New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Trial & Terror
by Suzie
Summary: Sequel to What Price Failure. #2 in the Grades series.
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.
Blair padded out of his room on bare feet and across the darkened loft to the stairs. He stood silently for a moment, feeling a guilty need to talk to his friend above. As quietly as he could, Blair went up the stairs to Jim's bedroom.
"Jim?" Blair pleaded in a whisper. "Jim? I hate to ..."
"Hmm?" Jim rolled over and yawned sleepily. Then suddenly came awake as he realized his roommate was standing on the top step. "Blair, what's wrong?"
Blair noted the concern in the voice that came from the bed that he couldn't see in the dark. "I am, like, so sorry to wake you, Jim, but ... I really need to talk."
Jim could easily see, with sentinel sight, the smaller man as he stood shivering in sweatpants and T-shirt, looking for all the world like a lost child. There had been a slight, unmistakable tremor in Blair's soft voice. Scooting to one side of the bed, Jim pulled the blankets back, "C'mon, before you freeze."
Blair heard the rustling of bedding in the dark and moved to crawl into the offered warmth, "Thanks, Jim."
"No problem, Chief," Jim smiled as the young man wrapped the covers around himself and leaned against the headboard. "What happened? Have a nightmare?"
"Well ... yeah," Blair replied with a sigh.
"Terry Nolan?"
"Nah. I haven't had one of those in weeks, man."
"Good," Jim stated. The younger man hadn't had any nightmares about Nolan since the stitches were removed six weeks before. "So, what brought you up here then?"
Suddenly, Blair felt foolish. "I ... umm ... I had a dream that scared me worse than anything. But ... now ... it seems dumb."
"If it bothered you enough to bring you up here in the middle of the night, Blair, it's not dumb."
Blair sighed, running his hands through his long hair, "Oh, man, ... "
"Just take your time."
After a brief hesitation, the words came in a rush. "You were really mad at me ... in my dream," Blair started. "I don't know what I did, but it must've been bad, man, 'cause you were throwin' me outta here." His voice trembled slightly as he continued, "You said you didn't want me around anymore. You said you didn't need me, and I was more trouble than I was worth, and ..."
Oh God! "Stop right there!" Jim cut him off and saw Blair flinch at his tone of voice. "It was a dream, Chief," Jim let his voice soften.
"Told you it was dumb," Blair said as he pulled his knees up to his chest. "But, it seemed so real. I woke up wondering if it really happened. It scared me."
Jim sat up and pushed himself back against the headboard, "No, it is not dumb. The fact that it scared you worries me though." He handed Blair a pillow for his back before shoving one behind his own. "Blair, this had to come from somewhere. What's going on?" Jim saw his guide rest his chin on his raised knees. Just as the darkness was not a barrier to his sentinel sight, his super sensitive ears easily picked up the sound of Blair's racing heart. "Talk to me, buddy."
"Jim ... I," Blair tried, but the words just wouldn't come out.
"Chief, you must know by now that I want you here as long as you want to be here. I need you as a guide, and a friend." Jim saw Blair turn his head to look at him, though the sentinel knew his guide couldn't see anything in the dark.
Blair's voice came quietly, "Jim, I don't want to cause you trouble at work."
"Trouble? How are you causing trouble?"
"By always getting into things that you have to get me out of, man. You're always savin' my butt."
"Who the hell have you been talking to, Chief?" Jim demanded gently.
"Maybe Tabur was right. I am too much trouble," Blair said sadly.
Tabur, that son-of-a-bitch! Jim thought, knowing full well that Kyle Tabur was a troublemaker who wanted nothing more than to hurt someone to get what he wanted. And, he was jealous of Blair's involvement with the Cascade Police Department. "I save your butt because it's worth saving. Don't forget ... you've pulled my ass out of the fire more than once. You're my partner. You're there when it counts."
"Jim ...," Blair's voice trembled.
"Let me finish here," Jim said quietly. "Blair, I don't know what I'd done if you hadn't pushed your way into my life. You are more like a brother to me then my own brother ever was or will be."
"Oh, Jim," Blair whispered so softly he wondered for a moment if he'd said it out loud.
