New
Arrivals
Author-Suzie
Titles
High Rise
by Suzie
Summary: Blair gets stranded.
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: Thank you to my Beta Beast, Jen (a.k.a. EagleEye). I could not ask for better.
Captain Banks pulled his sedan to a stop just outside the police perimeter. Jim was getting out of the passenger side even as the car rolled to a stop.
"Jim, wait! Slow down!" Simon called from behind the wheel, watching the detective bail out of the car. "Let's find out what's going on!"
Jim quickly spotted his stolen 1969 pickup parked well inside the construction zone and, ignoring the Captain's words, jogged off to where he could see the other detectives from Major Crime.
"Where's Sandburg!" Jim demanded as he reached the other detectives. His breath was coming out as puffs of steam in cold night air. "Is he all right?"
"Oh, Christ," Rafe mumbled under his breath, moving cautiously away.
Henri turned to follow his partner, not wanting to be the one to explain.
Joel sighed, "Jim…"
Jim's eyes narrowed. "Where is he?!"
Simon moved quickly through the crowd of detained workman and joined the detectives. "Report!"
"After the two traffic units reported seeing Jim's truck, they followed," Joel explained. "Rafe and Henri fell in behind and followed Robinson here. I was only a couple of blocks away and showed up right behind them. Robinson ran into the building, keeping Blair as a hostage. Rafe and Henri followed them in and I stayed down here to direct the backup."
"We heard that shots were fired. Has Robinson been apprehended?" Simon questioned.
"Yes, sir." Joel looked up at the half-finished building. "Rafe and Henri cornered Robinson on the twentieth floor. They ended up shooting him when he wouldn't give himself up."
"Sandburg?" Jim grated out.
"We haven't found him yet," Joel replied carefully.
Jim took a deep breath and rubbed his gloved hands over his cold face.
"We're waiting for the medics to bring down Robinson. Then we'll be able to search…"
"Waiting?!" Jim growled. "For what?!"
"There's only one elevator," Joel explained. "The medics have it stopped on the twentieth floor to bring the stretcher down. I've sent some uniforms in to search the first five floors, but that's as high as they can go without the elevator."
"Good work, Joel," Simon said.
"Damn!" Jim said, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I don't believe this! Has Robinson even said where Blair is?!"
Joel shook his head. "He isn't talking."
"Calm down, Ellison," Captain Banks said. "I'll see what's holding things up."
**********
Breathing deeply in an effort to control his emotions, Jim wandered through the milling crowd and over to his truck, where he leaned back against the door. He looked up at the building. Blair hates heights. A cold breeze ruffled Jim's coat. And he hates being cold. Jim ran his eyes over the building, his enhanced sight zooming in and out at random, not expecting to see anything.
Gray steel girders jutted out from the main frame of the building like fingers. Wind whistled through and around the building's exposed skeleton.
Continuing his survey of the building, a slight movement out of the corner of his eye caught Jim's attention in the muted late afternoon light. His enhanced sight focused in immediately and Jim gasped as he recognized the huddled form. "Oh dear God."
As he ran back to where Simon stood still talking on his cell phone, the look on Jim's face dared anyone to get in his way.
"Simon!" Jim called as he halted next to the Captain. "I've found Sandburg!"
"What?!" Simon said, moving the mouthpiece away as he turned to face Jim. "Where is he?!"
"He's on the twenty-third floor, sir! Somehow he's gotten out onto the end of one of those beams up there!" Jim pointed up to where only he could see his friend. "I have got to get up there… now!"
Simon's attention was pulled back to the cell phone by the voice on the other end. "Yes… great." He snapped the phone off and dropped it into his overcoat pocket. "The elevator is on its way down."
Jim hurried over to where the car would come down and paced impatiently. He focused on his partner above him. The pounding heart, the chattering teeth, and an occasional moan as the wind buffeted against Blair's body. He's up there alone, freezing, and terrified.
Jim looked up the elevator's track. What's taking it so damn long?!
When the elevator finally stopped in front of Jim, he watched the medics exit with the stretcher. He glared menacingly at the unconscious form on the stretcher. Several uniformed officers followed the medics, and one stopped in front of Jim with a plastic evidence bag holding a coat and pair of gloves.
"I recognized them as Blair's after they were taken off of Robinson," Officer Stevens said quietly. "Somehow the coat wasn't damaged when he was shot. I wanted to let you know that they were going to go into evidence so you'd be able to retrieve them later."
Jim's heart constricted in his chest as he stared at the items in the bag. "Thanks."
