New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
Disappearance
by Suzie
Summary: On the road again. #10 of the Wanted series.
Disclaimer: Some of the characters in this story belong to the Pet Fly Productions as part of the television show The Sentinel. I do not claim these characters as my own.
Thank you, oh wonderful Beta Beast!
Simon was just walking into his office, a filled coffee mug in one hand and files in the other, when the phone on his desk began to ring. Mumbling something about it being too damn early in the morning to start the day, he set the files down on his desk and picked up the phone. "Banks."
"Captain, this is William Ellison," said the voice on the phone. "Have you seen the news yet this morning?"
"No, sir, I haven't yet had the chance." Simon said, wondering why the elder Ellison was calling him. No one had heard from Jim and Blair since they'd left. Oh my God! Simon thought with sudden realization. "You've heard something about Jim and Blair, haven't you?"
"On CNN, not ten minutes ago. A *human interest* story out of Wyoming." Mr. Ellison took a deep breath before continuing. "There was a bear attack in the Rocky Mountains. An unidentified young man was mauled while helping two hikers after the bear had attacked them."
"If the man was unidentified, how do you know the story was about Jim and Blair?" Simon asked, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice.
"There was an interview with the wife of the man that was injured during the initial attack. Jim walked in on the interview."
"Oh Christ..." Simon moaned. "That means Moe, Larry, and Curly know where they are. How old is the story?"
"Just a couple of days. The report said that the two injured men were taken to Rawlins Memorial Hospital in Wyoming. You know that Blair was probably one of the attack victims."
Simon sighed. "Yes, I realize that."
"I made a quick call to the hospital in Rawlins. They said that Jim and Blair had left, and they wouldn't give me any other information. Wouldn't it be a bit soon to leave the hospital after being mauled by a bear?"
"Yes, sir, it would be. I'll see what I can find out, Mr. Ellison. I might have better luck going through the police and parks departments. Thank you for calling and I'll keep you informed."
"Captain... what about Blair's mother?" Mr. Ellison asked cautiously.
"I don't think there's much chance of Naomi watching CNN, but if she does hear about it, I'm sure she'll contact me. I'd just as soon *not* tell her and get her worried if there's nothing that can be done."
"Yes, you're right," Mr. Ellison agreed. "I'll be waiting to hear from you, Captain."
"I'll talk to you as soon as I know something." Simon hung up the receiver and let himself sink into the chair at his desk.
**********
Agent Sands had set up a command center in the waiting area in the lobby of the hospital. He was angry, frustrated, and trying to do some damage control.
I have to get Ellison and Sandburg back before... "Sands here," the Agent said into his cell phone, if only to stop its irritating ringing.
"Agent Sands," a male voice said. "This is Dr. Nolan."
Oh shit! Too late! "Yes, sir, doctor," Sands sighed wearily. "What can I do for you?"
"Doctors Archibald, Collins, and myself were wondering how things were proceeding. How soon can we expect your arrival?"
"Well, sir... uh... it looks like there may be a slight delay in the transport."
"Oh, and the reason for this?" There was a note of irritation in the doctor's voice.
"It's Sandburg's leg," Sands lied, not wanting to tell his superiors the truth. "Seems he's developed a slight infection and... uh... the doctor here insists that he can't be moved for another day or so."
"Then send Ellison along and bring his Guide as soon as the doctor there allows him to travel."
"Oh... uh... I advise against that, sir," Sands said quickly, a bit of nervousness in his voice. "Ellison refuses to leave Sandburg's side and I doubt you'd get any cooperation out of him without his friend with him."
"Is there something wrong, Agent Sands?" Dr. Nolan asked suspiciously. "You don't quite sound like yourself."
"Me... I'm fine, sir. Just a bit... tired." Exhausted is more like it. "This has been a difficult case." Can you say *pain in the ass*?
"I see. Well, keep us informed, will you? Let us know when the doctor releases Mr. Sandburg. We are *quite* anxious to start our Sentinel studies."
"Yes, sir, I understand. I'll call you in a day or two."
"See that you do, Agent Sands."
With that, the line was disconnected.
Sands closed the little phone and dropped into a nearby chair. He was disgusted with himself for not being able to tell his superiors the truth, but he *would not* admit failure. He would *never* admit failure. "Check doesn't finish the game, Ellison," Sands said to himself. "And Checkmate is never far behind."
**********
Blair groaned as he slowly woke and tried to move in the backseat of the Jeep Wagoneer.
Wolf whined softly, shifting nervously behind the seat.
With some effort, Blair opened his eyes and peered up into Wolf's soft brown eyes.
"Wolf?" he whispered, his mouth and throat too dry to get any volume. Blair reached a shaky hand up and patted the side of the animal's face, a groggy smile spread across his face.
Wolf whined again and turned his head to lick the hand as his tail thumped against the floor of the vehicle.
"How are you doing back there, Chief?" Jim asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.
"Okay, I guess," Blair replied. "Feeling a little stiff."
"I'm not surprised. You haven't moved in nearly six hours."
"Are we going to be stopping any time soon?" Blair's voice cracked. "I could use a pit stop, man."
"We're coming up on the Canadian border. I'll make a stop to gas up and hide Wolf before we cross. Can you wait that long?"
"Yeah, as long as it doesn't take too long to get there. Any signs that we're being followed?"
"No... at least not yet," Jim said.
Blair slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position, groaning at the movement.
"How's the leg?"
"Throbbing, but I'm okay for now. Is there any water?"
Jim nodded, handing back a bottle of water. He knew Blair was lying, but was satisfied that his friend would make it to their stop.
**********
Simon made calls to the police in the Rawlins area. Unfortunately, the news was not good. Apparently Blair and another man had been mauled by a bear and taken to Rawlins Memorial Hospital. Simon was relieved to hear that both of the injured men were recovering.
