New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Wisdom Bites
by Suzie
Summary: Blair has his wisdom teeth pulled.
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: I was talking to a friend of mine a few weeks' back and we were discussing her son neeing to get his wisdom teeth pulled. It brought back memories of when she had hers pulled and I got to sit with her for the weekend while her parents were out of town. What an experience for a couple of 17 year olds (this happened *a few* years ago)!
Jim snagged the phone on his desk before it could ring a second time. "Ellison," he said into the receiver.
"Hey, Jim, it's me," Blair sighed tiredly on the other end.
"Hey, Chief. How'd your appointment go?"
"Not so good. I gotta get 'em pulled," Blair answered, sounding nervous. God, I hate this!
Jim grimaced sympathetically, "That bad, huh?"
"Yeah."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"What time do we need to be there?"
"Jim, you don't have to ...," Blair started quickly.
"I know ... what time?" Jim smiled faintly.
"Ah ... 9am."
"Okay, I'm go tell Simon I won't be in tomorrow."
There was a pause. Then Blair's quiet voice on the line, "Jim?"
"Yeah, Chief?"
"Thanks, man."
"No problem. See you at home."
**********
Nurse Alexander stepped into the waiting room. "Mr. Ellison?"
Jim set the magazine aside and stood, "Yes, I'm Ellison."
"Follow me, please," she smiled pleasantly.
Jim followed the plump, middle-aged nurse down a small hallway. They entered one small, dimly lit room. Lying on the small bed was Blair.
"He did fine with the surgery, Mr. Ellison," Nurse Alexander whispered. "We'll keep him here for a little while, just to be sure there's no complications. Dr. Keaton thought you'd like to be with him."
"Yes, thank you," Jim whispered.
As she left, Nurse Alexander pulled the door shut part way. Jim stepped over to the bed, which was no more than a wooden bunk with a plastic mattress connected to the wall. He brushed the hair off the young man's forehead and gently pressed his hand to the cool skin. Blair's jaws were filled with cotton gauze.
Jim moved the one chair in the room close to the bed and sat down. He heard a barely audible moan and whispered, "Hey, buddy, you awake?"
Blair half opened glazed eye to look at the source of the voice. "'im?"
Jim smiled, "Yeah, Blair, it's me. Don't try to talk with your mouth full, okay?"
Blair fought to keep his eyes open and locked on Jim.
"Rest now. We'll be going home soon. I'm right here if you need anything."
Blair let his eyes drift shut and he felt a warm hand on his arm.
Thirty minutes passed before Dr. Keaton appeared in the room. "Mr. Ellison, good to meet you," he said with a friendly grin, offering his hand.
Jim stood. "Dr. Keaton. The nurse said everything went fine," he said as he shook the doctor's hand.
"Yes, came through with flying colors. Had a bit of a nervous start, but he settled right down with a mild sedative. I was told he had a rather bad experience a while back?"
Jim sighed softly, remembering Blair being chained to a dentist chair by a mad man, "Yes ... it's a long story."
"I understand." Dr. Keaton handed Jim two prescription bottles of pills, "I took the liberty of filling these here. He's going to have some pain over the next 48-hours or so. It was a real job getting at some of the roots. And both bottom teeth were infected, so I've prescribed an antibiotic."
Jim took the bottle and read the labels before tucking them in his pocket. "Thank you. Now we won't have to stop on the way." Blair was trying to sit up and Jim reached down to grasp one arm to set him upright. "Can I take him home now?"
Dr. Keaton sat down next to Blair and began removing the gauze from his patient's mouth, "Let's take a quick look." He peered into Blair mouth with a pen-sized flashlight. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, Dr. Keaton asked, "How are you feeling, Mr. Sandburg?"
"I 'outh 'um," Blair managed.
Jim chuckled.
Dr. Keaton smiled broadly, "Good, that's the plan. The numbness will start to wear off in a few hours. How are you feeling otherwise? Any nausea?"
Blair shook his head slowly, "'ust 'ittle 'oggy."
"He should be alright," Dr. Keaton said as he stood. "Take him home. Let him rest. Lots of ice. Only soft food until tomorrow, but chewing is not going to be easy for a day or so. So, be careful."
"Thanks, Doc," Jim said, shaking the doctor's hand again before he left the room. "Well, ready to go home, Chief?"
