work."
Simon nodded in agreement, "Nor should he be. Not everyone has to be exposed to what we see in our line of work. This man may not have hurt him. He didn’t seem to want to hurt him."
"He’s wanted for murdering his wife. She was his Guide, Simon. Remember he said she thought he was losing it..."
"Beyond help," Simon reminded him.
"What if Sandburg makes the same mistake? Provokes him some way?"
Simon rubbed his eyes, "Like you said, he’s smarter than that. He knows we’ll find him. He only has to play along until we do."
Ellison glared at his computer screen, daring it to give him the answer. He clasped his head in his hands. Simon grimaced and pat him on the shoulder. He couldn’t think of thing to say in the face of his detective’s despair.
**********
Blair rolled over, sighing. He was hungry. What did he have in store today? Opening his eyes he started up at....not his ceiling.....Holy shit..... Suddenly remembering his heart nearly leapt out of his throat. He struggled to control it. If MacLean was as sensitive as Jim he would pick up on it. On cue, there came a knock on his partially open door. His captor poked his head in.
"I thought you were awake. I didn’t want to wake you, you seemed tired. Come, I’ve cooked your favourite breakfast."
The face disappeared. Bloody hell, thought Blair, what does this loon think is my favourite breakfast? He debated staying where he was but felt too vulnerable lying there in just his shorts. He searched for his shirt but couldn’t find it. He went to cupboard and found a t-shirt. Putting it on for modesty as much as warmth he slowly made his way to the kitchen. MacLean stood at the stove stirring a pot.
"Porridge," he announced, very pleased with himself.
Yeech, Blair thought to himself. Play nice with the maniac, Blair, was his second thought. He sat at the kitchen table and clasped his hands in his lap, surveying the room now that he could see it in daylight. It was an old house in need of repair. He knew from the previous night that the bars on all the windows were new. His abduction was obviously well planned. A shudder tore through him. MacLean dropped the wooden spoon and looked at him worriedly. Blair shrank away as the man walked over to him.
"Please don’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you." He stretched out a hand.
Blair flinched from his touch. MacLean knelt on the floor in front of his chair. He didn’t touch the young man again. He knew that Blair was terrified. One touch could destroy everything he was trying to work for.
"Please let me go. I will help you, I promise. But it can’t work this way. I can work with two Sentinels. Jim needs me, too...."
"No," MacLean said quietly, "he’s had his turn. My Guide was taken from me and now I’ve found another one. You were easy to trace."
Blair, suddenly curious, looked at the man kneeling before him, "How did you find me?"
"The library. The ones you frequent all keep details on who borrows what books. We knew Burton as well. It was easy to hack into the Library’s computer and see that you borrowed the few books covering his studies. Sam suggested we move here, she wanted to contact you and compare studies. We found your university easily enough, asked a few questions. Sam wanted to leave you alone until we had covered as much ground as you," MacLean looked away from him, "but she had her accident."
Blair held his breath, not really wanting to know the details.
"You will take her place," MacLean told him emphatically, "What do you want to do first?"
"I...I..." Blair stammered.
"Breakfast first!" the big man laughed, jumped up and returned to the stove.
Breakfast finished, MacLean washed the dishes.
"You eat like a bird, Blair. We’ll have to change that, won’t we?"
Blair watched him unmoving. He had nothing to say.
"Don't want you getting sick. I’ll look after you properly. I know that you’ve had a few spills with the police. They really were careless with you. I won’t put you in any danger. I’ve got you some clothes, they’re in the cupboard in your room. I’ll get you a computer for your room, without net access, of course. I’ll get you that later. It’s a pity about your journals, but never mind we can start them again...."
Blair stared at him blankly, letting him prattle on. My God, and they thought I could talk. This man could talk underwater with a mouth full of boiled lollies. He thought furiously for a way to get out of the house. Shower. I haven’t checked the shower yet. Maybe the window will be big enough to crawl through. I’d be left alone....
"....listening to me?"
Blair blinked, "What?"
"You haven’t heard a word I’ve said."