"I have no doubt that both Mr. and Mrs. Hornsby would be dead now if Mr. Sandburg hadn't been there," Captain Harlow said. "It's just too bad that the kid's leg got messed up during it all. Thanks to Mr. Ellison and some other man that was on the scene, they were given some first aid and gotten to the hospital in time." He went on to explain, "Some men with government identification showed up at the hospital and stationed themselves at Mr. Sandburg's room. It wasn't too long after that when both he and Mr. Ellison disappeared from the hospital. Apparently no one saw them leave." Captain Harlow smiled to himself when he remembered the all too innocent look he got from Tammy when he'd questioned the nurses. "I did a trace on both of them when the report came in that they were missing by the hospital, but they aren't wanted in the United States or Canada... so I chose not to get involved. Not that I was *asked* to get involved. But we did do a search of the area and came up empty."
"Do you know if the government Agents were involved with their disappearance?" Simon asked curiously.
"Nope," Captain Harlow said. "I can guarantee those government types had nothing to do with it. They've been running around like chickens with their heads cut off asking if anyone's seen two men fitting Sandburg and Ellison's descriptions. I'd say those two men managed to escape from right under the government's noses..." He didn't try to mask the amusement that had crept into his voice. "Wouldn't you agree, Captain Banks?"
Simon smiled with pride and satisfaction. "I would, indeed, have to agree with that, Captain Harlow. Thank you *very* much for the information."
"I hope your men contact you soon, Captain," Captain Harlow said knowingly. "Just to let you know that they're all right."
Simon sighed. "Yeah, I hope they do too. I'm sure they will when they can. Thanks again."
"No problem."
Simon hung up the phone and took a deep breath. He was relived that Jim and Blair had escaped once again, but he was concerned about Blair's injuries. No doubt, the young man was in no shape to be traveling, but Simon knew that Jim wouldn't have taken Blair out of the hospital if it weren't necessary. He also knew that Blair could not be in better hands.
**********
Jim drove through Raymond, Montana and stopped at a gas station/mini mart. He checked on Blair as he pulled into the station and, seeing that his friend was sleeping again, decided to fill the gas tank first and told Wolf to stay down. Then, with the gas tank full and paid for, he pulled around to the side, out of sight of the people going in and out of the mini mart.
Turning in the seat and looking at his sleeping partner, Jim asked Wolf, "How's he doing?"
Wolf sat up and growled softly, nuzzling the arm that was draped over the back of the seat.
Jim knew that Blair had been petting Wolf before he'd fallen asleep again and his arm must have slid out of the fur to where it was now. Satisfied with Wolf's answer that Blair had been sleeping comfortably, Jim reached over and gently rubbed Blair's chest through the sweatshirt's fabric.
"C'mon, Chief, time for that pit stop."
Blair sighed deeply and opened his eyes. "Are we there yet?"
Jim couldn't help but smile at the sleepy incoherence of that question. "We're about twenty miles from the Canadian border. Let's get you taken care of, then I'll see what I can do about getting Wolf out of sight."
Blair blinked, waking fully and realizing where he was as he listened to Jim's voice. "Oh... yeah... cool."
Jim exited the Wagoneer and opened the back up, letting Wolf out. "I'm going to take Blair inside to use the restroom," he told the big animal. "You do what you need to do, but stay out of sight and don't wander. Just do it and get back inside... okay?"
Wolf shook himself and sneezed. I will be careful.
Jim nodded, noticing the crutches that Tammy had given them. You thought of everything, he thought gratefully.
After helping Blair out of the backseat and making a minor adjustment to the crutches for height, Jim followed his unsteady partner into the mini mart. Luckily the restroom was unoccupied, and Blair went on in with instructions to leave the door unlocked and Jim's promise that he wouldn't let anyone in.
A minute or so later the toilet flushed and the water came on in the sink. Jim's enhanced hearing told him that Blair was splashing water on his face and mumbling about the sorry state of his hair.
Finally, the door opened and Blair hobbled out.
"You okay?" Jim asked, taking in the tired, pale face with its lines of pain.
Blair nodded, "Yeah... not great, but okay."
"Can you wait here while I use the restroom?"
"No problem, man."
Jim disappeared into the restroom, but kept a Sentinel *eye* on his Guide. He heard Blair as he thumped around the small store on his crutches, mumbling occasionally about the sugar and/or salt content in something. By the time Jim came out of the restroom a few minutes later, Blair was leaning on the counter, waiting for him to appear and pay for a bag full of snacks, drinks, and a box of Milkbones for Wolf.
"Ready to get back on the road, Chief?" Jim asked, stepping up to the counter. He pulled out the required amount of money from the battered envelope he'd been carrying.
Blair looked up at his Sentinel and managed a shaky smile. "Yeah, let's go."
Returning to their vehicle, Jim was glad to see that Wolf was waiting patiently for their return. After getting Blair settled in the backseat again, Jim rearranged the things packed in the back of the Wagoneer to conceal Wolf.
"Okay, when we get to the border..." Jim explained to Blair, "make sure he's lying down and covered up with a blanket."
"Right," Blair nodded.
Jim looked at Blair over the back of the seat. "Are you going to be all right until we stop in Regina? We'll have about a hundred miles to go after crossing the border into Canada."
"Yeah, I should be okay, but I'm gonna need something when we stop for the night... for sure."
Jim nodded as he climbed out of the back of the Wagoneer. "No problem, Chief. Tammy said there was some in the box she packed up. But if you need to stop for any reason, just holler, okay?"
"Okay... I promise."
Jim closed up the back, then walked to the driver's side door and got in. As he pulled the seatbelt around his hips and clicked into place, he heard Blair's quiet voice in the backseat talking to Wolf.
"I know it's uncomfortable, but if the border guards find you, they'll take you away from us," Blair told Wolf.
Bad people? Wolf asked with a whine.
Blair buried his hands in the fur around the animal's neck, his fingers moving in a massaging motion that Wolf liked. "They aren't *bad*, but without papers that say you've had all the proper shots... not to mention what we would need to *legally* take a wild animal out of the country, the people at the border wouldn't let us keep you. They'd lock you up in quarantine, then probably send you to a rehabilitation center."
Quarantine? Rehabilitation?
As Jim drove out of the gas station and back out onto the Highway, he grinned to himself as Blair attempted to explain things to their friend.
**********
By the time Jim and Blair reached Regina, Canada, they'd been on the road for nearly ten hours and it took another hour to find a place that would accept pets. Jim wanted to get Blair settled for the night as soon as possible. Blair had been dozing restlessly in the backseat since they'd crossed the border and Jim knew that his friend was hurting.