Blair nodded and stood, swaying dangerously until Jim caught hold of him.
"Go slow there. It'll take a little time for the effects of the anesthesia to work its way out of your system."
Blair looked up a Jim with glassy eyes that begged to get out of there.
Jim smiled as locked an arm around the smaller man's waist, "Let's go."
**********
"Yeah, he's fine, Simon," Jim said into the phone. "He's sleeping."
"Did they take 'em all?" Captain Simon Banks asked.
"Yep, all four were badly impacted. Two were infected. The Doctor said it took some work to get everything out and cleaned up."
"Poor, kid. I remember taking Daryl in to have his wisdom teeth pulled three years ago. You get plenty of ice like I told you, Jim? He's gonna need ice for the swelling."
"Yes, sir, stocked up on ice, soup and jello on the way home yesterday," Jim ginned at the sympathy and concern he heard in the Captain's voice. He always found it amusing when Simon showed any kind of caring for Blair's welfare. "Just like you told me to." For some reason the Captain just didn't like to admit he's grown to like Jim's partner.
"Okay, but you call if you need anything. Don't leave him alone. Daryl tended to walk into walls until the next morning."
"I'll call if anything comes up. Thanks, Simon." Jim hung up the phone and went to the kitchen. Jim looked at his watch and grimaced. He didn't eat dinner last night, couldn't eat before surgery. Probably didn't have lunch yesterday either, he thought. Gotta get some food in him so he can take his meds. Jim decided to heat some soup, then wake Blair.
A short time later, Jim entered the small bedroom and carefully sat on the edge of the bed. "Blair, time to wake up," he said quietly. When there was no response, Jim gently shook the younger man's shoulder. "C'mon, buddy. You need to eat something."
Blair groaned and cracked open his eyes. "Wanna sleep," came out of his slowly awaking jaws in a mumble.
Jim smiled fondly at the tired, swollen face peeking through tousled hair. "I know, Chief, but you've gone too long without eating. When your jaws start hurting you won't be able to take a pill on an empty stomach." He spoke gently, knowing Blair's mind was still fighting the anesthesia.
Blair sighed, "'Kay."
Jim helped him to sit on the edge of the bed and pull a pair of sweatpants on. When Blair stood up, the room spun around and he thought he was going to pass out. Gasping, Blair grabbed the front of Jim's shirt.
Jim already had him in a strong hold, though, "Easy does it. Take it slow." He could feel Blair's body shake as they slowly made their way out to the table. Jim's arm around Blair to steady him, and Blair still clinging to Jim's shirt.
"Wha' 'ime izit?" Blair asked as Jim set a bowl of warm soup in front of him.
"2:30 in the afternoon. Why?"
"Doc was 'ight. I'm starin' to feel it."
"You can take a pill after you eat," Jim said, wishing he'd not waited so long to feed his partner.
"'Kay."
Blair managed half a bowl of soup and a glass of orange juice. Then Jim let him take a pain pill. Blair didn't even protest taking the medication, since he normally hated putting anything that wasn't natural in his body.
"Want to go back to bed?" Jim asked when he noticed the grogginess beginning to overtake his friend.
"Sofa," Blair replied simply.
Jim again steadied him as he guided Blair to the sofa in the living room. Jim wasn't liking this version of Blair. The usually energetic young man was listless and blurry eyed from medication. Blair could, and would, normally speak volumes on most any subject, but at the moment he wasn't getting much beyond a few monosyllable words at a time. Jim knew it was because of the surgery he'd just had to pull four bad wisdom teeth, but he wanted to hear the ceaseless chatter he was so used to, and fond of. He'll be more like his old self tomorrow, Jim reminded himself.
Blair curled up on the sofa and let Jim tuck a blanket around him. "'anks, 'im," he mumbled as he fell asleep.
**********
Waking up three hours later, Blair sat up slowly. He was still on the sofa, and feeling a little stiff. Looking around for Jim, he noticed the loft was dimly lit. Blair looked toward the balcony windows and saw that it dark. Sitting up slowly, he wondered where Jim was. Then a deep, rumbling voice settled quietly in his ears from the upstairs bedroom. Jim's bedroom. He must be on the phone, Blair thought. Standing carefully, mindful of any lightheaded feeling, he made his way to the bathroom.
