New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Getting Away
by Suzie
Summary: A cougar turns a vacation into something more interesting.
Disclaimer: Some of the characters in this story belong to the UPN Network and Pet Fly Productions as part of the television show The Sentinel. I do not claim these characters as my own. No money has changed hands.
Notes: This is my first try at doing something with Jim's senses beyond the usual "everyday" type stuff. There are references made to Destiny & Napanee (from my holiday series of stories), as well as Roger and Sherri Benton from She Followed Me Home. You don't have to read those to read this one, but if you're curious they're always available. Thanks bunches to my beta reader ~ Jen.
The New Year had begun.
Five murders were connected to a gang out of Seattle. Arrests had been made and the case was waiting to go to trial.
A missing person turned up after a week, dead of an apparent heart attack, while jogging through a wooded park. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death was not suspicious and the case was closed.
A kidnapping involving a child. The eight-year-old girl had been released unharmed, but the kidnapper had escaped. The child never saw the kidnappers face, therefore she was unable to give any description. The case is still open, but with no leads.
And there was the incident with the brother and sister psychos, Sherri and Roger Benton. Blair was still doing some healing.
All in all, a lot to happen in Cascade since the first of the year.
**********
6am ~~ Monday
Blair stood in the kitchen fixing breakfast. Even coffee wasn't clearing the tired fog he was in. It's too much. I can't keep this up much longer, Blair thought as he leaned against the counter. He yawned and stretched yet again as Jim came out of the bathroom in his robe and headed for his upstairs bedroom.
"Cut it out, Sandburg," Jim said with a tired smile as he passed the kitchen.
"Sorry, man," Blair sighed. "Had to finish grading those papers last night." He put Jim's sourdough in the toaster and picked up a knife to slice through his bagel. "Gotta get the grades posted this morning."
"We didn't get in from that stake-out until after midnight. You get any sleep at all?" Jim asked as he pulled on his clothes. When there was no answer from the kitchen, he called down a little louder, "You down there, Sandburg? I asked you if you got any sleep last night?"
Still no answer, but the Sentinel's sensitive ears picked up a small sound, a kind of whimper. Then a thud as something hit the floor ... hard.
"Blair? You okay, buddy?" Jim called, worried as he hurried down the stairs. The younger man was no where to be seen. He was right there a minute ago.
A soft moan came from the kitchen, and Jim quickly went around to find Blair crumbled on the floor. "Oh God!" Jim gasped. Kneeling beside the prone figure, he ran his hands carefully through the disarray of dense curls hoping Blair hadn't hit his head on the way down. Not finding any sign of injury, Jim let out a relieved sigh.
Blair moaned again as his eyes fluttered open. Eyes that were glassy, red, and tired.
"Easy, Chief. It's all right. Hurt anywhere?"
"No, I'm okay ... I think," Blair whispered. "What the hell happened?"
"You passed out." Jim caught the younger man under the arms as he began to sit up. "Easy now. Go slow."
Blair let himself be helped to his feet, then leaned heavily against Jim as a wave of dizziness assaulted him. Jim's arms went around him while a hand took hold of the front of the big man's shirt. Blair didn't even feel himself being moved to a chair at the dining table.
"Here ... sit," Jim said quietly as he untangled Blair's fingers from his shirt.
Jim quickly went back to the kitchen and poured a glass of orange juice. He watched Blair carefully as he moved back to the table, and sat in the next chair over. "Doin' okay, Chief?" Jim asked, sliding the juice over in front of his partner.
Blair looked up with a small, embarrassed smile. "Yeah, I'll live," he replied quietly. "Sorry ... I don't know what happened. One second I was doin' a bagel ... then ..." Not having anymore of an explanation, Blair simply shrugged and pushed shaky hands through his hair.
"Nothing to be sorry about, Chief," Jim said gently, eyeing his partner critically as he leaned back in his chair. "If you feel as tired as you look, it explains alot."
Sipping at the juice, Blair nodded. "I *am* tired, Jim. It's been crazy around here lately, man." Between his duties and studies at the university, and helping Jim with his caseload, Blair felt very nearly brain dead. Then there was what happened with the Benton's a few weeks back. Though the bruises had faded, and the missing skin on his chest had healed over fine, Blair still didn't like to be alone too much of the time.
"Why don't you stay home today?" Jim said. "Get some rest."
"I would," Blair sighed. "I *want* to, but I've really got to get those grades posted. I promised my students they'd have them by noon today."
Jim thought for a moment as he watched Blair try, unsuccessfully, to stifle a yawn. Then he said, "I'll take you in to the university so you can post those grades."
"Jim, you don't ..."
Jim held up his hand to indicate there wasn't to be an argument. "You are in no condition to drive, buddy. When you're done ... call me." He pointed a finger in Blair's direction. "Don't do anything else ... just the grades."
