style='mso-bidi-font-family:"Courier New"'>Destined Spirits
by
Patt
 
Thank you to Xfreak for the idea for this story. I was stumped. Didn't know 
where to go, and she guided me.  I have a guide; hot damn... Thank you to 
Diana and Mary for helping me through this as always. 
 
Lisa, this is for you. 
 
 
 
James Ellison had been in the mountains for a long time, trying to get things 
ready for the fall and winter. He'd been alone for a long time. He knew that
he 
had to have enough food to last him for about five or six months. Once the
snow 
hit, he'd be up there for the long haul. 
 
Looking out into the distance, Jim saw nothing but blackness. It seemed like
it 
was dark all the time these days. His eyesight was so good that he didn't need 
light anymore. He only needed the moon to guide him home. The cabin he lived 
in was bare of anything except the essentials. He had a bed, a table with two 
chairs, and that was it. He didn't want to be comfortable. He'd lost his
friend six 
years back and couldn't deal with sharing his cabin with anyone else. He had 
cleaned it out except for those things he needed and was willing to live like
that 
for the rest of his life. 
 
Jim owned twenty acres on the mountainside. He was glad to have it, because 
he didn't want to have to deal with anyone living close by. People made him 
uncomfortable. Not to mention they might find out about his peculiarity. The 
lonely man did fairly well in his self-imposed isolation. Only occasionally
did he 
think about the love he missed, gone now so many years, and the loneliness ate 
at his soul. Even though he talked to him nightly, it wasn't the same. 
 
// God, I miss Jesse. Why did he have to leave? Couldn't he have stayed 
longer? And why can't I just give up and join him? Why can't I go into my
mind 
and just stay there? //
 
But James Ellison knew that his body wouldn't let him for some strange reason. 
Not to mention the fact that Jesse kept telling him it would be wrong. He
talked to 
his dear friend whenever he could. 
 
 He was almost ready for the fall and winter. Everything was stocked up. He
had 
his freezers on special back-up generators so that he'd never lose his food. 
Once the snow came, he'd be stuck for a long time. He walked outside thinking 
he heard something, and said aloud, "I can see the lights in the distance. Is
it 
you, Jesse?" Having said this, he walked towards the woods determined to find 
the source of the lights. 
 
Sometimes Jim heard things in the middle of the night and saw things that 
couldn't be explained rationally. He worried the lights were just another
example. 
// Jesus, I'm going to be fucking insane if this keeps up. It wasn't enough
that I'm 
able to talk to my dead friend? Now I'm hearing someone else's voice. //
 
He stood very still and could hear a voice in his mind. He knew it had to be
in his 
mind, because there couldn't be anyone else around for miles. The lonely man 
was indeed all alone. Yet... as he listened, he heard a soft voice talking to 
someone. 
 
"Where am I? Why am I in the dark? Someone help me please? Mom, are you 
here?"
 
Jim could hear the heartbreak in the voice and was forced to listen to more of
the 
one-sided conversation. In the past, Jim had talked to people he knew to be 
dead. Could that be happening again? If his Father had known, he would have 
him put away. // Who are you kidding? Your father doesn't care about you, one 
way or the other. He doesn't even ask about you. //
 
"Mom, please tell me where I am. Why can't I open my eyes? Why can't I hear 
anyone or anything? God, I'm so scared!"
 
Jim couldn't stand it anymore. Without really thinking about it, he talked
with is 
mind just as he did when he spoke to Jesse. "Don't be afraid."
 
"Who are you, and where are you?" The scared voice asked. 
 
"I'm very far away, but I'm here to help you find your way. What can you hear 
around you? Listen carefully, and tell me exactly what you hear." Jim 
commanded. 
 
There was complete silence for a few moments, and then the soft voice spoke 
again, "It sounds like a beeping, like on a machine in a hospital. Am I in a 
hospital?"
 
"You might be. What's the last thing you remember?"
 
"I was really excited about the Halloween party coming up. I'm a TA at
Rainier. 
They asked me to be a chaperone at the school dance. I love Halloween. So, I 
was there helping get things set up, and the last thing I remember is plugging
in 
something for one of the other TA's. Then I woke up to this darkness and
quiet."
 