When he came out, Blair found Jim waiting for him.
"How ya feeling?" Jim asked.
"Better," Blair sighed. "Still a little tired, though."
"Yeah, that's to be expected. Want some ice for your chipmunk cheeks?" Jim smiled.
Blair sat down and glared good-naturedly up at Jim, his hands going to either side of his swollen face. Geez, I must look like Frankenstein's monster! "Probably should, huh?"
"It'll help the pain as well as the swelling," Jim replied. "Want another pain pill?"
"No, I'm okay for now, thanks."
From the kitchen Jim said, "Just got off the phone with Simon."
"You gotta go to the station?" Blair asked.
"Nah, nothing like that," Jim returned to the living room with two zip-lock bags of ice.
"He probably hoped Dr. Keaton slipped and cut my tongue out." Blair smiled, then winced.
Jim chuckled, "I don't think so, Chief. He'd deny it in a hot second, but he really does like you. He's been giving me advice."
"Advice?" Blair leaned back against the sofa cushions and held the ice to his face.
"Daryl had his wisdom teeth out a few years ago, so he thought some advice was in order." Jim watched Blair shift his hands on the ice bags, then went to grab two towels from the kitchen. "Here, try these," he said.
Blair put the towels between the ice and his hands. "Thanks, man."
"Oh yeah, everyone in the bullpen says 'hi'. They wanted to know how you're doing."
"Didn't think anyone cared that much."
Jim frowned, When is he gonna learn? "Sure they care. Not as much as me ... but they care. We're all friends."
**********
Blair woke up at 3am. He'd been having some really strange dreams, and was now in a lot of pain. He groaned miserably and sat up. But, that simple movement sent waves of pain through his jaws and face. Staggering out of his room, he ran straight into Jim just outside the door.
"Hey, Chief, what's up?" Jim asked, concern tingeing his voice.
"Hurts ... bad," Blair whimpered pathetically. He staggered again and nearly fell forward.
Jim caught hold of him and steered him back to his bed. "Stay put," he told Blair when he got him sat down. Then headed for the kitchen.
Blair cupped his face in his hands and groaned softly as another wave of pain passed.
Damn, he's really hurting, Jim thought as he retrieved a pain pill, water, and ice bags. When he returned to Blair's room, Jim found him curled on his side, sniffling, eyes shut tight. He sat on the edge of the small bed.
"Oh, God, Jim!" Blair whispered, looking up at his older friend. He could feel the tears welling. "Why's it hurt so bad, man?"
Jim gently pulled Blair into a sitting position with one hand and coaxed him to take the pain medication. "It's been over eight hours since your last pain pill, Chief. I should've woke you before I went to bed so you could take one. I'm sorry." Then he quickly straightened the sheets and blankets. "Okay, lay back here."
Blair groaned and did as he was told.
Jim pulled the covers up around Blair's shoulders, then laid the ice bags against his swollen cheeks. "Now just lay still." Moving a chair close to the bed, Jim sat down. "Breathe ... nice and steady."
"God, I hate this," Blair whispered, trying not to move his mouth as he spoke.
Jim took Blair's hand from under the blankets and let him squeeze it, "Easy, buddy. I know it hurts. Close your eyes and rest now. Let the drug do its job." He was surprised at how cold Blair felt and could feel the slight shivering that ran through his partner. Damn ... this room is cold, Jim thought. No wonder he's been sleeping in his clothes a lot lately.
Blair squeezed Jim's hand again and closed his eyes. Tears slid from beneath his eyelids and Jim wished there was something ... anything he could do for his friend.
Jim watched Blair for several minutes. Then the smaller hand that tightly gripped his loosened as Blair drifted into an uneasy sleep. Without another thought, Jim lifted Blair, blankets, ice and all, and headed upstairs.
Blair moaned quietly, but didn't wake as Jim carried him upstairs and laid him carefully on the big bed. Jim tucked all the covers around the younger man and repositioned the ice bags. Blair snuggled deeper into the newfound warmth and sighed. Jim gently brushed the stray curls from the swollen face and smiled slightly, knowing he'd done something to make his friend more comfortable.
Being careful not to wake the sleeping figure cocooned in the bed, Jim moved to the other side, striped down to his boxers and crawled under the blankets. He fell asleep easily, listening to the sound of Blair's slow, relaxed breathing.