**********
At noon the phone rang on Simon's desk. "Banks," he barked.
"Oh ... hey, Simon. I thought I dialed Jim's desk. Sorry," Blair said through a yawn.
He even *sounds* dead on his feet, Simon thought when he heard the exhausted voice which was so unlike his observer. "It's okay, Sandburg. Jim finished up early and he's on his way to the university. Left about ten-minutes ago."
"Okay, thanks... umm, bye."
Simon shook his head as he hung up the receiver and said, "Jim was right."
Jim walked into Blair's little office to find him sleeping at his desk with his head propped up by his right arm, and a book laid open before him. Smiling affectionately, Jim put his hand on Blair's shoulder and shook it gently, saying, "Hey, buddy, wake up."
Blair opened his eyes slowly and looked up at Jim. "Dozed off, didn't I?" he smiled groggily. He'd been fighting it all morning, very nearly slamming is face on the desktop several times.
"Yeah, you did. Let's go home."
"Sounds like a plan."
In the truck, as he maneuvered out of the university parking lot, Jim said, "Talked to Simon this morning, Chief. Got some time off."
"Good. You could use a break, big guy," Blair said as he leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. "You've been putting in a lot of hours lately, man."
Multiply it by three for you, my friend. "I ... um ... called the university today, too."
"That's nice," Blair mumbled absently as he wriggled himself down to get more comfortable. After nearly a full minute, Blair's eyes popped open and he said, "Jim, what did you do?"
Jim smiled, "Got you some time off, too."
Blair's hands went up to cover his face. I'm dreaming, he thought. I fell asleep at my desk again.
Jim didn't know if this reaction was good or bad, but decided to press on. "I got us a place up in the mountains. Just a couple hours from here." He waited a moment. "That is ... if you want to." There was silence and Jim decided to wait this time.
Just as Jim was beginning to think he had fallen asleep, Blair lowered his hands to his lap. "How many days did you get me?" he asked quietly.
"Seven. That's what Simon gave me."
There is a God ... and his name is James. "Thanks, Jim."
Jim smiled his relief. "If we get packed, we can leave right away. The cabin is supplied with everything except food."
Blair yawned and said, "We can pack some food from the loft and make a list for the rest."
"There'll still be some snow up there, so pack plenty of warm clothes."
**********
It was 7pm and dark when Jim pulled the truck onto the little road that lead to the cabin. It was snowing lightly, and even though it had been a fairly short drive, he was glad to be done driving. Blair slept soundly in the seat next to him.
There was a light on in the kitchen and Jim could smell the wood burning in the stove. He found the key where he'd been told it would be and went inside. It was small, but cozy, and the stove would easily keep the whole place warm. A note sat on the kitchen table that read, "Dear Mr. Ellison, You said it may be late when you arrived so we took the liberty to start the fire and leave the light on. A lot nicer to walk into on a cold night, don't you think?" Jim nodded and grinned appreciatively. "The beds are made, and extra blankets are in the closet next to the bathroom. Plenty of towels, and there should be hot water by the time you're reading this. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to call. I left our number on the refrigerator. Marion and Virgil Campbell." Thank you Marion and Virgil, Jim thought to himself as he set the note back on the table.
Jim checked the fire, adding a couple of small logs to the hot coals, before going back out to the truck. He went around to the passenger side and unlocked the door. Opening it slowly, since Blair was leaning against it, Jim reached in to support the sleeping figure.
"Hey there, buddy, wake up. We're here," Jim said softly so as not to startle the young man.
Blair sat up slowly, "Huh? Wha'?"
"We're here, Chief. Give me a hand with the stuff."
Blair rubbed his eyes to help clear the blurriness. "Jim? Oh ... we're here. Yeah ... okay." Unbuckling the seatbelt, Blair slid out into the ankle deep snow.
Jim grinned and placed a box in Blair's outstretched arms, then pointed toward the kitchen door. "In there."
When Jim walked in with another box, Blair was putting things away in the kitchen. Jim retrieved their bags and deposited them in the two small bedrooms.
"Hungry, Chief?" Jim asked when he returned to the kitchen.
Blair sighed heavily and pushed his hair back. "Um ... no. Think I'll just go to bed, okay?"
"Sure. I'm going to fix myself a sandwich and turn in, too. Sleep well."
"Night, Jim."
**********
1pm ~~ Tuesday
Jim sensed Blair's movements inside the house as he gathered an armload of wood from the shed. Upon entering the kitchen, he smiled at the young man as he poured himself a mug of coffee. "Afternoon, Chief. Sleep well?" Jim asked as he went to the living room to drop the wood in the box near the stove.
Blair smiled, pushing sleep-tousled hair away from his face. "Slept great. Thanks." He sat down at the table and looked out the window at the snowy landscape. Yes ... this is what I need, he thought to himself.