Stevens walked away, nodding to the Captain as they passed.
"No coat, no gloves… he's got to be freezing up there," Jim said quietly. "You know how he hates heights."
Simon placed a hand on Jim's shoulder, "He's going to be okay, Jim."
**********
Simon and the construction foreman, introduced only as Rocky, went up to the twenty-third floor with Jim. The wind at the higher elevation was bitingly cold and stronger than it was on the ground. Jim stepped off the elevator and quickly scanned the area for Blair.
Blair was huddled down on his knees at the very end of one of the steel beams hanging out over the construction area. His eyes shut tight, wrists bound together with cord, he clung desperately to the cross member that held the girder to the one above it.
"Sandburg!" Jim called over the wind. "Blair, it's me, Chief. It's Jim. I've come to get you, buddy."
Blair's only indication that he'd heard Jim at all was the slight hitch in his breath. A sound only a Sentinel would have heard.
"How's he doing, Jim?" Simon asked.
"Not too good," Jim answered. "I'm going out to get him."
"I'll do it," the foreman said. "I'm used to moving around up here and with this wind..."
Jim shook his head. "Thanks, but he has a problem with heights. In his condition, if someone he doesn't know goes out there, he's liable to put up a struggle."
Rocky contemplated this for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I see your point. Let's get you into a safety harness."
A few minutes passed, the harness was secured and Jim was ready to make his way out to Blair.
"Okay, Chief," Jim called. "I'm coming out there to get you."
Blair, eyes still closed, swallowed convulsively and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
"Just sit tight, Blair. I know you hear me. No need to answer."
Slowly, Jim made his was out along the beam towards Blair, trailing a strong safety line. The wind swirled around and threatened to push him off constantly. Jim kept his eyes on Blair the entire time, enhanced vision unnecessary now to see the shaking and shivering that coursed through his friend's body. The T-shirt and flannel shirt Blair wore did nothing against the wind and cold, as his chattering teeth made clear.
"I'm almost to you, Chief," Jim told his Guide. "Just a little farther."
**********
Jim knelt down facing Blair on the steel girder. "I'm here now, Blair." His hands gently went to Blair's shivering, flannel covered shoulders. "Right here in front of you."
Blair didn't move, didn't relax under his Sentinel's touch as Jim had expected.
"Blair, open your eyes."
A small sob escaped blue-tinged lips.
Jim's hands went to Blair's cheeks and raised his face. "C'mon, buddy, open up those baby blues for me. You'll only see me, okay? I won't let you fall."
Slowly, Blair's eyes cracked open.
"That's it," Jim said with a small smile. "Are you ready to get out of here? Go home and get warm?" He felt Blair's face nod slightly in his hands. "Great." Jim let one hand move away from Blair as he slid a safety belt off his shoulder. "I'm going to slip this around you, Chief. I want you keep your eyes open and focused on me, okay? Don't look anywhere else. Understand?"
Again Blair nodded.
"Good." Jim moved slowly and deliberately to fasten the belt around Blair's waist. He moved a bit and snapped a safety ring that connected his harness to Blair's belt with strong links of steel.
Blair's frightened eyes never left Jim's face.
Jim carefully retrieved his knife from his pants pocket and sliced through the cord binding Blair's wrists. He put one hand on Blair's forearm. "Okay, now let go of the girder and hold onto my arm."
Blair's eyes widened in terror, and he shook his head as his arms went around and tightened on the steel beam.
"You have to let go or we can't get off this building," Jim said gently. "I won't let you fall, Chief. I've got you secured to me so that won't happen." He carefully pulled the safety line around and into Blair's line of sight. "Simon and the construction foreman are holding the other end of this."
A tear formed in Blair's eye and began to trail down his face, but froze on his cheek in the cold wind.
"You do trust me, don't you, buddy?"
Blair blinked and nodded.
"Then take my hand so we can go home," Jim said, placing his hand over one of Blair's.
Slowly, carefully, Blair's hand turned under Jim's until his fingers tightened around the larger man's hand.
"That's it." Jim grasped the hand firmly. "Now we're going to stand up."
Blair's eyes closed.
"No, no… open your eyes. Concentrate on me." Jim waited until Blair opened his eyes again. "Good, now we'll stand up together, on the count of three."
Blair kept his eyes on Jim and nodded a fraction.
"One… two… three." Jim stood slowly, carefully pulling Blair to his feet.
The hand that still held the girder slid up to accommodate the move as Blair stood, but never relinquished its restraining hold on the steel.