Around 8am Jim was awakened by the feel of something squooshy under his left shoulder. He opened his eyes and shifted until he was able to grab the offending object. A bag of water? Smiling, Jim turned to see Blair, still wrapped in the blankets, sleeping peacefully.
Jim sat up a put his legs over the edge of the bed, scrubbing his hands over his face. Standing, he picked up his robe and walked around the bed in search of the second bag that had contained ice.
"Jim?" Blair groggy voice asked. "Everything okay, man?"
Jim sat on the bed next to Blair. "Everything's fine. How you feeling this morning?"
"Better. What're you doing ...," Blair stopped as his surroundings began apparent. "Oh, why am I in your bed, Jim?"
"Just thought you'd be more comfortable. Your room was pretty cold last night, and you were hurting."
Blair smiled a little, "Thanks, man."
"Swelling's down. Why don't you try to sleep a little longer."
Blair didn't argue. He pulled the covers back up and was soon asleep again.
**********
"Hey, Simon," Jim said into the phone.
"Jim, how's Sandburg doing?" The Captain asked.
"Had a rough night, but he's doing better this morning." Jim hesitated for a moment before asking, "I hate to ask, Simon, but ..."
"What do you need?" Simon asked willingly.
"An electric blanket."
"What?"
"I never knew how cold Blair's room gets at night ... and he's never said anything about it," Jim explained. "I sat with him for a awhile last night. His room was like an icebox. I had to use the senses to dial down the cold so I wouldn't start shivering."
"You didn't leave him in that cold room, Jim?" Simon asked sternly, concern evident in his voice. "He's susceptible to colds and flu right now, and ..."
Jim grinned, "I put him up in my bed. In fact he's still sleeping."
"Good. I'll pick up a blanket and bring it by in a couple hours. That be okay?"
"Great, Simon, thanks. I just didn't want to leave him alone after last night."
"That bad, huh?"
"He woke up about 3:00 in a lot of pain. I should've had him take a pain pill when I went to bed, but I didn't want to wake him. Then it seemed to take forever before the it kicked in for him."
"Yeah, I remember Daryl waking up in the middle of the night, too."
**********
Blair wondered down the stairs to the living room to find Jim watching a football game. It was nearly noon.
"Hey, Chief. How you feeling?" Jim asked.
"Okay, thanks," Blair replied. "Um ... sorry I slept so long."
"You needed it. Hungry?"
"Starved. I'll just go get changed," Blair said quietly as he headed for his room.
Jim stood and went to the kitchen. "Blair?" He called when he saw the bedroom door still open.
"Yeah, Jim?"
"Why haven't you ever mentioned how cold your room gets at night?"
Blair walked back out wearing a clean pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. He shrugged and sat at the table.
"I always wondered why you wear your clothes to bed."
Blair blushed slightly. "Just sweats and T-shirts ... maybe a pair of socks."
"You should have said something."
"It's okay, Jim, really." Blair looked up and met Jim's gaze. "I - I don't want to be any trouble. And, I'm gonna buy another blanket next payday ... if there's enough left over after the bills."
"For crying out loud, Chief. That room was like a damn icebox last night. I'm surprised you've been able to sleep at all."
Blair stared down at the tabletop.
"Blair, look at me," Jim said, and waited for his friend to look at him. "If you were any trouble, I wouldn't keep ya around. This is your home, too, and you shouldn't be afraid to tell me when you're uncomfortable. It was a real easy fix."
Blair blinked, not completely understanding, "Huh?"
"I called Simon this morning. He picked up an electric blanket," Jim smiled. "It's on your bed now."
"Jim ... I ..."
"I know it's not a complete fix, but it'll probably take a couple days to get the furnace fixed. There must be something wrong with the duct to your room or something."
"Jim ... I ... you ... thanks, man," Blair stuttered. "How much do I owe you for the blanket?"
"Don't worry about it right now. We'll work something out."
Blair stood suddenly, walked around to where Jim stood in the kitchen, and caught the bigger man in a hug.
Jim returned the embrace easily, feeling a warm sensation in his chest, "Hey, what's this for?"
Stepping back a little, Blair said, "I've never had a friend like you before. I mean ... a real, true friend."
"You're pretty special, too, kid."
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end