New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Sunday Morning Funnies
by Suzie
Summary: Just a short little story for the heck of it. :-)
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: Don't worry Jen. I'll *always* need the Beta Beast <G>
Jim had just parked his blue and white pick-up at the curb in front of the bank.
"I'll just be a minute Jim," Blair said brightly. "Just gotta deposit this check."
The detective was watching his partner as he heard, and felt, the rumble before anyone else did. But there still wasn't enough time to shout a warning. The big window that fronted the bank exploded just as Blair reached it.
The explosion rocked the entire block. Windows shattered in every building, as they blew outward across the sidewalk and into the street.
**********
The phone rang as Jim was getting ready to leave the loft. "Ellison," he said a little impatiently.
"Hey Jim," Simon said from the other end.
"Oh, hi Simon, I was just on my way out."
"Going to the hospital?"
"Yeah, they're going to remove the bandages today," Jim sighed. "I want to be there."
"Great!" Simon replied happily. "I'll talk to ya later then."
"Ah, Simon, why'd you call? Was it important?"
"Oh, Blair was complaining about not having a phone in his room when I stopped by yesterday. He was worried that he couldn't call and make sure everything was okay with you."
Jim smiled knowingly. Blair hates being out of touch, he thought. "Yeah, the nurse took his phone away three days ago when he accidentally dialed some number in Kansas," Jim chuckled.
Simon chuckled too. "Yeah, that's what he told me. Anyway, I promised him I'd give you a call."
"He wanted you to check up on me, huh Simon?"
"Well, you know Blair, he's always worried you'll zone when he's not around."
Jim snorted, "Tell me about it."
"Okay Jim, I'll let you get going. Tell the kid 'hi' for me, and that everyone at the station's rootin' for him."
"I will Simon, thanks."
**********
As Jim gently pushed open the door to Blair's hospital room, he let his senses check on his young friend. "Hey Chief, you awake?" he asked quietly.
Blair turned his head toward the familiar voice and smiled though he couldn't see through the thick bandaging, "You know I am Jim."
Jim stepped inside, letting the door close with a soft whoosh. "Yeah ... well," he shrugged. "The doctor been in yet?"
"No, the nurse said there was some kind of emergency," Blair sighed. "It may be this afternoon before he gets here."
"Oh ... okay."
"You don't have to stay."
"Yes I do. I want to."
"Thanks Jim. It's lonely sittin' here not being able to see anything." Blair smiled, "Can't even watch the soaps man."
Jim sat down in *his* chair next to the bed and surveyed his guide. It'd been five days since the explosion, and the cuts on Blair's face, arms, and hands were healing quickly, and would leave little or no scarring. The young man had been very lucky that things hadn't been worse. Blair had been wearing his sunglasses at the time, so the bits of glass that had gotten into his eyes had been small. The doctors didn't have any reason to think there would be any permanent damage.
"Jim?" Blair asked, reaching a hand out. "Jim, you still here?"
Jim grasped the hand. "Yeah I'm here. Sorry, I was just thinking."
"Well, think out loud ... okay?" The frustration in Blair's voice was evident, as he said, "I hate this! I feel so alone!"
"I know it's hard buddy, but it's just for a little while longer," Jim said soothingly, patting the hand he held as he released it onto the bed.
"I don't even know what day it is! Or what *time* it is!"
"It's Sunday morning ... 9am," Jim told him.
"Oh ... thanks. Sorry."
"Perfectly understandable. Don't worry about it."
There was a rustling sound.
"What's that Jim?" Blair asked, unable to figure out what was making the noise.
"Sunday paper. I brought it along," Jim answered.
"Oh ... you're gonna read then?" Blair said, sounding disappointed.
"Yeah I am. What do you want first? The sports section, or the comics?"
"Aw Jim, that is *sooo* not funny right now."
"Wasn't meant to be funny Chief," Jim said with a sly grin. "You've been kinda out of it on medication until yesterday. Since you're feeling better, I thought I'd read to you. I just thought you'd want to get caught up on things."
Blair's face brightened. "That would be great big guy, thanks."
"No problem. So, what'll it be first? Sports or comics?"
"Comics, please. I've been dying to find out what Luann is gonna do about Aaron Hill."
Jim dug through the newspaper and ads, and found the comics. "Okay Chief, you got it." He surveyed the colored paged until he located Blair's favorite. "Right ... here we go. First frame show's Luann looking very upset, and she's saying, 'I can't believe Aaron's girl is Diane! No *wonder* he didn't want to tell me!' There's some guy standing at a window with a pair of binoculars saying, 'I can't believe she picked him over me!' Jim wasn't one to read the comics, so he had no real idea what he was reading. "And who's Diane?"
"That would be Brad, Luann's brother." Blair explained, "Luann's had this crush on Aaron Hill for forever, and Brad's in lust with Diane who lives next door. Now it turns out that Aaron and Diane are seeing each other."
"Uh huh," Jim replied with an amused shake of his head that Blair couldn't see. "Okay ... second frame ..."