"That was good, Chief." He smiled encouragingly. "Now you need to let go with the other hand." Jim reached out with his free hand.
Hesitating only a moment this time, Blair slowly released the girder to grasp Jim's hand.
Okay, now for the hard part. "We're going to walk across the beam to where Simon is standing."
A soft, strangled cry came from Blair.
"I won't let you fall, Blair," Jim said. "I need you to look past me now. Do you see Simon there?"
Slowly Blair's gaze shifted from Jim's face to locate Simon standing at the other end of the beam. He nodded slightly.
"Okay, I want you to keep your eyes on Simon. No matter what, you don't take yours eyes off of him. You can do that, can't you?"
Blair swallowed and nodded.
"I knew you could. Now I want you to step on out in front of me…"
Blair gasped, his grip tightening on Jim as he shook his head.
"It's all right, Chief," Jim soothed. "I'll be right behind you, step for step."
With a bit of coaxing, Jim got Blair in front of him. Moving up behind him, Jim wrapped one arm around Blair's chest and held him snuggly against him. Blair's hands moved quickly to hang onto Jim's arm.
"Okay, Blair, this is it. One step at a time," Jim whispered into his friend's ear. "We do this at your speed."
Blair's hands tightened on Jim's arm. His eyes staying on Simon, who was securely holding the safety line with the foreman behind him. Taking a deep breath, Blair slid his right foot forward and felt Jim's move along with it.
Nearly halfway across, a strong gust of wind hit the two men, throwing their balance off for a moment. Blair let out a hoarse yelp and panicked, trying to pull away from Jim.
Jim planted his feet firmly and tightened his hold on his partner. "Blair, calm down! We're okay! I've got you!"
Blair continued to squirm against Jim's grip.
Simon and Rocky braced themselves and held their breath as they waited to see what would happen. Helpless didn't begin to describe their feelings at that moment.
"Blair, stop it now or both of us will fall off!" Jim said quickly.
The words sunk in and the young man stilled. Blair's breath was coming in quick hitches and his fingers worked spasmodically around Jim's arms. "Sorry," Blair barely whispered.
"It's okay, Chief. We're fine now." Jim loosened his grip slightly. "Ready to get going again?"
Blair's head nodded slightly.
"Good… whenever you're ready. I'm right behind you."
Blair took a deep steadying breath and slowly slid his right foot forward. Jim's foot followed and they began to move slowly again.
Simon let the breath out of his lungs in a relieved whoosh, and heard the whispered sound as Rocky did the same behind him. Together they again began to haul in line as the two men on the beam got closer.
**********
As Jim and Blair stepped onto the solid floor where Simon and Rocky waited, Blair's legs finally gave out and he sank to the floor. Jim eased down with him, never releasing his grip from around the younger man.
The foreman worked off the safety harness and belt without a word, then went around gathering the safety line.
Simon bent down and began prying Blair's blue fingers from Jim's arm. "Let's get you warmed up, kid," he said softly.
"We did it, Chief," Jim whispered, pulling his coat and gloves off. "Everything's going to be fine."
Together Jim and Simon gently maneuvered the coat onto Blair's half-frozen frame. Shivering uncontrollably, Blair barely registered the warmth left from Jim's body inside the garments, but something inside him knew and was grateful.
Jim worked one glove over cold stiff fingers. "We're on our way home, buddy."
Simon got the other glove onto Blair with a little effort. "Okay, let's get out of here and get you warmed up."
Together, Jim and Simon got Blair to his feet and Jim wrapped an arm securely around the shivering body. Simon called down to Joel on the radio that everyone was alive and accounted for.
Blair remained silent and unresponsive, leaning heavily against Jim's side, barely able to support his own weight, as they rode the elevator down to the ground level.
As they exited the elevator, a cheer rose from the crowd. Joel rushed forward with a thick woolen blanket and wrapped it around Blair. A second medical crew had been summoned and they stepped forward to take Blair to the waiting ambulance.
Blair shook his head. "T-Take… m-me… h-home." His voice was painfully hoarse as he pushed the trembling words out through chattering teeth.
"Don't you think the medics should at least check you out?" Jim asked.
"N-No… p-please."
"Okay, Chief, we'll go on home."
"Do you think that's wise, Jim?" Simon questioned, looking worriedly at the younger man under Jim's arm.
"If we run into any problems, I'll take him to the hospital myself," Jim said.
Reluctantly, Simon nodded. "Call me tomorrow."