"You are my family. Yeah, you've pissed me off a few times, but I can't believe you could do anything ... ever ... that would make me throw you out of here. This is your home."
Blair sniffled back tears he hadn't realized were there, "Oh, God, Jim. I've always wondered what it would be like to have a brother."
"Well, wonder no more. Big brother is here, my friend."
"Thank you."
"You know I'm always here for you."
"I'm here for you, too, big guy."
"Now, I know we both have the weekend off, but it's 3am and I'm tired, Chief," Jim said.
"Oh, yeah ... right," Blair agreed as he started to get out of the bed.
"No, you're okay here ... if you want. You're warm now, and the bed's plenty big." Jim made sure the smile on his face was in his voice as well, "Just stay on your side." Then he slid down under the blankets and got comfortable.
Blair didn't say anything. Actually, he didn't know what to say, and that didn't happen very often. He slid down into the cozy warmth and quickly slipped into sleep.
When Jim woke a 8am, the sun was shining brightly on the cool fall morning. Blair slept peacefully in a mummy wrapping of blankets on the opposite side of the bed. Smiling, Jim got up and pulled on his robe as he went downstairs to make coffee.
A weekend to relax, maybe take in a movie.
**********
Jim hated Mondays.
"Ellison! In my office!" Captain Simon Banks barked as he walked passed Jim's desk in Major Crimes.
"Yes, sir," Jim said as he rose and followed the tall black man into the office and closed the door.
Simon sat down behind his desk, cigar clamped tightly in his teeth. "Where's Sandburg?"
"Teaching a class this morning," Jim answered. "He'll be here this afternoon, though, I think."
"Damn, Jim, I really don't want to tell you this."
Jim tensed at the tone of the Captain's voice and the look on his face. This can not be good. "What is it, Simon?"
Simon sighed, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. "Terry Nolan's out," he finally said.
"WHAT?!" Jim's voice boomed causing several people in the bullpen to look up. "How?! What the hell happened?!"
"I don't know yet. Some how he managed to just walk away from the psychiatric ward at Western State Hospital."
Jim let one hand run over his short hair. "He'll go after Blair, sir. I have to get to the university."
"We don't know that, Jim. It's been nearly two months since he attacked the kid. Dr. Collins has been treating him and says Nolan doesn't even remember the incident at the university."
"Yeah, right," Jim said angrily. "Simon, the last thing Nolan said at his hearing was that he blames Blair for everything wrong in his life! He threatened to kill Sandburg if he ever got the opportunity!" God, I've got to get to the university! "I'm not willing to take a chance with Blair's life, sir."
"And if Dr. Collins is right ...," Simon inquired.
"Then the worst thing that'll happen is Blair working himself into a panic." Not to mention me. "But, if the doctor is wrong, and Nolan heads for Rainier University looking for Blair ..."
Simon held up a hand to stop Jim's speech, "Go ... just keep me informed."
"Yes, sir," Jim said as he ran out the door, grabbed his jacket as he passed his desk, and headed towards the elevator.
"God help us all if anything happens to that kid," Simon mumbled to himself as he watched his best detective run out of the department. Simon would deny it, but he really did consider Blair his friend.
Jim drove with lights and siren all the way to the university. When he arrived, he double-parked in front of the anthropology building, hoping that Blair's class was over and he'd be in his office. As soon as he entered the building, Jim opened his senses to locate that single heartbeat that had become such an important part of his life. While quickly moving down the hallway, he heard it and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sandburg?" Jim said as he entered the storage room that doubled as Blair's office. The younger man was no where to be seen. "Hey, Chief, where are you?"
"Right here, Jim," Blair said cheerfully, walking out from behind a shelf of artifacts carrying an old text. "What're you doing here? It's only 10:00." Then he saw the look of concern on Jim's face and the sobered, "Everything okay, big guy?"
"No, Chief," Jim growled. "No it's not." He now knew how Simon felt earlier.
"What's wrong, man? Are you okay?" Blair set the book down carefully and hurried over to Jim. "Something with your senses? What is it?"
"Get your coat. We're outta here," Jim said urgently.
Blair knew this was something serious. "Jim, what's going on? You're scaring me, man."
Jim saw the look of fear on his friend's face. "It's Terry Nolan. He's escaped," Jim stated plainly, trying to keep himself calm.