"I....I’d like a shower, if that’s OK. Then I’d like to see how acute your hearing is."
MacLean smiled at him as if he had invented him, "Of course you can. The yellow towel is yours."
Blair stood carefully and made his way to his room. He left his shoes and jeans where they were. It would be too obvious if he took them into the bathroom. Once in the bathroom he shut the door. MacLean would be able to hear him even in here. He fought to regulate his heartbeat. Standing on his toes he looked out the small window. No bars. He would have a difficult time getting through it but it was his only chance. Someone of Jim’s size wouldn’t have fit at all and for the first time in his life he gave a silent thanks for his smaller stature. Putting his ear to the door he listened for the Sentinel. He could still hear him clearing the kitchen table. Tip-toeing back to the window he put the lid down on the toilet and flushed it to cover any noise of his escape. Standing on it he pushed the window open and pulled himself up into it.
The door to the bathroom flew open and he screamed in surprise as strong arms wrested him from the window ledge. Blair’s heart nearly failed him as MacLean crushed him to his chest and carried him back to his room. Kicking the door open to Blair’s room he tossed the young man onto his bed. Bouncing several times he managed to scramble close to the wall. MacLean sat next to him and waited until Blair met his eyes.
"Don’t ever lie to me, Blair. I won’t stand for it."
Blair shook in rage and terror. His mouth opened and shut a couple of times but he was so angry and disgusted with the fear he felt no sound came forth.
"Did I hurt you?"
Blair felt confused. He was afraid for his life and now the man wanted to know if he was OK? He shook his head.
"Go and have your shower."
Blair hesitated a moment and then crawled to the end of the bed, avoiding getting close to the other. He backed out of the bedroom and went back into the bathroom. As he went to shut the door a large hand pushed it back open. Blair backed away as MacLean leant against the door frame. The young man was at a loss. A large finger stabbed toward the shower stall.
"Shower."
He meant to stand there and watch him. Blair slowly undressed, embarassed beyond belief. Jumping into the shower he drew the shower curtain closed. Hoping MacLean didn’t open it too he quickly washed his body and his hair. Turning off the water he poked his head out and reached for his towel. MacLean still stood there, a frown still on his face. Blair dried himself behind the curtain, only leaving its confines when he had it wrapped around his waist. He stood near the stall, not wanting to approach the man who stood between him and the bedroom.
MacLean stepped back allowing the young man to get past. The sheer presence of MacLean sent a shudder through him as he could feel the eyes boring into the top of his head as he walked past him.
Once in his bedroom, Blair sank onto the bed. He tried to quell his shaking. The whole episode had exhausted him. What was he to do? How could he get away? MacLean would watch him even more closely now. He should have waited until he got outside the house, after he had earned the man’s trust. He had blown it. His only hope was that Jim and Simon could track him down.
MacLean returned to the kitchen and sat at the table. He tapped the table top impatiently. The kid was obviously too afraid of him at the moment. He was stupid to think that Blair would just pick up where Sam had left off. He’d have to calm the kid down until Blair could become accustomed to living there. In time his Guide would come around and accept his new Sentinel. He stood and went to the cupboard above the stove. Removing a bottle he unscrewed the lid and spooned some into a glass. Filling the glass with water he walked back to Blair’s room.
The young man was still sitting on his bed in his towel. He clutched the towel to his legs as MacLean entered.
"Drink this."
"What is it?"
The glass was thrust into his face.
"No!" Blair knocked it from the man’s hand, spilling its contents onto the carpet.
Picking up the empty glass from the floor, MacLean calmly walked from the room. A minute later he returned, the glass filled again.
Blair edged away from him, "No, I won’t drink it...."
A hand grabbed him by the hair, "We can do this painlessly, or painfully," the deep voice threatened.