"I'll be in to do the report…"
"No, just call me. We'll work it out from there."
"Thanks, Simon."
Simon looked at Blair's pale face and dull eyes. "Take him home."
**********
The ride home was silent, save for Blair's chattering teeth and the slight hitches in his breath as he tried to control his breathing. The truck's heater was on high and pumping out as much heat as it could, but Jim knew that his friend wasn't feeling any of it. Blair's face was still too white, his lips still tinged blue, and his body still shivered violently, making Jim wonder if he should have talked Blair into going to the hospital. Even wearing a coat and gloves, and was wrapped within a woolen blanket, Jim felt the cold radiating off the younger man.
Jim parked the truck in the lot when they arrived home. He quickly moved around to the passenger side and kept a close eye on Blair as he slid off the seat. "Are you doing okay, Chief?" Jim asked softly.
Blair nodded, then leaned into Jim and placed his forehead on his Sentinel's chest. "Tired."
Jim put an arm around his Guide and gently moved him away from the truck so he could shut the door. "I know, but we're home now. We'll get you warmed up and comfortable in no time."
Inside their loft apartment on the third floor, Jim guided his friend into the bathroom and sat him down on the closed toilet seat. Then he started the shower and took the blanket from Blair's shivering grasp. "A hot shower first, then some soup." Jim unzipped the coat and pulled the gloves off before removing it.
Blair made no move to undress himself. He couldn't seem to get his body to cooperate with what his brain was telling it to do.
Quickly and efficiently Jim stripped his friend down as the bathroom filled with steam. Then he supported Blair as his friend stepped into the shower and under the warm spray.
"Are you going to be okay on your own, Chief?"
Blair nodded as the warm water cascaded over his head and shivering body.
"Okay, stay in here as long as you want. Holler if you need anything." Jim pulled the curtain closed and left the bathroom, but left the dial on his hearing high enough so he'd be sure and hear even the faintest squeak for help.
After leaving clean boxers, warm sweats, and heavy socks for Blair to put on, Jim stopped and turned the furnace up. Then he went to the kitchen and started the soup heating.
Fifteen minutes later, just as Jim was considering checking, he heard the water in the shower turn off. He listened as Blair slowly toweled off and heard a soft "thank you" as he began to pull on the clothes Jim had left.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Jim asked as Blair appeared outside the kitchen. He noted with satisfaction that there was a bit of normal pink coloring returning to Blair's face and the blue tinge was missing from his lips and fingers.
"Better," Blair answered. "Still feel cold though."
"Sit down. I'll bring the soup."
Blair shuffled to the table and sat down, pushing his still damp hair back with a shaky hand.
Jim set a bowl of steaming chicken noodle soup on the table in front of him. "This should help warm you up a little."
Blair managed a tired but genuine smile. "Thanks."
Jim went back to the kitchen and retrieved his own bowl, then sat down in the chair next to his partner.
They ate in silence. Jim monitored his Guide carefully and Blair thankful for his Sentinel.
**********
After cleaning the dishes and heating some water for tea, Jim joined Blair on the sofa.
"Here you go, Chief," Jim said, handing the mug of hot Chamomile to Blair.
"Thanks, Jim, but I could've gotten it myself," Blair said, his voice still slightly hoarse, taking the mug in both hands and savoring the warmth.
Jim could see the slight shivers still coursing through Blair's frame. He automatically reached for the afghan on the back of the sofa. "I didn't want you to do it. I want you to rest," Jim said, putting the afghan over Blair's shoulders. "Are you warm enough?"
Blair pulled his feet up under him. "I'm not sure I'll ever be warm again…" He smiled faintly. "But I'm doing okay."
Jim hesitated, watching Blair sip his tea. He didn't really want to question the younger man yet, but for some reason he needed to know what happened.
"What's wrong, Jim?" Blair asked quietly.
Jim looked away quickly, "Nothing's wrong."
"Uh huh. You're watching me with that 'I need to know, but I don't want to ask' look."
Jim smiled and blushed ever so slightly.
"I can read you like a book, Ellison."
Hesitating a minute longer, Jim finally said, "Do you remember any of what happened?"
Blair sighed, sipping on his tea as he thought. "I remember staying in the truck like you told me to do," he began with a wry smile.
Jim rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"I was watching the door you went in and didn't even see Robinson until he was in the truck. Actually, I think my being there startled him… like he wasn't expecting anyone to be in the truck. I remember him demanding the keys and I tried to stall by telling him I didn't have any keys… but then he shoved a gun in my face so I gave him mine."