Jim returned to the kitchen and shrugged out of his coat. "How you feeling?"
"A lot better, thanks."
"Hungry?"
"I'm starved."
"Go get a shower then, while I fix lunch."
"'Kay." Blair bounced out of the kitchen towards his bedroom.
Jim couldn't help the self-satisfied grin that spread across his face as he watched his friend. You did good, Ellison.
**********
Blair sat down at the table and asked, "Jim, do you remember what happened at Wolf Haven?"
"How could I forget," Jim replied as he poured chili into bowls. "The volunteers there almost didn't let us leave! And the questions ..." He rolled his eyes with a look of exasperation as he set a bowl in front of Blair and sat down across from him with his own. "I was beginning to feel like some kind of alien. Can you believe that one woman wanted to know if I was raised by wild animals?!"
Blair chuckled as he sprinkled cheese in his bowl and said, "They were just curious, man. It's not every day they see a man who can literally talk to the animals."
"Yeah, I'm a regular Dr. Doolittle."
"Besides, Ron said that it normally takes months before the wolves will let new people touch them. And, sometimes the pack never accepts a person. They were looking for explanations ... and we obviously couldn't tell them the truth."
Jim nodded his agreement as he got a spoonful of chili into his mouth. He shook the empty spoon at Blair as he quickly chewed and swallowed before saying, "Then that scientist guy showed up. He wanted to do a bunch of studies and tests and stuff ... worse than what you do to me."
"Yeah, I know, Jim. I was there ... remember?" Blair chuckled again.
"Guess I shouldn't have said anything about Destiny being pregnant, though." Jim smiled smugly, as he remembered the looks on everyone's faces when he told that scientist about Destiny. "But he was getting in my face."
"After all, Jim," Blair grinned. "Dr. Shaw had just heard the news himself from the vet that morning. He hadn't even said anything to anyone yet. You kinda freaked him out, man."
Jim giggled evilly, "Yeah ... it was fun."
They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes.
"You said that the wolves talked to you with images?" Blair asked suddenly.
Jim shrugged as he replied, "Yeah ... pictures just appeared in my head ... like snapshots."
"You understood what they meant?"
"Well, yeah. I seemed to ... just know. It was the same with the sounds they made. It was strange, Chief."
"How did you communicate with them?"
"I'm not sure. I just thought things like I would think 'em at any given moment ... nothing special."
Blair nodded, mind working nonstop. "Ya know... I've been thinking," he finally said.
"Ah-oh ... we're in trouble now."
"No, seriously. Ever since that day I've been trying to think of ways to test your senses with animals." Not that there's been a whole lot of time for it. "Not just with dogs and cats ... but wild animals." Blair put his spoon down and looked at Jim hopefully. "There's bound to be wild animals up here, Jim."
Jim thought about this for a minute while Blair chewed his bottom lip and prayed to any deity that might listen.
"Well, I definitely felt *something* that day. Some kind of connection," Jim finally said.
"You mean we can you do it?" Blair said excitedly.
Jim shrugged, "Sure ... why not?" He had seen the enthusiastic sparkle return to Blair's eyes and was willing to indulge the younger man to keep it there.
"Yeesss! Oh, Jim ... this is *soo* cool!"
"Eat your lunch, Chief."
"This will be incredible for my dissertation, man!"
"Blair, eat your lunch before I change my mind."
Blair shut his mouth and stared, wide-eyed, at Jim for a moment before deciding he was joking. Grinning happily, Blair put a spoonful of chili in his mouth.
Jim chuckled. "Okay, but not today. Let's just be lazy ... enjoy the scenery and all. There's plenty of time for tests."
Blair couldn't hide his elation. "Okay, big guy, no problem."
**********
"When do you want to do your little test, Chief?" Jim asked the next morning at breakfast.
"Anytime, man," Blair answered around a bite of toast.
"It's beautiful out today. How 'bout this morning?"
After breakfast cleanup was out of the way, Blair grabbed a notebook and went outside ahead of Jim. He wanted to make a few notes; time, date, weather conditions, temperature, and things like that. When Jim joined him a few minutes later, he was ready.
"Okay, Jim, you know the drill," Blair said. "Just relax and let your senses go." He watched his Sentinel's face relax, eyes closed. "That's it. Now ... just see what's out there." Blair was in Guide mode, voice soft and controlled.
Jim's mind was reeling from everything he picked up. Concentrating, he could hear the wind in the trees, the brush of snow falling between the branches.
"What is it, Jim?" Blair asked in a whisper at the slight change of statement on Jim's face.
"I hear the wind ... the snow ...," Jim replied quietly.
He can *hear* the snow? "Okay, big guy, push that away for now." We'll work on that later. "Listen for animals. Let your sense of smell help you here."
Jim inhaled slowly and deeply, pushing aside the smell of fir and pine, and the fresh snow-filtered air. "Something ..."