And so it went, frame by frame, through Mother Goose & Grimm, Blondie, Peanuts, Mary Worth, and all the rest. Jim actually started to enjoy himself after a few minutes. Blair giggled and laughed at the descriptions Jim gave of each frame, much to Jim's delight.
Hmmm, maybe I should read this stuff more often," Jim thought to himself with a silly grin.
**********
It was 11:30am when Dr. Mead strolled into the room. He couldn't help but smile at the two men.
Jim was trying to describe what Garfield was doing to Odie. "... and Garfield pulls Odie's tail and says 'The tail bone's connected to the face bone.'"
Blair scrunched up his nose and said, "I just don't see that one Jim. What's Odie's tail ..."
"You should be able to see it in a few minutes," Dr. Mead interrupted with a grin.
"Hey Doc," Jim said, setting the paper on the bed and standing. "Didn't hear you come in." He smiled and held out his hand.
Dr. Mead shook the offered hand firmly.
"Not that I'm complainin' here, but I thought there was an emergency," Blair said. "The nurse said you wouldn't be in 'til this afternoon."
Dr. Mead went to Blair's bedside, taking hold of the young man's hand, and shaking it. "Well, fortunately, that patient's condition is stabilized now, and he's gone up to surgery. He should be fine."
"Cool!" Blair grinned.
Jim smiled, thinking, He has no idea who this person is, and yet he's happy that this *stranger* is going to be fine.
"All right," Dr. Mead began. "Shall we see what you can see?"
"You want me to wait outside?" Jim asked.
"No Jim, please stay," Blair said nervously.
Jim could sense his friend's heartrate quicken. "Sure Chief, I'll stay if you want me to."
"I *definitely* want you to stay Jim."
Jim moved back to the bedside opposite the doctor and patted Blair's shoulder gently. He knew the "what ifs" were running through Blair's head.
Dr. Mead took a pair of small scissors from one of the oversized pockets in the white coat he wore. "I want you to close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to do otherwise, okay?"
"Um ... yeah, okay," Blair replied.
"I'm cutting through the gauze now. You need to hold very still." Dr. Mead carefully cut away the bandages that encircled Blair's head and covered his eyes.
Blair took a short breath, and held it.
"Breathe Blair," Jim whispered, and was grateful for the slight huff as the air left Blair's lungs.
The doctor lifted the bandaging away from Blair's face, revealing one white square of cotton gauze over each eye. "Don't open your eyes," Dr. Mead reminded him softly.
After removing the gauze squares, Dr. Mead examined the area around Blair's eyes.
Blair flinched slightly, as fingers gently pressed on the more sensitive spots.
"A little tender yet, but you're healing very well." Dr. Mead moved his hands away, and said, "Now, when I tell you to do so, I want you to open your eyes slowly. The light in the room will make them sting, but that's normal. Understand."
"Okay," Blair said with a slightly shaky voice.
"And don't expect things to be in focus right away, so don't try to force it."
"I understand."
"All right ... *slowly* open your eyes," Dr. Mead instructed.
Blair reached for Jim's hand that still rested on his shoulder, and held it tight. Slowly he pulled open sticky feeling eyes, and blinked quickly at the sharp needles that stabbed at them. "Owowowow!" he exclaimed, reaching his free hand up.
"No no," Dr. Mead said, quickly intercepting the hand. "Just close them again."
"Relax Chief, just breathe for me," Jim whispered soothingly, as the grip tightened around his hand.
"I'm trying," Blair grimaced, leaning his head back.
Dr. Mead brought a small bottle out of one of those big pockets, and said, "I'm going to put a couple of drops in each eye. It's an antibiotic, and it'll numb them a bit." Two drops in the right eye. "Keep your eyes shut now." Two drops in the left. "Let's just give it a minute to take affect."
The stinging needles disappeared almost immediately.
Jim felt Blair relax. "How's it feel now, Chief?"
"Better," Blair replied with a small smile. "Can I try it again?"
"Whenever your ready," Dr. Mead said. "Take your time."
Blair took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He then let his eyes open, squinting at the blurriness, shielding his eyes with his free hand against the bright overhead lights, as he looked around the room.
Jim winced as he caught sight of his friend's red, sore looking eyes.
"Don't force it," Dr. Mead reminded him gently. "Your vision should clear slightly in a moment, but you're going to be blurry for a few more days." He used a pen-sized flashlight to examine Blair's eyes.
Blair shied away from the light a little, but didn't fight it.
"Looks good in there," Dr. Mead announced happily. "There should be no lasting effects."
Jim let out a sigh of relief, "Thank God."
Blair started giggling.
Jim and the doctor looked at each other, confused and concerned.
"What is it, Blair?" Jim asked. Hysterics?
Blair was staring at the comics that Jim had been reading to him, and had left across the foot of the bed. "Garfield!" he giggled again. "I get it now!"
Jim and Dr. Mead looked at each other again, and burst into laughter.
<>~~<>~~<>
end