Blair grabbed the arm locked in his hair and struggled futilely. MacLean sat next to him and placed the glass onto the bedside table before it could be spilt again. Facing Blair he grasped his throat in one hand. Blair blinked in surprise, clawing at the hand. His head was thrust back into the wall and held there. Bringing up his feet, forgoing any modesty, Blair kicked at MacLean’s chest to push him away. One of his heels brushed against his accoster’s face but MacLean rolled his head to the side and felt little effect. The grip on his throat didn’t lessen and lack of air eventually dimmed the struggles. His hands fell slack and his legs relaxed as MacLean inevitably overpowered him. The hand left his throat and Blair felt himself gathered into the other’s arms. Holding his head gently, MacLean retrieved the glass and lifted it to Blair’s lips. The young man didn’t struggle and acquiesced.
"There that’s better," he heard the man say. Blair slipped into unconsciousness still being held by his tormenter.
Throbbing pain. Blair’s head felt like it had been split in two. He felt quite tired and very calm, despite remembering what had happened. He opened his eyes and groaned. His face vibrated when a deep voice asked him how he felt. Struggling to sit up he looked straight into MacLean’s face. He had been lying against the man’s chest. MacLean still sat on his bed with him. Blair shoved him away and sat against the wall, clasping his knees to his chest. He still wore only his towel and shivered with the cold. His head felt cloudy.
"What did you give me?" he asked quietly.
"You should get dressed."
"What did you give me?"
"It will calm you down. We have a lot to do and I can’t have you running off. It’s just a sedative, pretty mild but you’ll stay close."
Blair tried to stand but kept the back of his knees pressed against the bed to steady himself. He waved his hand about for support and finally sat back down. MacLean watched him, distressed at his Guide’s flailing.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you, but this is very important to me. Blair, please...." he put out his hand to rub the shaking shoulders.
Blair shrugged him off, "Please leave me alone," he said quietly.
The man stood and, taking a last look at his charge, left without a word. Blair drew down the covers and crawled back into bed. He stared blankly at the wall and tried to work his cloudy mind around his predicament. His own form of zone-out.
Zone-out.
He could make the man zone-out. His mind thought frantically how he could achieve this and eventually he fell asleep. His dreams were sluggish and filled with the face of a woman calling his name. **********
"Simon! I may have found him."
Banks looked up as Ellison threw himself into the seat on the other side of the captain’s desk. A page was thrown in front of him.
"Bank account. Air Force pension. The address is a half hour outside of town."
Banks launched himself out of his chair and led Ellison out of the office. They rounded up Brown and Rafe who had been standing anxiously outside when they’d spotted Ellison running into their captain’s office. They suspected it had to do with Sandburg.
"We go alone. No black and whites. I don’t want to spook this man," he announced to the two men. To Ellison he added an aside, "He’ll be able to tell when we’re near, won’t he?"
Ellison nodded. If he were indeed a Sentinel he could smell them coming down the street.
**********
Blair shuffled into the kitchen. He wore his own jeans and the t-shirt he had found in the cupboard. MacLean sat at the table, not looking up at him. Blair hesitated in the doorway for a moment before taking a seat opposite him. MacLean finally looked up at him.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to try and run away." Blair put as much sincerity into his voice as he could muster.
The man didn’t looked convinced.
"I need to understand what I’m dealing with here. How well can you see? Hear?"
MacLean remained silent. Blair drew a breath and fidgeted with his hair. Things were getting uncomfortable, the man continued to stare at him.
"You have hair like Sam."
"Uhh....OK." Blair dropped his hand.
Blair tried not to flinch as MacLean reached out and stroked the curly hair. Oh, God, he thought. What am I going to do if he starts thinking of me as his wife? Blair felt sick. His brain was still clouded.
"I....I can’t think straight right now. I want to test your hearing."
MacLean smiled and nodded.
"OK....Can you tell me what you can hear right now?"
MacLean stared past him, "Your heartbeat."
"Ignore that. Listen past it. What else can you hear?" he would zone this man out if it was the last thing he’d do.
"Ummm, insects. That fly," he pointed to a fly against the kitchen window.
"Good. Now block that out. What else?"
The man continued to look at a point over Blair’s shoulder, "The walls are creaking. The heat outside is expanding the house...."