"What, Jim?"
The slight smell of dust and fur. A chittering sound, small feet against wood. "A chipmunk," Jim said, smiling.
"Try to *say* something to it," Blair whispered.
Jim tried it, like he'd done with the wolves at Wolf Haven, but there was no indication the chipmunk knew what was going on. "No good, Chief."
"That's okay, man," Blair assured him. "Try to find something else."
Jim pushed further and was assaulted by a rather vial odor that sent him back a step. Pressing the sleeve of his coat against his nose and mouth, Jim desperately dialed down his sense of smell.
Blair grasped Jim's arm to steady him. "Jim, you okay? What's wrong?"
"I'm okay." Jim shook his head and grimaced, "A bear."
"Whoa!" Blair looked around nervously for a few seconds. "Could you tell, maybe, how far said bear is? Don't bears hibernate this time of year?"
"Some only sleep off and on during the late winter. Don't worry. He's a few miles out."
"Miles?!" Blair blurted, his concern with the bear forgotten. "You did say miles, didn't you?" Oh wow!
Jim nodded, distractedly.
"This is sooo incredible!"
"Yeah, but there was something else. I almost had it when the bear showed up."
"Like what, Jim?"
"It was familiar. Let me try again."
"Okay, but tone down your sense of smell this time," Blair instructed.
Jim reached out again. Found the bear again, but was ready and pushed it away. There, he thought suddenly. I knew it was familiar. A grin spread across Jim's face.
Blair saw the statement. "What'd you find, Jim?"
In the distance, voices of wolves rose in song.
Blair gasped at the raw emotion he felt. A shiver ran through him and the hair on the back of his neck prickled. "Oh my God, Jim!"
Jim opened his eyes and grinned down at his partner. "Knew it was familiar, Chief." He turned to stare out in the direction the howling came from. "I said 'hello' and that's their greeting."
"Oh, Jim!" Blair choked a little on the emotions he felt. "Oh wow!" He noticed a glow in Jim's face as he looked out through the distant trees. "Want to try one more?" Blair asked as he furiously wrote notes in his book.
Nodding, Jim answered, "Yeah ... one more. I thought I felt something close by." Again he focused outward, but kept to the area close around the cabin. It was only a moment before he felt something, and it was very strong.
"Oh ... ohmyGod," Blair whispered as his eyes widened. "Jim ... Jim." He grasped the sleeve of Jim's coat and tugged gently.
Jim heard his Guide's voice and felt the rush of fear before he noticed the hand on his sleeve. He opened his eyes and was about to ask what was wrong, when he saw it. "Stand perfectly still, Chief," Jim whispered.
A cougar. At least 150-pounds of muscle, teeth, and claws had strolled out of the trees. A low growl met the two men's ears.
"It's okay. She's been out there the whole time," Jim said. "She won't hurt us."
"You sure about that?" Blair asked, swallowing nervously as he inched closer to Jim's side. "I mean ... she *told* you she wouldn't hurt us?"
Jim nodded, saying, "I trust her. She has no reason to fear or hurt us. She's only curious."
The cougar stopped and sniffed the cold air. Then proceeded forward until she was a mere five feet away. Crouching low in the snow, the cougar took in long deliberate lung-fulls of air from the two men's direction.
"What's she doing, Jim?" Blair whispered.
"Just checkin' us out," Jim answered plainly.
With a grunt the big cat moved towards them and circled, sniffling from as close as a few inches. Then she started purring.
"She likes you, Chief," Jim smiled. "Says you smells like nature."
"Umm ... can I touch her?" Blair asked.
"No, she's not ready for that."
"Can she understand me?"
"A little bit, but not completely."
The cougar stepped around and sat on her haunches in front of Blair. What are you thinking? he wondered as two, huge, dark, reflecting pools peered up at him.
The animal's gaze turned to Jim, who suddenly let out a laugh of pure delight.
"What, Jim?" Blair asked curiously. "Did she say something about me?"
"Yeah, Chief, you could say that," Jim snickered.
"Jiiim," Blair pleaded to the point of whining. "What'd she say about me?!"
Jim looked down at the cougar and said, "If he were, do you think I'd put up with that?"
"What? Put up with what, Jim? Please tell me!"
Jim turned sparkling eyes on his friend and replied, "She wanted to know if you're my ... ah ... cub."
"Your What?!?"
"Well, she thought that since you're smaller and younger ... and then there's your unruly nature."
"My What?!?"
"Hey, she said it ... not me," Jim laughed, wiping the wetness away from his eyes. "Ah ... she's sorry, Chief. She didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"Oh, well ... it's okay. Just caught me off guard, that's all," Blair said to the cougar. He could swear she was grinning at him.
The rest of the day found Blair writing notes while Jim wandered through the forest near the cabin. Their new friend watched the big man from the cover of the trees, not really hiding, but not quite with in full view either. Jim knew she was there ... could feel her.