"Hang in there, Chief," Jim said quietly, though he knew that Blair wouldn't hear him. He pulled into another parking lot at another motel. "Keep your paws crossed, boy," Jim said to Wolf as he got out and walked into the lobby.
The Comfort Inn turned out to be very accommodating when Jim explained that he was on his way home with his friend that had been mauled by a bear during a camping trip.
"We just need a place to rest up for a couple of days before we get back on the road," Jim told her as he leaned tiredly against the counter. "My friend's been bouncing around in the backseat there for a good ten hours and the pain medication is wearing off... and I'm exhausted. Unfortunately, the other places I've stopped at haven't been very receptive to our dog."
The elderly woman took pity on the ragged looking man and quickly gave her two new guests a downstairs room with two queen sized beds. She explained that they didn't normally except pets, but under the circumstances they would make an exception... of course there would be a fifty dollar additional fee to cover any damage that *might* occur.
Jim paid for the room in cash and didn't quibble about the extra for Wolf. He smiled gratefully as he took the key and hurried out of the lobby back to the Wagoneer.
**********
Agent Murphy stepped carefully into the waiting room at Rawlins Memorial Hospital. His superior, Agent Sands, was *not* in a good mood and he really didn't want to deliver his news.
"Uh... Agent Sands... sir?" Murphy called quietly to the man sitting across the room staring blankly into space.
Sands' eyes focused on the slender young man standing in the doorway. "What... do... you... want?"
"Sir, it may be that Ellison and Sandburg are heading for Canada," Murphy replied nervously.
"And this conjecture is based on what? We don't even know what kind of vehicle they're in," Sands said in a low, dangerous voice.
"We found one person who says he saw a Jeep Wagoneer being driven by someone that matches Ellison's description exit the parking lot of the hospital."
"It was the middle of the night!" Sands snapped. "How in the hell could he see well enough to *know* it was Ellison driving?!"
"He says that the Jeep was sitting under a streetlight... waiting for a few cars to pass before pulling out. The guy pulled in passed Ellison and they looked right at each other."
"And this person *knows* that Ellison was heading for Canada?"
"Well... no, sir... but it's the logical route." Murphy took a deep breath and continued, "If they get into Canada, we can't go after them. We have no jurisdiction."
Agent Sands stared at Agent Murphy for a moment, then shrieked, "SHIT!" He grabbed his cell phone and frantically began to dispatch his people.
Agent Murphy quietly left the room as Sands shouted orders and mumbled under his breath about how Ellison had done it to him again.
**********
Jim drove the Wagoneer around to the back side of the motel and parked in front of the door with the number sixteen on it. He was glad that he didn't have to ask for a room that didn't face the street. Now the vehicle was out of sight... just in case.
First Jim unlocked the room's door, then went to the back of the Wagoneer and opened it. Wolf quickly jumped out, stretching and shaking himself gratefully. Jim went to the side door that Blair was leaning on and carefully opened it.
"Blair, time to wake up," Jim said, supporting the injured man.
Blair groaned and opened his eyes. "It hurts, man," he said quietly, looking up at Jim.
"I know, Chief. Let's get you inside so I can see about getting you some pain meds."
Blair grimaced and hissed as the pain flared while Jim helped him out of the backseat. He was shaky and clung to Jim until he was able to get the crutches under his arms for support. Even then he wasn't steady enough to get himself into the room and Jim had to take one crutch away to wrap a strong arm around the smaller body to help Blair inside.
Jim settled Blair onto the bed nearest the bathroom, then quickly went to retrieve all of the blankets and pillows from the *nest* that Blair had made in the backseat of the Wagoneer, as well as the box that nurse Tammy had packed.
After carefully removing the sweatpants and sweatshirt, leaving Blair in T-shirt and boxers, Jim arranged two of the pillows under his injured leg and the rest behind him. Then he found the two bottles of pills that were in the box. Jim read each of the labels, and then replaced the antibiotic back in the box before shaking the pills from the second bottle. By his count there was enough Percocet to last three days at most. He went to the bathroom and filled one of the glasses with water and returned to Blair's bed.
"I need you to sit up a bit here," Jim said, coaxing a dozing Blair up and holding him against his chest. "Open up."
Blair opened his mouth and Jim popped one of the pills in before handing him the water.
"Thanks, Jim," Blair said after swallowing and handing the glass back. He snuggled against Jim's chest for a moment longer, not wanting to give up the warmth. Then he let himself be settled against the pillows again. "Are we safe?"
"For now. Sands and his men don't have jurisdiction here." Jim brushed his hand over Blair's forehead. "Get some rest now. I'm going to unpack the Jeep. Just call if you need anything."
"I'll just sleep..." Blair yawned. "For a little while." He glanced to either side of the bed. "Wolf?"
"He's right here."
The big animal sat up and rested his chin on the bed, whining softly. Blair reached over and rubbed his hand over the top of the wolf's head as he began to slip into sleep. "'Kay... jus' checkin'," He slurred sleepily, finally able to really relax for the first time in days.
Jim stood and pulled the blanket up around Blair's limp form. "Stay with him," he told Wolf in a whisper.
Of course was Wolf's reply as he stretched himself out on the floor next to the bed.
Jim quickly unloaded the Wagoneer and neatly stacked their things in one corner of the room. He then sat heavily on the second bed and watched Blair sleep, flushed and warm among the pillows with the blanket half covering his face. Jim had been thinking about where they could go to be truly safe... and one place kept coming to mind.
Blair mumbled and shifted, grimacing as the movement pulled at his leg, but he did not wake.
Jim moved to the edge of the other bed and carefully pulled the covers away from Blair's face. He gently pushed the tousled hair, which was easily as long as it was before Blair went to the police academy, back and watched as the face relaxed again into deeper sleep. He would have to discuss his thoughts with Blair. Jim couldn't make this decision for them. It was a decision they would have to make together. They would have to weigh all other possible options and agree on what's right for them both.
**********
"Come on! Come on!" Agent Sands muttered angrily as he waited for the phone to be answered.