"OhmyGod," Blair whispered. The fear quickly turning to panic as he remembered the hearing, "Jim ..."
"I know," Jim said quietly, knowing what Blair was thinking. "Let's get going, Chief."
Blair grabbed his coat and backpack, following Jim out of the building.
**********
Blair followed Jim up the stairs to the loft. "What now? Do we just sit around and wait?"
Jim caught the anxiety in the voice behind him. "I'm sure Dr. Collins was right, and Nolan won't come after you, Chief. But, as a precaution, I'm not letting you out of my sight until that nut-case is caught." Jim unlocked the door and pushed it open, letting Blair go in first.
Thanks, Jim," Blair said as he walked passed the bigger man. "I just don't understand why he's blaming me? His other teachers refused his request, too, and he didn't threaten them."
Jim shrugged, "There's no way to know for sure what's happening in a sick mind."
They hung up their coats and Blair dropped his backpack on the floor against the wall.
Jim removed his gun and holster, setting them on the kitchen counter before heading for the refrigerator, "Want a beer?"
"Yeah, thanks," Blair said as he walked through towards his room. "I'm gonna change."
Jim grabbed the two beers, twisted the caps off both and went to the living room.
"Jim?" Blair called quietly.
"Yeah?" Jim turned to see Blair standing at the door to his bedroom. He had his back to him, but Jim sensed Blair's sudden rush of fear.
"J-Jim?" The voice was becoming shaky and weak as Blair stood, staring into his room.
Jim was at his friend's side in a flash, "What is it?" Then he saw what Blair was looking at, "Oh shit!"
The mattress on Blair's bed had been shredded. Sheets and blankets lay in ragged strips, the pillow stuffing's scattered about the room. The door was open.
"J-Jim?" Blair whispered as his knees weakened and threatened to send him to the floor.
Jim grabbed him around the waist, "Hang on, Blair, I gotcha." Gently, Jim led Blair to a chair at the dining table and had him sit down. "Take it easy, now. I'm going to check up stairs, okay?"
Blair nodded, trying to control his breathing and not hyperventilate.
Cautiously, Jim walked up the stairs to his own room. He already knew there was no one else in the loft. His sentinel senses were wide open to anything or anyone unusual. Standing at the top of the stairs, Jim wasn't surprised when he saw that nothing was out of place. Nolan was after Blair, and no one else.
"Jim? You okay up there, man?" Blair called after a minute.
Walking back down, Jim answered, "Fine, Chief." He looked at the pale young man and thought, What if he'd been here alone when that crazy broke in? The thought sent a shiver up and down his spine. "Blair, go pack a few things. We can't stay here. He may come back."
"Okay." Blair stood and started for his room.
"Hold it a second," Jim went into the small bedroom first and pulled the door closed and noticed the lock was broken. Great. "Alright, all clear. Pack light, okay?"
"Sure, Jim," Blair said as he disappeared into the small bedroom. "Where we gonna go?"
"Hotel for tonight. We'll work on a plan for tomorrow." Jim hustled up to his room to pack. "I'll call Simon as soon as we're settled." After a minute, Jim called down, "Do you have any idea how he got our address?"
"Well ... there's a directory of everyone's phone numbers in the university main office. I suppose he could've gotten the address if he got the phone number first," Blair answered without raising his voice. He knew Jim would hear him.
**********
"Okay, I'm ready," Blair said as he left his room with an overnight bag packed.
"Be right down," Jim called back. He was just zipping his own bag when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Blair said without really thinking.
"Check before you open ...," Jim began, but was cut off by a loud crash and the sound of Blair's frightened exclamation.
"Oh God! JIM!"
Bounding down the stairs, Jim saw Terry Nolan standing in the hallway holding Blair by the shirt collar. Blair was struggling against the mad man's grip, but couldn't break the hold. Nolan's eyes were wild. Blair's were panicky as he tried to push away from his captor.
"Nolan! Let him go!" Jim demanded as he crossed the loft to the door. He looked for his gun, but it was no longer on the counter.
Nolan laughed, "Hear that teach? He thinks I should let you go. What's YOUR opinion on that?!"
"Terry, please," Blair said, trying hard to sound calm. "We can talk, man. Work something ..."