**********
After breakfast on Thursday, Blair went for a walk on his own. Jim was only mildly surprised when Blair didn't come after him the day before. Jim had been out of the cabin for a little more than an hour, and Blair had not had a problem with being alone. Granted, the young grad student had been too absorbed in his notes to really notice Jim being gone, but it *was* progress. Now he'd been outside, alone, for nearly an hour ... and doing very well with it. Jim smiled with satisfaction as he checked on his partner with his senses, and found him contently humming as he strolled lazily through the snow.
Afternoon found Blair napping peacefully, curled up on the sofa under a fluffy blanket in front of the wood stove. Jim looked fondly down at the relaxed face and listened to the slow, steady breathing of his guide.
Wandering out to the kitchen, Jim was drawn to the window. The cougar was out there ... lying on the hood of his truck. "Get off my truck!" he whispered, imagining the size of the "kitty" prints that would be on the windshield.
The cougar turned to stare at the window ... at Jim. Was that cat grinning? A picture came to Jim's mind that he translated to mean something like, "Make me!"
A slow, predatory smile spread over Jim's face. "Okay, have it your way."
Quickly writing a short note and leaving it on the little coffee table where Blair would see it immediately if he woke, Jim pulled on his boots, grabbed his coat and headed outside.
**********
Blair awoke with a start. What was that? Had he been dreaming? The cabin was growing dim as the afternoon waned. "Jim?" Blair reached over and turned on the lamp next to the sofa, and his eyes went to the note on the table. He snatched it up quickly, as if it might get away from him.
"Chief - It's 1:50pm. I'm going out for a walk. Shouldn't be gone more than an hour. Jim."
Blair looked at his watch. It was nearly 4:00! "Jim?!" he called. "You here?!"
The silence was deafening.
Blair heard a sound. The same one that had woke him up. It almost sounded like a muffled screech. The kitchen door rattled. Blair jumped up off the sofa. "Jim?," he whispered, not expecting an answer this time. Maybe it's the wind? Blair told himself and looked at his watch again. Where *is* Jim?
Shuffling out toward the kitchen, Blair flipped on the light switch. Taking the kettle to the sink, he turned the tap on.
The door rattled again, followed by a distinct growl.
Okay, that was *not* the wind, Blair thought, growing nervous. Shutting the water off, he moved cautiously to the door and pressed his ear to it. He could hear movement outside. Another screech made Blair jumped back from the door. Then he suddenly realized what the sound was and yanked the door open.
The cougar stood switching her tail impatiently, ears laid back against her head. A throaty growl and bared teeth made Blair's breath catch for a moment as he thought perhaps that she would spring at him.
"Something's happened to Jim, hasn't it?" Blair said. "Oh my God!" He felt his heart begin to pound, as horrible images of Jim lying dead and frozen in the snow flitted through his mind. "Hang on ... don't leave without me!" Blair said as he rushed to put on his boots and coat. As he stepped outside and pulled the door shut, the cougar began to move away. "No, wait! Need a flashlight!" Blair hurried to the truck and retrieved the flashlight from the glovebox. "Okay ... lead on," he told the cougar.
**********
"JIM!?!" Blair yelled as he tried to keep the big cat in sight in the fading light. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Blair had been following the cougar for a good fifteen minutes, but it was getting harder, as he had to rely more and more the beam of the flashlight. Suddenly she disappeared. Blair moved the light around, trying to relocate her. "Where'd you go? Don't leave me now! Please! We gotta find Jim!" He stood still for a moment, trying to get his bearings, then shouted, "JIM?! ANSWER ME!"
After waiting what seemed like forever, a familiar voice could be heard in the distance.
"SANDBURG! HERE ... I'M HERE!" Jim yelled out.
"Jim! Oh God!" Blair whispered, then called out, "I'M HERE, JIM! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"FOLLOW MY VOICE! YOU'RE NOT TOO FAR OFF!"
Shit! Jim, how am I gonna find you with all these echoes, man? Blair worried to himself, frustrated almost to tears.
Something streaked a path in front of him. It was the cougar.
"Yes!" Blair cried and took off at a run in pursuit. "JIM, I'M COMING!"
"OKAY, FOLLOW MY VOICE! YOU'RE DOING FINE!" Jim shouted.
After several more minutes, Blair stumbled out of the trees and nearly tripped over Jim.
"Jim!?" Blair said, scrambling to the Sentinel's side. "Oh, man, are you okay?!" Without waiting for an answer, Blair rambled on. "I woke up and you weren't there ... but I found your note. Then I heard noises at the kitchen door, which turned out to be our cat friend." He looked around and said, "Where is she? Must be nearby." Turning back to Jim. "I don't even know how I knew, but I did ... know ... that you were in trouble. So I followed her." Stopping for a moment to take a breath, Blair looked at Jim as he leaned against a tree. "Jim, are you okay, man?"