"Marcus," the agent said into the receiver.
"Marcus... report!" Sands said impatiently.
"I'm at the Canadian border on Highway 16 and it looks like Ellison drove across a few hours ago," Agent Marcus replied.
"You're sure?!"
"A Jeep Wagoneer with Wyoming plates. One of the border guards identified Ellison as the driver from the picture I showed him. He also mentioned that there was a man sleeping in the backseat with a leg injury."
Sands groaned and ran a hand through his close cropped hair.
"What do you want to do?" Marcus asked. "Canada's out of our territory."
Sands sighed wearily, "I'll talk to Washington and see if we can get permission to go in after them."
"All right, I'll wait here for your call."
The line was disconnected and Sands hesitated before dialing the number he so dreaded.
The phone rang three times before a receptionist answered it. "United States Department of Defense. How may I direct your call?"
"Dr. Nolan's lab, please. This is Agent Sands. ID number 98462B like Boy."
"Please hold, sir, and I will transfer you."
**********
Two hours later found Jim dozing on the bed when something invaded his consciousness. Something cold and wet was pushing against his neck.
"No, Wolf!" Blair whispered frantically. "Don't wake him!"
Jim's eyes flew open at the sound of his Guide's soft voice and he immediately looked over at the other bed... the empty bed. He sat bolt upright, immediately searching for his missing partner. "Blair?!"
"Take it easy, big guy," Blair called. "I'm right here."
Jim focused on the familiar voice, quickly and easily locating Blair standing at the foot of his bed leaning on his crutches.
I told him not to get up, Wolf said, sitting between the beds.
"I was doing fine. You didn't have to wake him up," Blair groused.
Jim slid to the edge of the bed and stood up. "Wolf's right, Chief. You should've woke me."
"I just need to go to the bathroom, man." Blair gestured to the door, a half-dozen steps away.
"You're not too steady on your feet and I don't want you to fall."
"Really, Jim, I'm okay. Those pills aren't as strong as the morphine shots. I actually feel pretty good right now."
"I'm not surprised. Tammy sent Percocet for pain."
Jim fell in behind Blair as he began moving towards the bathroom, ready to catch the younger man if he were to lose his balance. When Blair was inside the small room, Jim pulled the door closed and returned to the bed and sat down. He ruffled the fur around Wolf's neck. "Thanks, buddy, I'm glad you woke me up."
Several minutes later, Blair was finished and maneuvering back to the bed.
Jim let Blair get comfortable on the bed again, then said, "I'm going to call and get some food delivered. Then we need to have a talk. It's time we discussed our options and made a decision about our future."
Blair looked into Jim's suddenly serious eyes and simply nodded his agreement.
**********
"Are you telling me that you *lied* to us, Agent Sands?" Dr. Nolan said in a barely calm voice.
"Yes, sir... but only because I was sure at the time that we'd have them back in custody and there would be no need to bother you with the details," Sands replied weakly.
"Now Ellison and Sandburg are in Canada... and you would like the Defense Department to authorize you to go there to find them?"
"Uh... yes, sir, that would be the plan."
"You know, Agent Sands," Dr. Archibald said into the speakerphone. "You have done nothing but botch things up since day one. I'm not sure letting you continue on this case would be the wisest thing to do."
Sands gaped for a moment before his mouth silently opened and closed several times in a good imitation of a fish.
"Agent, did you hear what I said?"
"Yes... yes, ma'am, I did," Sands finally croaked out.
"It could be that it would best if the case were assigned to someone else," Dr. Collins said.
"Please let me assure you, though I have underestimated Ellison in the past, this latest incident was a planned assault on my men by unknown parties. There was no way of knowing that Ellison and Sandburg had made allies during the time that they've been on the run." Agent Sands desperately needed to finish this case. In the twenty years since he'd become an agent, his case record was unblemished, and he intended to keep it that way. "We know where they crossed the border, and with Sandburg being injured there are not too many places they can go."
There was a minute of nearly total silence and Sands strained to hear the discussion between the three doctors on the other end of the line.
"All right, Agent Sands," Dr. Nolan said with an exasperated sigh. "We'll see about getting you authorization for Canada... but it will take a day or two for the paperwork to go through. I'll notify you as soon as it's been signed off."
"Thank you, sir," Sands said gratefully.
"This is your last chance though. If you do not retrieve the Sentinel and his Guide within three days of authorization, we will have the case reassigned."
**********
After the food had arrived and they were eating, Jim laid out their options. They had three to choose from.
"One is we keep running and hope we can stay out of government hands," Jim stated with a sigh. "Two is we give ourselves up and work for the government." He watched Blair frown and shake his head vigorously. "Or, three... leave the country again."
"The choice is obvious," Blair nodded, picking at his french fries. "We go to Peru."
"It's our best bet," Jim agreed, tossing wrappers into the trash. "Even if we are followed, they'll never find us in the jungle."
"And you're sure the Chopec will let us live with them?"
Jim picked up the wrapper that had held the five-pounds of raw hamburger that he'd talked the restaurant into delivering for Wolf. "Shouldn't be a problem. They still accept me as a member of the tribe and a Sentinel." He dropped the trash in the small wastebasket in the bathroom and washed his hands.
"What about me? They don't know me," Blair said, finishing his hamburger.
Jim walked back from the bathroom with the bottle of antibiotics. "They've known since Incacha died that you're my Guide and a Shaman. Don't worry... they will accept you." He handed the bottle to Blair. "Take one with the rest of your milk."
"And Wolf?" Blair asked, looking down at the big animal sleeping on the floor.
"He'll go with us." Jim smiled. "The Chopec have never seen a wolf like him before."
Blair nodded and took the pill as instructed.
"Jim?" Blair said softly after about five minutes of silence.
"Yeah, Chief?"
"Can I take a shower?"
The longing in Blair's voice and the puppy dog eyes made Jim smile. "I think we can both use a shower, Chief. We'll figure out a way to keep your stitches dry."
Blair grinned at his partner. "Thanks, man."
Jim found the plastic bags that had been packed in with their things. A brand new box... never opened. There hadn't been a need for them. After wrapping Blair's bandaged leg in plastic, he striped them both down and climbed into the shower with his friend. Modesty had flown out the window a long time ago as there was little, if any, privacy in the cave they'd lived in for so many months.