Blair leaned forward and looked into the face before him. MacLean was concentrating much like Jim did when he fell into a trance. He nearly leapt out of his skin when the face suddenly bounced back into awareness. MacLean stood quickly and grabbed Blair’s arm, dragging him out of the chair and out of the kitchen. Blair dug his heels into the carpet as he was pulled into his bedroom.
"Mac....!"
MacLean went to the window and looked out. Blair followed his gaze. The house up the road, the one he could only just see through the window the day before, had men outside it. Jim! At his sharp intake of breathe MacLean covered his mouth with a large hand, all but obscuring his face. MacLean held him place against his chest by the hand over his mouth and dragged him back out of the bedroom. Blair’s neck twisted painfully in his grip, aggravating the bruising he’d received earlier. He grunted in protest but MacLean paid him no heed.
**********
"Jim!" hissed Simon, "Anything?"
Brown and Rafe crouched behind him. They were good four house lengths away from their target and Ellison ran over to them.
"The place is empty, Captain. He’s not in there."
"I don’t get it. This is where his payment comes every month."
Rafe watched Ellison carefully, "How can you tell he’s not inside? Shouldn’t we go in?"
"They’re not in there!" Ellison ground out. He couldn’t be bothered trying to cover how he knew. He was under enough stress without trying to make excuses for his abilities.
Ellison suddenly perked up. His head swivelled around and he looked past the three men. Banks recognised the look.
"What?"
"He’s nearby. I can....damn, lost him," Ellison stood and walked away from them. Banks followed him up the street. Brown made to follow but was waved down.
"Stay here, Henri."
Banks placed a hand on Ellison’s shoulder, trying to mimic what he had seen Sandburg do in the past.
"Do you want me to help you? Tell me what to do."
Ellison shrugged angrily, "He’s near, I could hear his heartbeat. I’m practically tuned to it now."
"Direction?"
"Not this end of the street. That house." Ellison took off at a run. Banks waved to the others and followed him.
**********
MacLean took his gun from the duffle bag beside his bed. Blair struggled faintly when he saw it. The hand across his face gripped all the more tighter. He pulled at the arm trying to dislodge it but the drug still slowed him. MacLean dragged him to the front of the house again. The car was parked out the front. He cursed himself for being so careless but he’d never expected them to trace him so quickly. He had intended to leave that day for another rented property and move often for as long as took Blair to accept him.
Ellison dropped to the ground as the front door swung open. He nearly choked when he saw his quarry, with Blair in his deadly grip, shuffle onto the front landing of the house.
"Stop right there!" screamed Banks. All four men drew their guns but didn’t aim due to Blair being in the way.
MacLean shifted his grip and clasped his Guide around the throat. Blair groggily called to his Sentinel. Ellison screamed inside himself. His Guide was in pain and he could do nothing to ease it. He heard Blair’s voice again.
"Mac. Please....you’re hurting me."
The man loosened his grip slightly, "I’m sorry, Blair. I can’t let him have you."
Blair’s eyes widened in horror. What did he mean?
"Mac....a Sentinel....can’t kill his Guide," he managed to choke out.
MacLean brushed his lips across the top of Blair’s head, "I’m not going to kill you, Sweetheart."
Blair struggled as he watched the gun raise up and aim toward Jim, "NO!"
In desperation he threw his arms up and knocked the hand that held the gun. MacLean grunted in anger and cuffed Blair on the side of his head with his pistol. As the young man slumped in his arms he continued toward his car. Banks got off a shot and MacLean’s head snapped back. Ellison glanced at him in disbelief at him taking a chance with Blair so close and quickly returned his gaze back to MacLean. The big man had recovered his footing and was still trying to get into his car, his forehead bleeding from Simon’s bullet only having grazed it. Carrying Blair and effecting his escape was too much and he let the young man slump into the gutter.
"I’ll come back for you," gunning the engine, MacLean floored the accelerator and the car leapt forward careening away from the kerb.
Banks shouted at Brown and Rafe who ran back to their own car and followed in pursuit. Ellison bolted for Blair who lay senseless. He cradled him gently, looking up at his captain.
"I think he’s OK. His heartbeat is fine. Just a bit bashed about....just a bit," he rocked his Guide, not believing his luck at having got him back.