"NO!!"
Blair flinched as if the shout had been a physical blow. "Jim, he's got your gun," he warned as he watched the Detective move closer.
"Okay, Nolan. This has gone far enough," Jim tried. "You're in enough trouble without adding to it by hurting him."
Terry turned his head and looked at Jim, "Oh, I'm not gonna hurt him, cop. I'm gonna kill him!" A hideous grin spread over his face as his attention turned back to Blair and his renewed struggles. Without warning, Terry took several long steps, pushing Blair backward with him.
Jim heard Blair's startled cry as he ran to the door. Then there was the sound of a body tumbling down the steps, ending with a sickening thud and breaking glass as Blair hit the outside doors at the bottom. Jim caught Nolan at the top of the stairs and threw him up against the wall, sparing a glance at the motionless form of his partner at the bottom of the stairs.
Nolan twisted out of Jim's grasp and dancing away, laughing gleefully and reaching for the gun he'd tucked into his waistband. Jim stood still, knowing he couldn't help Blair if he were to get himself killed. He caught the sound of a muffled groan, accompanied by the tinkle of broken glass as Blair regained consciousness and started moving around.
"Don't do anything dumb, man," Terry Nolan warned. He backed towards the open door of the loft, "Just stay there." Then he disappeared inside.
"Blair, stay put!" Jim told the young man.
Blair raised a hand to indicate he'd heard and understood, looking up to see Jim turn towards the loft. Shifting his body to push himself against the wall, Blair felt a sharp pain shoot through his right leg and foot. "Oh, shit ... man!" he hissed through gritted teeth. Above him, Blair could hear the muffled sounds of a struggle begin. Listening, he chewed his bottom lip and wished he could do something to help.
Then it happened. The crack of a gun going off.
"OhmyGod! OhmyGod!" Blair muttered to himself. "Jim ... no." He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and waited.
Two more shots echoed down to him, and Blair clutched his chest. Silence. Oh God, the silence.
Blair waited, listening, hoping to hear Jim's voice. But, nothing more happened. After what seemed like an eternity, Blair finally called, "Jim?! You okay, man?" There was no answer. He moved slowly, painfully crawling up the stairs. The only thought in Blair's mind was to get to Jim.
**********
It took a good deal of time to drag himself up the stairs and to the loft. By the time he made it to the door, Blair was hurting bad, sweating, shaking and feeling nauseated. "Jim?!" He called out quietly. Nothing. "Jim, where are you, man?" Blair got to the end of the kitchen counter and pulled himself up to stand on his uninjured leg.
"What's the matter, teacher? Hurt yourself?" Terry Nolan asked from the chair in the living room.
Startled, Blair whirled around, but the action caused a massive amount of pain in his right leg and he fell to the floor. "Terry, what have you done?" Blair asked, grimacing at the pain.
"Killed your friend, man. Head shot," Terry answered simply. "Left him where he fell. In your room. Bleeding ... dead."
Blair sat there, shocked. Then anger began to rise in Blair like he'd never known before and he pulled himself up against the counter again. "You little son-of-a-bitch!" Blair spat. "You murdered a man ... all over a stinking passing grade?"
"You ... ruined my life, man. I told you it would've been easier if you gave me what I wanted." Terry's voice was flat, emotionless. "I told you that, you know. It's all your own fault. You should've listened."
Suddenly oblivious to pain, Blair limped towards the failed student. His eyes wide, dark with anger, Blair said, "Kill me then." His voice was surprising calm. "You want me dead that bad? Then get it over with before some other innocent person dies because you can't deal with life."
Terry stood, smiling a crooked, cheerless grin as he raised the gun level with Blair's chest.
"GO ON, Man! Do it! Let's get it over with!" Blair shouted. He closed his eyes as he saw Terry's finger move on the gun's trigger.
Then it happened. One shot. Blair jerked, expecting an explosion of pain. But, none came as he stood there with eyes tightly shut.
"Sandburg?!" Simon said, coming up next to the young man. "Sandburg, you alright?"
Blair opened his eyes and looked up at the Captain. "S-Simon?" Then he felt himself falling.