Jim helped Blair balance and washed his back as Blair took care of the rest and shampooed his hair. Then, after he got Blair out and seated on the toilet's closed lid to dry himself and get dressed, Jim quickly scrubbed and washed his hair.
Once Jim was dressed in the boxers and T-shirt he'd brought in for himself, he checked and rebandaged Blair's leg.
"Looks good," Jim said, taping the gauze bandage into place. "No sign of infection and it's healing well. How's it feel?"
"Actually, it's feeling pretty good. It's starting to throb a bit, but there hasn't been a lot of pain since we got here," Blair replied.
"Well, I'm sure being cramped up in the backseat of the Jeep wasn't helping anything. But that two-hour nap you took was the best sleep you've had in days and the fact that you ate your dinner probably helped too," Jim said with a smile. "You're starting to get your color back."
"It's too noisy in hospitals to sleep." Blair yawned. "And you know I hate hospital food."
Jim nodded, knowing how true that statement was. "Okay, Chief, I think it's time for you to take another pain pill and go to bed."
"I don't want to take another pill, man," Blair whined, standing as Jim steadied him until he got the crutches under his arms.
"You won't make it through the night without one."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know you," Jim smiled, following his partner out of the bathroom. "You admit that your leg is throbbing... that generally means it's starting to hurt more than you're letting on."
Blair sighed as he sat down on his bed and slowly pulled himself onto the bed and under the blankets.
"You know I'm right."
Blair looked up the big man and stuck his tongue out, but wouldn't admit a thing.
Jim chuckled and tucked the pillows under Blair's injured leg. Then he went for the pain medication and a glass of water. After Blair took the drug without too much grumbling, Jim told him that he was going to take Wolf out one last time before going to bed.
"Okay, Jim," Blair yawned again. "I'll be here when you get back."
Slipping into a pair of sweatpants and his shoes, Jim said, obviously glad that his partner was really beginning to feel better, "Smartass."
Ten minutes later, Jim and Wolf returned to find Blair sleeping soundly.
**********
Agent Sands had been kicked out of Rawlins Memorial Hospital after the administration called the sheriff. He now had a small room in a local Motel 6 that he proceeded to pace in. He hated the waiting. He hated the thought of Ellison and Sandburg getting further away as he was forced to wait for his authorization to do his job.
"They can not replace me," Sands said aloud as he moved from one side of the room to the other. "I'll get those two if it's the last thing I do... there's no question about that. I have a reputation to uphold here. No one has *ever* gotten away from me. Ellison's been lucky up til now, but his luck will soon run out. He's not expecting me to come after them now that they're in Canada." A predatory grin spread across his face. "But this will be where the chase truly ends."
**********
Jim opened his eyes and rolled onto his back. He stretched and yawned, smiling at the feel of clean sheets and a soft mattress under him. Turning his head, Jim looked at the clock-radio on the stand between the bed and saw that it was nearly 10:00am. He then looked at the other bed in the room and very nearly laughed out loud at the sight. Wolf had moved onto the bed with Blair sometime during the night. The only thing of Blair that Jim could see was an arm that was thrown over the big animal.
Wolf's deep brown eyes opened and he stared at Jim for a moment. He dreamed. I did not wish to wake you.
Jim sat up on the edge of the bed. "No problem. Thanks for letting me sleep," he whispered. Using his sense of hearing, Jim quickly checked Blair's vitals and found them normal and there were no signs that he would wake anytime soon. "Let me use the bathroom, then I'll take you outside."
Jim disappeared into the bathroom and Wolf slowly moved out from under Blair's arm and off the bed. Blair sighed and rolled onto his back, but did not wake.
**********
Breakfast was ordered and both Jim and Blair savored the eggs, ham, bacon, hashbrowns, and toast. There was *real* coffee... not the stuff made out of dandelions that Raven had taught them to make after their supply had run out, and fresh orange juice and ice cold milk.
"Are you going to call Simon?" Blair asked after they'd finished the meal and were relaxing on his bed.
"Yeah," Jim said with a sigh. Then he turned and looked at Blair. "You're sure about going to Peru?"
Blair nodded without hesitation. "We've been through this, Jim. It's our only chance to get away from the government."
Jim nodded, then picked up the phone that sat next to the clock-radio. He dialed Simon's home number from memory and waited for the familiar voice to answer the phone.
"Hey, Simon," Jim said into the receiver. "It's Jim."
There was a long moment of silence before Simon said, "Jim? Oh Lord, it's good to hear your voice!"
"Yeah, Simon, it's great to hear yours too."
"We heard about the bear attack on CNN. Are you two all right?"
"Blair was mauled by the bear... messed up his leg... but he's doing okay." Jim looked at the man lying on the bed next to him, noticing Blair beginning to doze off.
"Where are you?" Simon asked.
"We're in Canada," Jim answered. "Captain, we need you to make some arrangements for us."
"Arrangements? What sort of arrangements?"
"Blair and I have decided to go to Peru."
Simon fell silent.
After nearly a full minute, Jim feared that they'd been disconnected. "Simon? Are you there?"
"Uh... yeah... I'm here. You just caught me by surprise. What do you need me to do, Jim?"
"Contact my dad and have him arrange a flight to Lima for Blair, myself, and a large dog."
"A dog?"
"Yes, sir... a large one."
I am not going to ask. Simon began to take notes. "A large dog, Jim?"
Jim smiled to himself. "He sort of adopted Blair. Remind me to explain it to you someday."
"Oh, I will. Sounds interesting," Simon said, grinning in spite of himself.
"I want Blair to see a doctor before we go," Jim said, getting back on track. "He'll need to have stitches removed and an x-ray to check a hairline leg fracture."
"Are you coming back to Cascade?"
"No, sir, we should be in Seattle in two days."
"Okay, we'll take care of everything on this end. Call me on my cell phone when you get into Seattle and I'll tell you where to meet me."
"Thanks, Simon," Jim said quietly. "We really appreciate this."
"No problem, Jim," Simon replied sincerely. "Glad to do it."