Jim chuckled softly. "Good to see you, too, Chief. I'm fine." Indicating his right leg, he said, "I could use a little help with that, though."
Blair shone the flashlight down Jim's leg to his foot. "OhmyGod, Jim!"
Jim's foot was caught in an old steel trap. "It's attached to this tree with a chain," he explained. "From the looks of it I'd say it's been here quite awhile. The mechanism that trips the release is rusted "
"Okay ... um ... what do you want me to do?" Blair asked, bouncing nervously.
"First ... calm down. Your heart sounds like a freight train. There wasn't enough snap left in it to break anything, and my boot kept it from doing any other real damage."
Blair took several deep breaths to calm himself, and knelt down to examine the offending manacle. He propped the flashlight up in the snow, then placed his hands inside the jaws, thinking that maybe he could pull it open enough to free Jim's foot.
"No!" Jim quickly said, grabbing Blair's hands. "You'll only hurt yourself, Chief." Jim inspected Blair's hands and fingers for any cuts. Satisfied that everything was still intact, Jim said, "You're going to have to find something to pry it open with. A thick branch, a block of wood, something heavy enough that it won't snap under pressure."
Blair grabbed up the flashlight and looked around. "Yeah ... okay. I can do this."
"I know you can, Chief. Just be careful. It's dark now and we don't need both of us injured."
Blair walked a short distance away. "So ... um ... what happened, Jim? How'd you find that thing?"
"Didn't see it under the snow. Wasn't paying attention," Jim admitted. "I'd gone further than I thought and we were heading back to the cabin."
Blair set the light down and began to pull at a heavy branch caught in some undergrowth. "We?"
Jim snorted, "Yeah. Me and her." He pointed to the big cat crouched nearby in the dark.
"Oh ... must have been having a good time, huh?"
Hearing the grin in Blair's voice, Jim opened his mouth to say something. But, was cut off by a loud snap and Blair's startled cry just before hitting the ground.
"Sandburg?!" Jim cried, fearing the worst as he tried to see his friend through the trees. "What happened? You all right?"
"Yeah, Jim," came Blair's exasperated reply. "I'm okay. But I'm gonna have a hell of a bruise, man."
Jim let his breath out in an explosive sigh of relief. He heard Blair grunt and more cracking noises. Then the sound of something being dragged as the young man trudged back into the Sentinel's view totting a big branch behind him. "Good work, buddy," Jim said. "That looks like a good one." He grabbed Blair's arm when he got close enough. "Sure you're okay?"
Blair smiled a little. "I'm fine, big guy. Just slipped when the branch came loose."
"Okay." Jim reached for the flashlight that was under Blair's arm. "I'll hold this so you've got both hands free." After turning the beam on his foot, Jim said, "Now wedge the branch in there with my foot."
Blair peered down at the trap and said, "There's not much room. I don't want to hurt you, man."
"Just do it!" Jim snapped unexpectedly. Then instantly regretted the harsh tone he'd used when he saw the concern in Blair's eyes. "Sorry, Chief. I'm cold and uncomfortable here. You're not going to hurt me, okay?"
Yeah, right. Blair nodded silently and manhandled the branch into place, trying to ignore the pain on Jim's face.
"Now, you're going to have to put all your weight into it to pry it open," Jim told Blair as he braced himself against the tree. "I'm not going to be of much help to you."
With a mighty grunt, Blair pulled down on the branch until sweat broke out on his face. There was a tiny squeak as the rusty metal rubbed against itself.
"That's it!" Jim said. "It's coming!"
Blair hopped up to lean across the branch as it bowed under his weight. Jim detected a quiet crackling sound under the squeaking of the trap.
"Almost there ... just a little more!" Jim encouraged, hoping the branch would hold.
Suddenly there was a metallic snap as the trap spring broke under the stress. The jaws fell open and Blair hit the snowy ground face first with a startled yelp.
Jim gingerly moved his foot away from the trap, before reaching out to Blair as the young man got to his feet. "You alright?" Jim asked through gritted teeth.
Blair quickly moved to Jim's side to help support him. "Yeah, fine. How 'bout you?"
"Hurts like hell, now."
"Can you put weight on it?"
Jim carefully pushed off the tree and let his weight settle onto his right leg. With a gasp of pain, he fell back against the tree and Blair.
"Okay, I'll take that as a no." Blair coaxed Jim into standing upright again and wrapped one arm around his waist. He brought Jim's arm around his shoulders and said, "Just lean on me." Blair looked up to see his friend nod. "And don't you dare pass out on me, big guy. No way am I gonna be able to carry you back to the cabin, man."