**********
"Sandburg, what are you doing up?"
Blair squinted at the men sitting in the living room of the loft. His head was still fuzzy and he eventually made it to the couch. Taggert moved up to make room for him.
"Lemme ‘lone."
Jim smiled. It was almost 9pm and his roommate had slept for almost eight hours. Simon and Joel had decided to stay the night. Three of the biggest bodyguards a harassed anthropologist could hope for. They expected MacLean to return and they intended to be there when he did. The only light in the living room was the glow from the fire Jim had lit when they had finished dinner.
Simon and Joel had listened to Jim’s questioning of the young man earlier when they had finally got him home. Blair had explained the bruising to his neck as being inflicted when he wouldn’t take the drugged water. The bruising to his chin and face had happened when they confronted MacLean at the house. But the two men could tell that the questions Jim really wanted to ask him were the embarrassing ones best left for later. Simon nearly choked on his coffee when Jim could no longer hold it back.
"Blair."
The young man looked up at him.
"Did MacLean....you know....try anything?"
Blair frowned, not understanding, "Huh?"
Jim shifted uncomfortably in his position on the floor near the fire, "Did he attempt...."
"Jim," Simon butted in.
"Oh, Christ, Jim," Blair stammered in sudden understanding, "No, he didn’t try anything. He did have me worried there for a while, though. He kept saying how much I reminded him of Sam. I think I’ll have a haircut tomorrow."
Joel laughed but the seriousness on Jim’s face made him quickly turn it into a cough.
"Jim, when he did hurt me it was in desperation. I wasn’t exactly co-operating, you know. I made some stupid moves and I was lucky he was so protective of me."
His Sentinel squirmed again. Protective. A surge of jealousy ripped through him. Blair didn’t seem to display any enmity toward this man. Blair guessed what he was thinking.
"I mean he didn’t punish me when I tried to get away."
"You tried to escape?" Jim’s voice rose up an octave. Blair missed the danger completely.
"Yeah, through the bathroom window. That was this morning. He caught me. That’s when he decided he better slow me down."
"You shouldn’t have done that. He could have hurt you." Jim was not amused and he didn’t mind showing it. He was treated to Blair squirming a little.
"Man, I was out of my mind. He frightened the life out of me. I had to get away, it was too freaky."
"Call me stupid..." Joel began.
"OK," Blair grinned at him.
Joel chose to ignore that one. "But, you may as well tell me now. You and he, Jim, you’re the same aren’t you."
Blank, disbelieving faces was all he got.
"Give me a break, Guys. A man would have to be blind. I know you can sense things others can’t, Jim. I haven’t quite figured out what Blair’s involvement is but I know he helps you. Is MacLean the same as you? Is that why he wanted Blair?"
Shit, Simon thought. Jim didn’t move. Blair smiled at Joel.
"You’re not stupid, Joel. You’re right."
Jim looked at his Guide in horror.
Blair leant in closer to the bomb squad captain and proceeded to give him the history of Sentinel and Guide. Simon couldn’t believe his ears but he learnt more than he had supposed from the past few years. Joel listened carefully, amazing himself that he believed every word the young anthropologist said. Blair finished and looked apologetically at his Sentinel.
"I’m sorry, Jim. Joel has seen too much. It wouldn’t hurt for him to know. I think we can trust him."
Jim looked at the big man, "I’m sorry, Joel, I’m going to have to kill you now."
Blair chuckled.
"So, his wife was his Guide," Joel asked quietly.
Blair sobered, "Yeah, he was probably driven half mad by the time she found him. From the little I managed to learn, she was winging it. At least I had some background knowledge when I met Jim. He said she wanted to contact me but decided to wait until they had got a better handle on it. Stupid. I could have helped him if they had approached me earlier. The....sensory input almost drove Jim out of his mind. Mac didn’t have any control."
Jim started slightly at the nickname. But he kept his thoughts to himself.
"He really is a gentle man, Jim. Although he terrified me to distraction I think I knew I was safe with him...."