Simon caught the smaller man easily and carefully sat him down on the floor. "Easy, Blair, it's over now. Where's Jim?" He pulled his cell phone out and punched in 911.
"J-Jim," Blair gasped. "My room." Then his world went black.
**********
"C'mon, buddy, open your eyes," Jim whispered.
Blair groaned softly as he opened his eyes. "Jim?"
"Yeah, it's me, Chief," Jim smiled, relief relaxing the worried lines in his face.
Seeing the blood covering the side of Jim's face, Blair said, "Hey, you okay, man? I heard shots."
"Yeah, one clipped me," Jim said. "No big deal."
Blair moved to sit up, then gasped in pain, "Damn, my leg!"
"Broken ankle, Chief. Ambulance is coming." Jim helped pull Blair up to lean against him as they both sat on the floor. "You probably got a little bit of a concussion, too, after that fall."
"What about you? I know you're hard headed, but ...," Blair smiled and indicated the cut on the side of Jim's head.
Jim returned the smile easily, glad that his partner was able to joke a bit. "If he'd shot me anywhere else, I'd probably be dead. This hard 'ol head comes in handy every now and then."
Blair shifted, then regretted the movement. "Ssst, ow, man!"
Jim gently pulled Blair back against his chest, "Be still now."
A stretcher was wheeled out with Terry Nolan's body on it. Simon was following, but didn't leave the loft.
"Jim, what ... what about Terry?" Blair asked.
Jim looked up at the Captain, who turned when the question was asked. "Simon had to shoot him, Chief. Nolan was about to take you out when the calvary got here."
"Is he alive?"
Simon knelt next to the pair, "He's alive, but it doesn't look good."
Blair sighed heavily, then said, "Thanks for saving me, Simon."
"Any time, Sandburg," Simon replied quietly, giving Blair's shoulder a light pat. Then he stood and went back to work.
Jim heard the second ambulance pull up outside. "Ah, Chief," he said, keeping his voice low. "Simon told me ... he heard what you said to Nolan."
Blair slumped against his friend, feeling suddenly exhausted and beginning to shake as shock set in. "Yeah, well, I thought Terry had killed you. He said you were dead. I got angry."
Jim hugged the shivering man to his broad chest, "Blair ..."
"It's okay, big guy, I understand," Blair whispered, wrapping his arms around one of the strong arms that held him.
**Epilogue**
Jim and Blair were kept over night at the hospital for observation. Simon made sure the two were put in a room together. It would be the only way either would rest.
"How did you know to come to the loft, Simon?" Jim asked as he settled in his bed.
Blair was sound asleep and oblivious to the conversation.
"Someone was entering your building during some kind of shouting match and heard what was going on. This person left before being seen and called 911. The dispatcher called me when she realized it was a detective's address," Simon explained.
Terry Nolan died, having never regained consciousness, two days later.
**********
Three days after the incident, Blair was feeling sad and a little guilty. In an odd way he was glad it ended the way it did. He shared his thought that it would be better to be dead then to live in an institution. "Am I a bad person for thinking that, Jim?" Blair asked solemnly.
Jim smiled gently, "No, Blair. You are incapable of being a bad person. Terry Nolan is in a place that can't hurt him now." Stepping over to the sofa where Blair sat, Jim raised the leg with its bright purple cast and set it carefully on the coffee table, "Doctor said to keep it up." Then he sat next to his guide.
Shifting positions to accommodate the move, Blair said, "But, Jim. Thinking that dead is better ..."
"I think being dead is better than spending your life hearing voices in your head. The psychologist that was treating Terry said it'd been going on for some time before he finally went over the edge. You just happened to be the one that he saw as he went over."
"Yeah, I know. That's why he blamed me for everything," Blair sighed.
"Don't dwell on it, Chief. There was nothing that could have prevented it."
"What if I'd gone ahead and gave him the passing mark he'd asked for?"
"That might have delayed it, but not stopped it. You heard what the doctor said. Terry Nolan was out of control the night he attacked you at the university, and he went downhill from there."
After several moments of silence, Blair smiled slightly and looked up at the Detective, "Jim, thanks for being around for me, man. I don't think I could've gotten through this without you."
"Chief, the feeling goes both ways," Jim said with a grin that shown in his eyes.
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end