**********
It took some time, but they finally made it back to the cabin. Blair got Jim into a chair in the kitchen and shrugged out of his coat as he hurried out to stoke the stove and add wood. Gathering the blanket off the sofa, he returned to the kitchen to see that Jim had gotten out of his coat and was working on untying his boot.
Wrapping the blanket around Jim's shoulders, Blair said, "Let me do that, Jim." He pulled a chair over so he could sit facing the big man and gently placed the injured leg on his knees. "Is it getting worse?" Blair asked as he quickly unlaced the boot.
"It's swelling up pretty good in there," Jim replied.
"What's the dial set on?" Blair asked, knowing that Jim would have his sense of pain turned down low.
"Zero ... I just feel some throbbing now," Jim answered with a tired smile. "Not a problem."
"Okay, I'm going to pull the boot off now. Let me know if it gets to be to much, okay?"
Jim nodded, "Go ahead, Chief."
Blair could feel the tightness when he pulled the boot from around Jim's swollen foot and ankle. The only audible sound from Jim was a soft groan. Not wanting to cause him anymore pain, Blair found scissors and cut the sock off, which was stretched too tight to easily pull off.
"Oh ... damn, Jim!" Blair gasped at the sight of Jim's injury.
Purple, red and black bruises already stood out vividly on the swollen ankle.
"Kinda looks like a football with toes, doesn't it?" Jim remarked.
Blair ran his hands through his hair, trying to think. "Okay ... um ... let's get you into bed and elevate it." He helped Jim up and through the small cabin to the bedroom. "Can you get undressed by yourself? I want to get the big first-aid kit out of the truck," Blair said after Jim was seated on the bed.
"I was undressing myself before you were born, Chief," Jim grinned. Then he noticed the concern in his friend's eyes that seemed to be vying for space with the fright that was there, too. "Hey, buddy. It's going to be okay ... really."
Blair sighed a little and stared at the floor. "I know, Jim. It's just ... I was *soo* ... afraid I wouldn't be able get you out." The admission brought a blush to his face. "Or I'd make things worse."
Jim reached out and snagged Blair's hand to get him to look at him. When Blair finally did, he smiled earnestly and said, "You did good out there. You were there when I needed you ... just like always."
Blair felt something inside him lift at the praise. He smiled a little.
Jim released the hand and said, "Go get that first-aid kit, Chief. There should be an elastic bandage in it so we can get this football wrapped."
A little later, with Jim settled and propped up in bed with his foot and ankle snuggly wrapped and elevated, Blair brought in a tray with soup, a grilled cheese sandwich and a salad. He also carried a large plastic bag.
"What'cha got there?" Jim asked, pointing to the bag.
"There wasn't any ice," Blair said as he placed the tray across Jim's lap. "So I stuffed a trash bag with snow."
"Oh, good thinking."
Blair placed the bag of snow around Jim's swollen foot and ankle, then left the room. A minute later, he returned with an identical tray and settled into the chair next to the bed.
"You don't have to sit in here with me, Chief," Jim told him. But, please, don't leave.
"Too quiet out there by myself," Blair said matter-of-factly before taking a bite of his sandwich. Too lonely.
**********
The next morning, Jim awoke to bright sunshine and a fresh bag of snow on his foot. He wondered briefly how Blair had managed to replace the bag without waking him. The kid's getting good, Jim thought with a fond smile. Carefully, he maneuvered to sit on the edge of the bed. "Sandburg?! I could use some help in here!" Jim called after locating Blair shuffling around the kitchen.
"Coming, Jim!" Blair called back.
When Blair walked into the bedroom, Jim was standing awkwardly next to the bed dressed in his boxers and T-shirt.
"Hey, take it easy, man!" Blair admonished, hurrying across the room. "You need to stay off that foot."
"Well, I'd love to do that, but I need to use the bathroom. And I want to take a shower."
"Oh ... um ... you sure about the shower? I mean ... since ...," Blair said, indicating Jim's injury.
"I'll be okay, Chief. It'll just be a quick one, okay?" Jim waited for his friend's answering nod, then said, "I could use a hand to the bathroom."
Blair was quick to respond, and was supporting Jim's weight while they made their way slowly to the little bathroom.
With Jim carefully balanced under the hot spray of the shower, Blair collected towels and clothes. When he picked up the pair of jeans off the bed, he looked at them curiously for a moment. Then knew what needed to be done.
The shower went off and Blair hovered near the bathroom in case Jim needed him.
"Sandburgh?" Jim called, knowing his partner was outside the door.
Instantly, Blair had the door open. Concerned lines etched across his face. "Yeah, Jim? You okay?"
Jim was sitting on the lid of the toilet, legs in his jeans, waistband still around his knees. "You do this, Chief?" he asked, raising his freshly bandaged leg to reveal the split seam that ran nearly to Jim's knee.