He stopped as Jim suddenly stood and stalked to the kitchen. Blair was at a loss. He cursed himself for being so insensitive. Rubbing his eyes he slumped down into the cushions.
"Sorry, Jim. I didn’t mean it that way."
"It’s OK, kid. I’m still just a bit pissed off, is all," he looked seriously at them all, "He is probably up to a block away listening to us right now."
Joel thought he felt Blair shudder next to him.
Jim walked back over to the fire and looked Blair straight in the eyes, although he addressed the man he was certain was nearby, "And I’m telling you now, MacLean, come near him again and I’ll cut you in half."
Blair nodded and lay his head down on the cushions.
Joel couldn’t look at the pair of them. The Sentinel’s growl almost sent a shudder down his own spine. He had the strange feeling that he had just witnessed an instinctive reaffirmation of roles between Sentinel and Guide.
A short time later Simon yawned, "I’m sorry kids, I can’t stay awake."
Jim shook himself, "Sorry, Simon. You take my bed. I’ll stay down here."
"Joel can have my bed," Blair mumbled from the cushions.
"I’ll take first watch but Blair I want you upstairs, too. I don’t want you on the lower floor. I’m sure Simon won’t mind."
"You don’t snore, do you?" Simon chuckled at the young man.
"Can’t I stay here?" came the muffled question from the still prone figure.
Simon went to the couch and hoisted him up by one arm, "Nope, he’s right, Sandburg. You’re safer up there with one of us. Jim, I’ll relieve you in a few hours."
Jim waved at him and took a seat on the couch.
Simon helped Blair up the stairs, "I ask again, you don’t snore, do you?"
"Not much."
Jim listened to Joel settle on top on the covers on Blair’s bed and Simon settle Blair under the covers of his own bed. He heard Simon’s soft voice.
"He’s asleep already, Jim."
The Sentinel smiled and lay his head back opening his senses to sounds around the loft and outside it.
At 2am Simon came down the stairs quietly. The glow from the still burning fire illuminated Jim’s face as he watched him. The man looked as alert as he had when they’d left him on watch four hours earlier.
"Up you go, Jim. Go watch your Guide."
Jim smiled faintly, "Thanks, Simon."
Joel walked out of the bedroom, "I’ll keep you company. Sandburg has a very comfortable bed, you know."
Jim waved them goodnight and made his way up to his bedroom. Blair was warmly ensconced beneath the bedcovers and he moaned quietly when Jim lay next to him. He watched his Guide’s face in sleep, a fierce protectiveness coming to the fore. MacLean would have his Guide over his dead body. Blair sensed his closeness and snuggled in and Jim smiled as he hoped the young man hadn’t done that to Simon. He doubted it. His Guide’s unconscious instinct tended only to work toward himself. He let his Guide’s soft breathing lull him into sleep.
Blair awoke to the bed lurching beneath him. He struggled to open his eyes but his tiredness won out in the end. He settled for listening to the sounds around him. He could hear Simon’s voice below him. And Taggert. Jim must still be asleep beside him. Blair felt out gingerly for him but found empty bed. He must have gotten up and that’s what woke him. He snuggled down deeper into the pillows when a sentence drilled its fuzzy way into his mind.
"How did you get past Jim?"
"This little thing. Quite good for blocking out noise."
Blair’s heart lurched. MacLean was downstairs. He carefully scooted to the side of the bed and peeped over the bed head to look down into the living room. MacLean stood holding his gun on Simon and Joel. Jim lay on the sofa, obviously hurt. What the hell could he do? The maniac had been true to his word and had come back for him. He thought frantically. He spotted Jim’s spare jacket through the open door of his wardrobe. Rifling through its pockets quietly he hoped Jim kept something in it he could use. What would I do if I did find a gun? No gun. Damn. If MacLean wants me so badly he can have me.
"Mac?"
The Sentinel’s head shot around to see Blair at the top of the stairs, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The young man seemed disoriented.
"Blair!"
"You kept your word. You came back for me." He swayed unsteadily on the stairs, his mind still fuzzy from sleep.