Jim hung up the phone and looked down at the young man snoring quietly next to him. "Rest well, my friend. Tomorrow we're back on the road."
**********
The next morning dawned cold and wet. The rain was already coming down in sheets and there was a threat of sleet if the temperature didn't rise.
Jim had packed up the Wagoneer the night before they left so he and Blair could get an easy start in the morning. Blair took a pain pill and an antibiotic after breakfast, while Jim got Wolf settled in the back of the vehicle. Then Jim helped Blair to get situated in the backseat with pillows and blankets.
Jim wrapped the comforter around Blair's shivering shoulders. "You all right?"
"Y-Yeah... just cold," Blair answered with a slight smile.
"I'll have things warmed up in no time," Jim promised before he closed the door. I should have warmed up the jeep before getting him in here, Jim scolded himself as he hurried around to the driver's side door.
That first day's drive wasn't too bad... except for the weather. Blair slept a good deal of the time, waking only when they stopped for gas and Jim insisted he get out and move around a little. He would dutifully use the restroom and keep an eye on Wolf if he were out of the Wagoneer. Jim would coax Blair to eat a little bit so he could take another Percocet when the time came for it.
That night, Blair had nightmares about the bear attack and the thrashing caused pain in his leg. Wolf and Jim both crawled into bed with him in an effort to comfort the younger man. Blair lay against Jim, trembling as strong arms engulfed him and gentle words worked to soothe him. Wolf lay against Blair's back with his head resting on his hip, hoping that the weight would still his restless friend. The Percocet was all but gone... there would be one pill come morning.
The second day was rough. Another five-hundred-plus miles, little sleep, lousy weather... still, and Blair biting back the pain after the last pain pill wore off.
**********
Agent Sands' cell phone rang insistently until he came out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, wrapped in a towel, to answer it.
"Yeah... what is it," Sands said tiredly into the small receiver.
"Agent Sands... this is Dr. Nolan."
Suddenly the Agent was wide-awake and alert. "Yes, Doctor?"
"You have your authorization to enter Canada to search for Ellison and Sandburg. The documents are being faxed to the mobile unit."
Agent Sands sighed and smiled humorlessly. "Thank you, Dr. Nolan. I will let you know as soon as they are in my custody."
There was a slight hesitation, then the doctor asked, "Are you feeling all right, Agent Sands? You sound tired. Are you sleeping?"
"No, sir, I sleep very little when I'm working, but I'm feeling fine. Nothing to worry about."
"Hmmm... well... we want daily reports from now on, Agent."
"Yes, sir, you'll have them."
"See that we do," Dr. Nolan said, then hung up the phone.
Sands clicked off the phone and headed back to the bathroom. "Prick," he mumbled exasperatedly.
**********
The rain and sleet had followed them throughout the trip through Canada and into Vancouver, where they took one last break before the drive across the border into Washington and on to Seattle.
When Jim pulled the Wagoneer off of Interstate 5 at the Union Street exit into Seattle he felt the weariness seep further into him. He was exhausted from the drive, the worry he held for Blair, and the knowledge that he didn't know if the government was still on their heels. Jim could only guess that they were not currently being followed.
Blair tried valiantly not to groan out loud and never once complained. He was hurting and he saw no reason to bother Jim when there was nothing that could be done. Blair didn't realize though, that Jim could hear the soft sounds as he sobbed into a pillow, and could hear the accelerated rhythm of his heart as a spasm of pain coursed through his injured leg, forcing him to stifle his gasp behind his hand. Blair didn't think about Jim's enhanced senses being split between watching the road and monitoring him. Actually, Blair wasn't thinking about much of anything beyond getting through the day.
As soon as he found a place to pull over, Jim parked the Wagoneer at a curb with a phone booth on the corner. "I'll be right back," he said to the other two occupants and exited the vehicle.
"Banks," Simon barked in response to the ringing cell phone.
"Simon, it's Jim."
"We were beginning to worry."
"It's been a long day, sir," Jim sighed.
"We've got a suite at the Edgewater down on pier 67."
"I know it's late, but is there a chance the Blair can see a doctor tonight?"
"Yeah, not a problem. I called a friend of mine with the Seattle PD and he referred me to a Dr. Lewis who operates a clinic," Simon answered. "He's agreed to check Sandburg out... no questions asked.Go down to Fourth Avenue and make a right. It's the Wall Street Clinic. You should drive right to it, but I'll wait outside for you."
"Okay, Simon," Jim said. "And thanks."
**********
Dr. Lewis was a kind and gentle man with a bald head and an old wrinkled face. He checked Blair over carefully, removed the stitches, and x-rayed the leg. It was determined that the pain that Blair had been suffering was caused mostly from the hairline fracture not being braced, which Dr. Lewis was surprised had not been done once Blair was on his feet.
Jim grimaced and as he realized that there had not been a chance to find that out before they left the hospital. "We were in a hurry, and wanted to just get home," he said in way of explanation. "I guess I didn't... I wish I'd known..."
"It's okay, Jim," Blair said quietly. "It's not your fault."
Dr. Lewis saw the look on Jim's face and smiled sympathetically. He held the x-ray up to the light. "The fracture is in the lower tibia... here." He pointed out the hairline fracture in the bone. "He has obviously stayed off the leg for the most part or the break would have begun to separate. I would say that no real harm has been done." Dr. Lewis prepared a syringe as he spoke to Blair. "There's no sign of infection, but I'm going to give you a shot of Penicillin just to be on the safe side. You don't have any drug allergies, do you?"
Blair shook his head, "None that I know of."
Dr. Lewis administered the antibiotic and then set about placing Blair's foot and lower leg in a removable brace. "You're going to have to stay off the leg and use the crutches." When the brace was in place he gave Blair dose of Ibuprofen and a cup of water. "This will help with the pain. You shouldn't need anything stronger now."
"Thanks, doc," Jim said, following him across the room.
"You don't look a whole lot better than your friend does," Dr. Lewis told Jim, taking a large bottle of Ibuprofen out of a cabinet and handing it to him. "Now that you can be sure that your friend is going to be more comfortable, get some sleep. Let someone else look after him for a while."