Jim patted Blair's knee. "You did the right thing."
"I started to get out of the truck, but he said something about a hostage. We ended up trading places and he told me to drive. It was like… maybe a minute later that we heard the report over the radio that your truck was stolen and a warning that I was missing and presumably still in the truck. Robinson didn’t seem at all concerned."
"I was coming out as you were driving away. I saw you at the wheel," Jim stated.
"I don't know exactly how long it was, but at some point we picked up a couple of Cascade PD cars. They didn't have lights and sirens going… they just followed us and Robinson didn't seem to notice them." Blair thought a moment, sipping his cooling tea. "I have no idea why he had me turn into that construction site. We took the elevator up to the twenty-third floor." He shivered violently. "I don't remember a lot after that. Bits and pieces mostly. He started bitching about the cold and took my coat and gloves. Then he bitched that my coat was too small and he couldn't zip it up." Blair looked at the fading red marks on his wrists left by the cord. "There was some cord laying on the floor of the elevator… the kind used to bundle stuff together… and he tied my hands."
"How did you get out onto the end of that beam where I found you?" Jim asked gently.
Blair shrugged. "I'm not sure. I remember Robinson getting really agitated when the elevator wouldn't go past the twenty-third floor." He yawned and shivered. "I know it's still early, but I'm exhausted."
"I don't doubt it. Why don't you head off to bed. Do you have enough blankets in there?"
"Yeah, I have plenty. I'll see you in the morning. G'night, Jim."
"Good night, Chief."
Blair felt safe and secure as he lay in his bed… but he was still cold and shivery. He listened as Jim went to the refrigerator, then heard the sound of a beer bottle being opened. The last thing he heard before he dropped into an exhausted sleep was the TV coming on and Jim beginning to surf through the channels.
**********
Blair woke with a start hours later. The loft was quiet and dark. He pulled his arms out from under the blankets and rubbed his face. He'd been dreaming about what happened on the building with Robinson. It wasn't a good dream. Pushing himself up to sit crossed-legged in the middle of the bed, Blair pulled a pillow into his lap. He leaned forward, resting his forehead on the pillow, and began to cry softly.
"Blair?" Jim's voice drifted to him through the dark from the door of his bedroom. "Are you all right?"
"Jim…" Blair said, sitting up and wiping his face with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay, Chief, don't worry about it," Jim said quietly. He crossed the room and sat on the bed. "What's going on? Nightmare?"
Blair nodded, knowing his Sentinel would have no trouble seeing the movement in the darkened room.
"Want to talk about it?"
Blair sniffled. "I screwed up, Jim."
"What? How do you figure that?"
"I totally panicked, man. Completely froze up."
"Blair, for crying out loud…"
"Robinson dragged me around up on that building trying to find a way up. He kept saying that he had to go up." Blair pushed his long, tangled curls out of his face. "We were right there on the edge of the building… I was looking down at the ground… I thought I was going to be sick. I was afraid he was going to push me off."
"Blair, calm down," Jim tried, realizing his friend was heading for a panic attack if they didn't head it off.
"He wanted me to boost him up to the next floor, Jim! He pulled me out onto the girder and wanted me to help him climb up…"
Jim grabbed Blair's arms and shook him. "It's over, Blair. You are all right… understand?"
Blair gasped, tears welling in his eyes again. "I couldn't do it, Jim. He was going to shoot me… I should have been trying to talk to him... I should have been…"
Finally Jim pulled Blair into his arms and held him. "Shhh, that's enough now. Clam down," he soothed, Blair's tears soaking through the front of his T-shirt.
"I just keep thinking that I should have done *something* to stop him."
"You didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't your fault."
Blair's arms went around Jim and held tight as Jim rubbed his back.
"Are you cold?" Jim asked quietly, feeling the shivers running through the body he held.
"A little," Blair mumbled.
"Why don't you lie back and relax."
Blair shook his head against Jim's chest. "Every time I close my eyes I'm going to see it happening again."
"No you won't." Jim gently pulled away from Blair and moved around behind his Guide. He slipped into the small bed and arranged the pillows so he could lean back comfortably. "C'mere, Chief." Jim reached forward and carefully pulled Blair back so he was leaning against his chest. Jim pulled the blankets around them. "Goodnight."
Blair sniffled and relaxed back into his Sentinel. "Night, Jim."
Blair smiled. He felt safe and secure as he lay in his bed, and warm… so very warm.
<>~~<>~~<>
end