MacLean took a step away from the others and a step closer to his Guide, "Of course. I wouldn’t leave you with him."
Blair could now see that Simon and Joel were once again handcuffed together, the chain passed through the handle of the fireplace door.
Blair continued to rub his eyes as he descended, "They wouldn’t let me leave. I tried to explain that you needed my help, but they wouldn’t listen."
Banks watched in amazement as the young man wove his spell. He hoped it worked this time but by the look of beatification on MacLean’s face, the other was being taken in hook, line and sinker. Jim dabbed at the bloody cut on his forehead with his sleeve and sat up. Joel sat next to him, "Are you OK?"
"Yeah."
MacLean spared them a cursory glance and resumed stalking towards the Guide, "Will you come with me now?"
Blair got to the bottom of the stairs, "Yeah, let me get my jacket. I’m a bit cold."
MacLean nodded, his happiness clearly showing. His Blair had finally come around. He placed his hand against the young man’s back escorting him around the others.
Blair flinched from the gun, "Uh, Mac? Could you put the gun away. They kinda freak me out."
MacLean looked at it, too happy to think straight, and placed it in the back of his jeans. His hand returned to Blair’s back.
"Um, can I have a quick word to Jim? He doesn’t quite understand why I have to go."
MacLean glared at the rival Sentinel, "Fine."
Blair drew the man behind him and toward Jim. He leant toward Jim, suppressing a grimace at the cut on his head. But the eyes that looked up at him were clear and Blair hoped he was onto what he was attempting. He hoped Jim was strong enough.
"I’m sorry, Jim. I belong to Mac now. I hope you can understand. Can you at least shake on it?"
Jim looked deep into his Guide’s eyes, trying to read what was there. Blair silently pleaded with him.
"Will you help me find a new Guide?" Jim played along.
Blair’s stomach cramped, "Sure thing."
Jim nodded in agreement and held his hand out to MacLean, preparing to jump him. The white noise generator, MacLean had used to get in without his notice, was still on. Jim’s accelerating heartbeat shouldn’t give him away. As he coiled within, ready to spring, Blair surprised them both. His hands were a blur as the handcuffs he had found upstairs latched around the wrists of both men. MacLean was so shocked he didn’t even react as Blair skirted around him relieving him of his gun in the back of his jeans.
The young man stepped away from the two enraged Sentinels with a smile on his face. Simon and Joel watched in shock. Why cuff the two enemies together? They’d kill each other.
"Blair, give me the key," MacLean growled.
Blair only smiled.
"Sandburg...." Jim growled with equal menace.
Blair only smiled.
He stepped back as MacLean moved toward him, Jim grasped the other by the hair and hauled him back. MacLean answered with a punch to Jim’s midriff.
Blair held up the cuff key, "Key....Gone," he put it in his mouth and swallowed it. The four men stared at him.
Blair cocked the gun clumsily, "Now, you," he gestured toward MacLean, "SIT!"
The Sentinel sat. Blair crossed his arms, resting the gun against his shoulder. Joel hoped he didn’t shoot his ear off.
"Now, if you kill Jim you’ll have to drag his body with you. I want to talk with the two of you."
MacLean’s glare would normally have chilled him but this time he merely smiled at the man.
Simon broke the silence, "Blair, you shouldn’t have...."
"Quiet. Let me finish."
The tall captain shut his mouth.
"Now, listen to me very carefully, Mac. You are wanted for the murder of your wife...."
"I didn’t...."
"Shut it!" Blair shouted, "I’ve been dragged from pillar to post for the past two days and I’m sick of it! I am NOT a commodity for the two of you to fight over! Mac, you are going to jail. Kidnapping, assault - twice, deprivation of liberty," he looked at Simon, "at least I think that’s one. Mac, I will help you but you’ve got to realise you need professional help, too. Your senses have caused you some mental problems. Problems that probably wouldn’t have arisen if you had received help sooner."
The big man slumped into the cushions next to Jim. His mind rattled over and over....not true. I had to do this....