Jim smiled gently and looked at Blair, who was slowing getting dressed. "He's more than a friend... he's part of my family too."
The doctor nodded his understanding.
"Thank you for everything, Dr. Lewis. How much do we owe you?"
"Twenty for the bottle of Ibuprofen and we can call it square," Dr. Lewis smiled.
Jim fished a tattered twenty-dollar bill out of a pocket and handed it over. "Thank you again."
**********
Jim followed Simon back down to the waterfront and Hotel Edgewater on pier 67. After parking, Jim made sure that Blair was steady on his feet after getting out of the Wagoneer before going to the back of the vehicle. He let down the tailgate, letting Wolf out. The big animal stretched and yawned, giving Simon his first look at Jim and Blair's new companion.
"Jesus, Jim, you weren't kidding when you said he was big!" Simon said.
Wolf looked up into Blair's face let out a low bark.
Blair looked around the darkened parking lot and then said, "Over there in those bushes."
Wolf trotted off to take care of business.
"You understand him?" Simon asked Blair.
Blair shrugged. "Well... yeah I do. So does Jim."
"He's not a dog is he?"
Jim and Blair both shook their heads.
"But, for the record, Wolf is a Shepard mix," Jim said quietly.
Simon rolled his eyes and nodded.
"It will be all right that he's with us here, won't it?" Blair asked, looking at the large hotel.
"Mr. Ellison said that everything was taken care of and not to worry," Simon replied.
"Mr. Ellison? My dad? Is he here?" Jim asked, surprised.
"Yeah, he insisted on coming with us."
"Us? Who is us?" Blair asked.
"Megan came along to take care of some of the arrangements for the flight. She's staying out by the airport."
Wolf returned as Jim finished pulling two bags out of the vehicle and they headed into the hotel.
**********
"Dad?" Jim called as they all entered the suite that overlooked the bay.
Mr. Ellison came out of one of the two bedrooms and went straight to his son. "Jim... my God it's good to see you," the older man said, then pulled his son into a quick embrace.
Jim returned the hug easily. "I didn't expect you to get so involved in this when I called Simon."
Mr. Ellison released Jim and stepped back. "Captain Banks and I have kept in contact since you and Blair left Cascade. When he called to tell me that he'd heard from you, I insisted on helping in any way I could." He looked up and saw Blair moving in through the door ahead of Simon and Wolf. "Blair... how are you doing?"
Blair managed a shaky, but genuine smile. "I'm doing a bit better, thank you, sir."
Mr. Ellison stepped around his son to steady Blair as he hobbled into the room. "Come in here and sit down... before you fall on your face." He looked up at Jim again. "You both look exhausted."
"We are, Dad," Jim said.
"Go ahead, Jim. I'll take your bags to the room," Simon said quietly.
"Thanks, Simon." Jim reached down and patted Wolf. "C'mon, I'm introduce you to my father."
Wolf followed Jim to the sofa, where he sat down between Jim and Blair's legs.
Mr. Ellison gaped as the big animal laid his chin on Blair's knee. "Good Lord... is that a..."
"A dog, Dad," Jim said quickly. "Wolf is a Shepard mix. We found him in Wyoming and he'd been with us ever since."
Mr. Ellison nodded skeptically, but said nothing more about it. "Have you two eaten?"
"Yeah... we stopped just before Seattle," Blair replied, rubbing his hands over his face.
"What we really need are showers and sleep," Jim said with a tired sigh.
"Of course," Mr. Ellison agreed and stood up. "We can talk after you've rested."
"Our flight?"
"Tomorrow night."
Simon joined them in time to tell them where their room was. "There's plenty of towels and extra soap."
"Thanks, Simon," Jim smiled, giving Blair a helping hand up. "Come on, Chief, let's go."
**********
It was in the early morning hours that Jim's exhausted sleep was interrupt by muffled cries and murmured voices. He opened his eyes and sat up, peering through the dim light from the outer room to see his father sitting on the other bed with Blair. Wolf was lying next to Blair on the bed, whining softly with concern.
"Shhhh... it's all right," Mr. Ellison whispered to the young man moaning and twisting on the bed.
"Dad?" Jim called groggily as he moved to the edge of the bed.
"It's okay, Jimmy. Everything's under control."
"What happened?"
"I was sitting in the other room reading when I thought I heard something in here," Mr. Ellison explained. "Blair was having a nightmare so I was trying to calm him down. I was hoping not to wake you."
Jim smiled and yawned. "It's all right. I would hear him no matter what."
Mr. Ellison returned the smile and nodded. "Yes, I guess you would."
Blair moaned again in his sleep and began to thrash a little bit harder.
Jim moved to Blair's side, placing a hand on his Guide's sweaty forehead and taking one hand in his other hand. "It's okay, Chief, it's just a dream. Calm down now. I'm here for you."
Blair immediately calmed and opened his eyes. "Jim?"
"Yeah, you're okay now. It was just a dream," Jim whispered soothingly, smoothing the hair back off Blair's forehead.
"It was that bear again."
"I know, but it's over and I want you to go back to sleep."
Blair looked up at Mr. Ellison and grimaced, "I suppose I woke everyone up?"
"I was still up," Mr. Ellison said. "And if I weren't, it wouldn't matter."
"Can you get back to sleep, Chief?" Jim asked.
Blair nodded.
Wolf nudged him with his nose and whined.
Blair wrapped his arms around the mound of fur next to him. "I'm okay."
Jim patted Blair gently on the arm, then moved back to his bed. "Thanks, Dad."
"Not a problem," Mr. Ellison said, sitting down next to Jim. "It's amazing how he responds to you."
Jim smiled fondly at Blair, who was already sleeping again. "We respond to each other, Dad. It's got to do with our friendship and the Sentinel thing. It's a bond."
Mr. Ellison nodded and stood. "Well, you get back to sleep, son. I'll see you in the morning."
**********
Daylight came and Jim sat up in bed, still feeling tired, but certainly better than he had in the past few days. He automatically monitored Blair for a minute, though they were in beds that were only separated by a few feet, and was satisfied that his friend was still sleeping comfortably. Looking around the room, Jim was surprised to see that Wolf was nowhere to be seen. Senses searched the suite and found Simon in the shower, but his father and Wolf were missing.