Blair's eyes grew wide. Ah Oh! "I-I knew you wouldn't be able get your foot through there the way it was," he explained quickly. I'll fix it, Jim. I promise!"
Jim sat there with a tolerant grin on his face. "Thank you," he said when Blair stopped to breathe.
Blair blinked. "Huh?"
"It was very thoughtful," Jim chuckled. "Now ... can you give me a hand here so I can pull my pants up the rest of the way?"
"Oh ... sure, Jim." Blair smiled as he moved in to help the big man balance as he pulled the jeans up around his waist.
After Jim pulled a sweatshirt over his head and brushed his teeth, Blair helped him hobble out to the kitchen.
"Hungry?" Blair asked, pulling a chair over for Jim's foot.
"Yeah I am, Chief," Jim replied. Tapping his fingers lightly on the partially filled box on the table, he asked, "What's this?"
"Gettin' ready to go home," Blair answered as he prepared to fix Jim breakfast. "There's hot coffee in the thermos there in front of you. The mug next to it is clean."
Pouring himself a cup of coffe, Jim said, "Blair, we don't have to be home until Sunday. It's only Friday."
"You'll be more comfortable at home. At least you can watch TV while your leg heals."
Jim knew Blair was right, but felt guilty. "I'm real sorry about this, Chief."
"Sorry? 'Bout what?"
Jim sighed, "I wanted you to have a vacation. It was my idea, and ..."
"And it's been great, big guy!" Blair interrupted, turning to face Jim's despondent face. He smiled softly, "It's not like you meant to step in that damn trap, man. Besides ... it's just a couple days early. We still don't have to be back to work 'til Monday."
**********
Jim ate his breakfast while Blair continued to pack their things. He noticed silently that Blair was looking out the window an awful lot, and spent more time outside than was necessary to put things in the truck. It was obvious to Jim what Blair was looking for. But, the young man was not somber, and seemed content enough with what he was doing, and even joked happily when Jim volunteered to help.
"Yeah, right, Jim," Blair grinned. "You just sit tight and supervise."
Jim shifted to get only slightly more comfortable in the hard kitchen chair and said with a lopsided grin, "I can do that."
Blair set the phone on the table in front of Jim and said, "Why don't you call the Campbell's and let them know what happened. They may want to get some authorities up here check the area for more of those traps." Then he headed back towards the bedrooms to get there bags.
About an hour later, Blair appeared with Jim's coat and the keys to the truck. "Okay, all ready to go. I'm driving."
With a little effort and a lot of grunting, they managed to get out to the truck.
"Mrs. Campbell told me to leave the keys on the table when we left," Jim told Blair as he slid into the passenger seat.
"Okay, be right back," Blair said. He then went back to make sure he'd gotten all their stuff, the dampers on the stove were closed and things were cleaned up. Then Blair dropped the keys on the table and left, pulling the kitchen door shut, and wiggling the knob to be sure it was locked.
"Hey, Chief," Jim said quietly. "Look who came to say good bye."
Blair turned to see the cougar sitting a few yards from the truck. His eyes lit up as a happy smile spread over his face. "I was hoping you'd come by before we left."
Walking to the back of the truck, Blair reached into one of the boxes and pulled out two wrapped steaks. He tore the butcher paper away and stuffed it back inside the box. Then he moved slowly to where the big cat sat. "Um ... I don't know how to thank you," Blair said softly. "If you hadn't helped, I never would've found Jim in time." He laid the two thick pieces of meat on the snowy ground and backed off a few paces.
The cougar moved cautiously, sniffing at the food. Then looked up at Blair with a twitch in her tail.
"Sorry they're frozen. I didn't think of 'em 'til this morning."
Running her wide, rough tongue over the raw steak, the cougar growled low in her throat. Then moved slowly to where Blair was still standing. She came very close and looked up at him with big, dark eyes.
"I hope we get to come back ... maybe see you again," Blair whispered.
The cat pushed her head against Blair's hand and began to purr loudly.
Blair's breath caught in his throat as he brushed his fingers over the broad head. Moving to scratch behind one ear, Blair whispered, "I'll miss you." One solitary tear fled down his cheek. "Thank you."
Jim swiped a tear away as he saw his friend turn and walk back toward the truck. He had heard what Blair had said, knew what he had done and why. She would miss them too, and hoped they would return.
Epilogue
The two men argued for the first hour of the trip home about whether or not they should stop at the hospital to have Jim's ankle and foot checked. Jim insisted there were no broken bones, and all it needed was ice and rest for a couple of days. Blair knew that all he had to do was drive to the nearest hospital emergency room and that would end the discussion, but finally decided to let Jim have his way.
After all ... he *is* a Sentinel. Blair told himself. He should know if his bones are broken.
After getting Jim and their belongings situated in the loft, Blair went to the store to pick up a few things. Like lots of ice ... and two more steaks.
<>~~<>~~<>
end