"Mac," Blair said gently. The man looked up at him. "You will get help. I’ll help you, too. But you have to understand....I do this Guiding freely of my own will. I cannot be coerced into it just because someone decides they’d like to have my services for a while. Can you understand what I’m saying here?"
MacLean sort of nodded. Blair put the gun on the kitchen bench and returned to sit on the floor just out of reach of the two Sentinels.
"Blair," Simon started again. The glare given him shut him up again. The police captain sighed in frustration and gave up.
The anthropologist’s hands waved in front of him, "Now, I will help you for help in return," Jim opened his mouth to say something when Blair cut him off, "I will help him, Jim, I hate to tell you but you don’t really have a say in this."
"Like hell, I don’t" came the answering growl.
Blair waved toward him, "See? See what I mean. You behave the same way. I’m usually pretty easy going when it comes to your....natural assertiveness. I’m not an idiot. I can navigate my way through life as well as the best of them. I choose to help Mac if I can. I’m not going to leave you to do it. He’ll be in jail, I’ll be OK. What would have happened if we hadn’t come across each other? Your senses would have driven you mad."
"Blair?" came MacLean’s quiet voice.
"Yes?"
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you or scare you. My wife’s death was an accident, you have to believe me. My senses, that day, they went berserk. I couldn’t block anything out....I couldn’t tell where she was....I....I...."
Blair edged closer, his hand patting the other man’s gesturing hand, "It’s OK."
"I broke her neck....I didn’t see her." he quietly cried, pushing himself away from Blair.
Blair sat back, clearly upset by the other man’s distress. He reached into his jeans pocket and withdrew the real key. Tossing it to Simon he stood up and walked to the kitchen, jumping up to sit on the bench. He watched Simon uncuff himself and the others, he finished cuffing MacLean’s hands behind his back. Jim stayed where he was on the lounge, trying to deal with all he had heard. Simon and Joel led MacLean to the door.
"You be alright, kid?" Simon asked him.
"Yeah, Simon. See you two tomorrow," he caught MacLean’s eyes, "It’ll be alright, Mac. I promise."
MacLean smiled briefly, allowing himself to be led out of the apartment.
Blair sat where he was and watched Jim. His Sentinel sat very silent, not moving. Presently he stood and went to the kitchen sink, not looking at the young man. Pouring himself a glass of water he turned and looked at Blair as he drank it. He seemed at a loss for words.
"Jim...."
The steel blue eyes pinned him and he couldn’t finish his sentence, "Blair, I’m sorry if I’ve been....overbearing. I know you’re your own man. I have an over-protective nature. I know that’s just an excuse but I can’t help it."
"I know, man. It’s OK. I like having it there sometimes."
"Blair, it’s not something I can just switch on and off."
"I know. Just give me a bit of credit sometimes. I want to help Mac."
Jim set his jaw, "I don’t like you going near him."
"He needs my help, man. It’s not like he’ll be in control. Jim, he’ll not be out for years. The lost potential is sickening. I thought you were probably the only modern one around. He had three senses. He doesn’t seem to have the zone out factor either. I tried to get him to zone back at the house but it didn’t work. That could be why he was driven mad. The zone out protects you from too much stimuli as well as focusing too much on a single stimuli...."
"Blair, can we continue this tomorrow? I’m close to collapse here."
Blair smiled shyly, "Sorry. Are we alright here, man?"
Jim smiled and seized his arm, levering him off the bench onto the floor, "Yeah, go to bed."
Blair gave a small chuckle as he walked to his room.
"What?" Jim asked.
"I’ll have to get you a new lock for your suitcase."
Jim frowned, not comprehending.
"I swallowed the key. I don’t think I’ll bother trying to get it back."
Jim smiled at his young Guide, "See you in the morning."
"G’night, Jim."
It was some two hours later that the Guide was able to drift into sleep. His Sentinel closed his eyes as he finally heard the heartbeat and breathing of a sleeper.
FINIS
Note: The bathroom scene where Blair is caught trying to escape the house was actually quite frightening to write, having been in a similar situation myself and scared out of my mind. The mind is a curious thing. It happened 15 years ago, you’d think I’d have gotten over it by now.