New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Stocking
by Suzie
Summary: A short and silly Christmas story!
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: What can I say? It's Christmas!
Jim heard the slight creak of Blair's bedroom door downstairs. He rolled over and looked at the clock ~ 7am. Listening to his friend pad quietly across the loft, Jim couldn't help but smile.
"OH Wow!!" Blair exclaimed from downstairs.
He found it, Jim chuckled to himself.
Seconds later came the sound of running feet up the stairs to Jim's bedroom.
"Jim?! OhmyGod!" Blair was saying as he bounded up the stairs. "Wake up, Jim! Jim, you awake, man?!" He jumped onto the bed sending the big man bouncing.
"I am now, Chief," Jim said quietly, pretending he'd been sleeping. He heard the tinkle and clatter as things were spilled onto the bed. "What are you doing?"
"Will you look at this?! This is sooo cool, man!" Blair's eyes were bright and wide.
Jim pushed himself up to a sitting position to see Blair sitting crossed-legged, in sweat pants and a T-shirt, on the bed with a scattering of small toys, games and puzzles spread out in front of him. "What's this?" Jim asked, picking up the red, white and green striped stocking that Blair had lying across his lap. The name "Blair" was stitched across the top. "Had a visitor last night, did we?" Jim chuckled.
Blair looked up from his exploration of the items in front of him, his face beaming, "Aah, Jim ... This is, like, sooo ..." He gestured wildly searching for the words, but could only utter, "Incredible!"
Jim grinned broadly, "Yeah ... incredible, Chief."
Blair began playing with a puzzle that had something to do with a tiny marble, "I've never had a Christmas stocking before!" He glanced at the sentinel, "Thanks, Jim."
"It was fun finding all these little doo-dads," Jim said, picking up a wind-up toy.
"So, how'd you know I never had one before?"
"You told me."
Blair looked up, his face wearing a confused statement.
"Well, not in so many words. But, I started to wonder why you always strayed over to the stockings when we were buying decorations. I put two and two together when I talked to your Mother last week."
"My mom?"
"Yeah, remember I told you she called. You were still at the university."
Blair nodded absently.
"Well, she mentioned something about wishing she could've afforded to get you little things for Christmas. So, I figured ... what the heck."
Blair had set the puzzle down and stared at Jim for a moment. "Jim ... I ..." he stammered for words. Then suddenly sprang off the bed and ran downstairs.
Jim started to get up, concerned. What just happened here? "Blair? Hey, Chief ..." At the sound of running feet returning, he slipped into his robe with less urgency. "Hey, buddy, I didn't mean to ... " Jim turned to face the younger man to find a small, neatly wrapped packaged being thrust into his hands.
"Merry Christmas, Jim," Blair smiled, almost shyly.
The paper was red with green ribbon and bow. Jim opened it slowly, "You didn't have to."
Blair sat down on the bed and fingered the toys as Jim opened the box.
Jim inhaled deeply the scent of leather as he took the case from the box. A fancy "JE" was embossed on it and he brushed his fingers over the letters. Inside he found his Cascade Police ID and his shield. "Oh ... Blair."
"Hope ya don't mind," Blair said tentatively. "I took your ID and badge after you went to bed last night."
"This is great, Blair." Jim smiled warmly, "Thank you very much." Walking over to the dresser, he grabbed a heavy package and returned to give it to Blair. "Here you go, Chief. Merry Christmas."
Blair took the box, "But, Jim ... you already ..."
"Santa does stockings. This one's from me."
Blair tore the paper off and opened the large box, once again excited. "Oh ... my ... God, Jim!"
"Mind you, it's not the original you admired so much in that bookstore two months back. But, it is an exact copy."
Holding a thick, leather bond copy of Hewlett Courier's 1928 journal and diary of his archeological findings throughout the world, Blair stood and stepped over to Jim, " This is ... this is ..." The words weren't there to describe his feeling, so he simply reached out and hugged Jim. "Thanks, man," Blair mumbled into the broad shoulder.
Jim returned the embrace without hesitation.
When the two men stepped apart again, Jim said, "Hey, how 'bout we open the gifts that are down under the tree. I've been dying to see what your mom sent."
"Yeah," Blair giggled as he gathered the stocking stuffers off the bed. "And what about your brother, Stephen? I can't imagine what he bought me."
"I'll make some coffee, and you put on some Christmas music."
"Race ya!"
end