Wandering out of the bedroom, wearing the robe supplied by the hotel, Jim met Simon coming out of the second bedroom.
"Good morning, Jim," Simon greeted. "How are you doing?"
"Better this morning, thank you," Jim said with a smile. "My Dad and Wolf..."
"Are out for a walk. They should be back any minute." Simon pointed to a tray on the coffee table. "Have some coffee."
Jim nodded, then stepped over and poured himself a cup of coffee. "I'm going to go get dressed."
By the time Jim finished washing up and getting dressed, Mr. Ellison and Wolf had returned.
"Good morning, Jimmy." Mr. Ellison eyed his son critically for a moment, then said, "You look decisively better. Sleep all right?"
"Yeah, slept great, Dad," Jim said. "How was your walk?"
Mr. Ellison smiled. "I hope you don't mind that I took the dog out. He came out of your bedroom and sat by the door, so I thought it was a good idea. He's very well mannered."
"No... no problem at all." Jim grinned. "I'm glad you two are getting along."
He is a nice man and he did try to help the Guide last night, Wolf told Jim.
Jim only smiled down at the big animal and sipped his coffee.
Mr. Ellison sat down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him. "Captain Banks and I would like to hear what you and Blair have been through these past months. It's been nearly a year now with no word from you."
Simon sank quietly into a chair across from the sofa and reached for the coffee as Jim sat next to his father.
"It's a long story..." Jim sighed, remembering how it all began.
**********
Jim sat down on Blair's bed and gently rubbed one arm. "Hey, Chief, time to wake up."
Blair mumbled something indecipherable.
"C'mon, buddy, it's noon and it's time to get up and eat something."
Blue eyes cracked opened slightly. "Noon?"
Jim smiled, "Yeah, you were sleeping so well that I figured it wouldn't hurt to just let you. You needed the rest."
Blair yawned and sat up slowly. "Thanks... but what about you? Did you sleep okay after my little... um... incubus last night?"
Jim's eyebrows rose in question.
"Incubus--a bad dream, nightmare, or an oppressive burden," Blair explained with a smile.
"Ahh... yeah, I slept fine, but only because I knew Wolf was keeping an eye on you." Jim stood as Blair worked his way to the edge of the bed, then handed him the crutches before he stood up. "Are you going to want some help getting dressed?"
"No, actually I'm feeling pretty good. This brace has really helped with the pain a lot," Blair said as he steadied himself on the crutches. "I'm going to go wash up first. If I need help, I'll give a shout... okay?" He looked around the bedroom. "Where's Wolf?"
Jim chuckled, "He's found a new friend in my Father. They went out for another walk."
"A walk... with your Dad?" Blair gaped. "I'm impressed."
**********
While Blair ate his club sandwich and salad accompanied by a glass of milk, Jim packed a single duffle bag with the bare essentials for their trip to Peru. Simon and Mr. Ellison assured them that the Wagoneer and anything they left behind would be taken care of.
The trip to SeaTac Airport in Simon's car took about forty-five minutes... including the time it took to find a parking place.
During their last walk near the hotel, Mr. Ellison bought a nylon collar and leash from a street vendor. He knew that City ordinances and airport rules demanded that pets either be on a leash or in travel crates. Wolf wasn't thrilled about having to wear the *things*, but after Blair explained the situation, Wolf allowed the collar to be snapped on.
Megan Connor was waiting at the American Airlines ticket counter for the four men and *dog*. "Sandy! Jim!" she called, waving. "It's been so long... too long."
"Yeah, Megan," Blair said after hugging the tall, slender woman. "I agree with that."
Megan quickly moved on to Jim with another fierce hug. "Thank you for coming back in one piece." She spied Wolf sitting patiently sitting to one side out of the way with Mr. Ellison. "Oh Lord! Is *that* the dog I was told you two have now?" Megan looked at Simon. "You weren't kidding when you said he was big, sir."
Simon chuckled, chewing on his unlit cigar. "Let's get everyone checked in while we're here. Then we can settle somewhere and talk."
"What about Wolf?" Blair questioned, concern shadowing his face. "It's hours until our flight. He can't be expected to sit in a crate all that time *and* the hours it'll take to get to Peru."
"No worries, Sandy," Megan said. "I made arrangement to have him put in his crate just prior to loading. Oh, and you'll need these too." She produced and envelope of veterinarian paperwork verifying shots and so on.
Jim took the envelope with a smile. "Thanks... didn't even think of this."
"No problem, mate."
**********
Everything went off without a hitch. Flight 856 left for Dallas at 11:30pm. In Dallas they would transfer to another Boeing 767 for the rest of the flight to the J Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru. Both flights were booked in first class, something that Jim had argued with his father over even though he knew the battle was lost before it had begun.
They would meet a Captain Edward Agama at the Lima airport. Captain Agama met and become friends with Captain Banks at a seminar several years before.
"I told Captain Agama about Jim's helicopter going down and he remembers reading the stories," Simon told Jim and Blair. "He thinks that you're looking to reconnect with the Chopec because they'd helped you survive after the crash, and Sandburg is with as moral support." He sighed at the smiling faced staring at him. "It was the best I could do on short notice and I'm not as good at obfuscation as someone we know," Simon glared at Blair, who simply blinked and looked innocently back. "He's making arrangements to have someone take you as far as the road goes, but there aren't many that will guide into the jungle anymore... and those that do, he doesn't trust. He will make sure you have everything you'll need."
**********
"Postponed?!" Agent Sands bellowed into the phone. "What do you mean *postponed?!"
"Just what I said, Agent," Dr. Nolan said calmly. "You're discovery that the Sentinel and his Guide has fled to Peru has made it impossible to continue the project at this time."
"But, sir, let me go to Peru," Sands begged. "I can find them and bring them back!"
"With the project on hold, there are no funds available to send you and your team anywhere expect back here to Washington D.C."
"But..."
"No, Agent Sands, bring your team home immediately," Dr. Nolan said, then abruptly hung the phone up.
"Son of a bitch!" Agent Sands spat angrily as he clicked of the cell phone and pushed it into his pocket.
**********
~end~