"Okay, I would think you're probably in the hospital and are in some type of 
coma. You'll probably be fine."
 
"Why are you able to talk to me, and who are you?" 
 
"My name is James Ellison. I'm no one special, but I can speak to people that 
are sleeping for some unknown reason. I live very far away from where you are.
 
To tell you the truth, it's nice to talk to someone that's not dead." Jim
stopped 
when he realized what he had said. 
 
"James, you speak to dead people? Are you able to see them too?"
 
"No, I'm not able to see them, just hear them and sometimes talk to them. But 
now I'm given someone that's not crossed over. I need to think on that one."
 
"James, you're a very special person. You know this, right?"
 
"Yeah, I know that. I could do with being less special. What should I call
you?"
 
"Blair. My name is Blair Sandburg, I'm 29 years old, and I wonder if you could
call 
my mom and tell her that I'm fine. That you've spoken to me."
 
"I don't think so. They'd lock me up so fast my head would spin."
 
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry. James, will you continue to talk to me
until I 
wake up?"
 
"Sure, Chief, I could do that. But don't call me James. That's what my 
grandfather used to call me, and I hated it. Jim will do me just fine."
 
"Okay, Jim. Thanks."
 
"You're very welcome, Blair. Now why don't you try and rest so you can wake up 
soon?"
 
"Okay. Where are you anyhow?"
 
"I live in the mountains. I've lived up here for about eight years. Alone."
 
"Cool man. I love the mountains. I bet it's beautiful this time of year."
 
"I just finished stocking up the freezer with food for the winter. I do a lot
of 
hunting, and I rarely go into town. I have problems with people."
 
"Is it live people that you have trouble with?"
 
"You could say that. I have problems with my senses. I see, hear, taste, feel
and 
smell things I should never be able to. 
 
"Jim, I'm familiar with this, if you'd like to hear about it. It seems like I'm
not going 
anywhere else."
 
"Sure, what do you know about my senses?" Jim asked, honestly interested. 
 
So Blair talked to Jim for about an hour, telling him all about Sir Richard
Burton, 
the explorer not the actor. The time went by so fast that Jim was shocked when 
he realized what time it was. Blair told Jim how he'd help him learn to
control his 
senses, and they'd work on him entering the real world again and being able to 
face other people and not be afraid of what might happen. 
 
As Jim walked back to the cabin, he said, "Chief, I think you should sleep now.
 
I'll talk to you tomorrow. Rest well and have good dreams."
 
"Thank you, Jim. I'm glad you're with me. I was very frightened. I feel much 
better about being alone now."
 
"You're very welcome. Sleep well." Jim said as he sat down at his table in the 
cabin and hoped to speak with Jesse. Jim fell asleep at the table waiting, but 
sometime later he was woken by a sound and sat up straight and heard Jesse's 
voice. 
 
"Hi Jim. I wanted to say goodbye."
 
"No, Jesse! Please don't leave me."
 
"Jim, there is someone you can talk to now. I can leave you and not feel
guilty."
 
"What are you talking about? Who?" Jim asked pleadingly. 
 
"It's time for me to move on, Jim. I can't stay with you any longer. I need
to go. 
Please forgive me, and promise me you won't follow me." Even in the spirit 
world, Jesse's bright green eyes were filled with tears.
 
"I'm not promising anything to someone who doesn't even stick around."
 
"Good-bye Jimmy. Be well and know that I always loved you. But someone new 
is destined to meet you and make your life better. Please let him."
 
"I don't want anyone else." Jim sobbed. 
 
"Good-bye Jimmy." The sad voice called out. Then the cabin was filled with 
silence. Jim could feel that Jesse was gone. He went outside and screamed his 
name until he was hoarse. 
 
All Jim could think of was Jesse's beautiful green eyes. He could imagine them 
flashing now, in anger, desperation or love. 
 
Just when he felt like he could no longer go on, there was a soft voice calling
to 
him. 
 
"Jim, are you there? I heard something strange, and I can't sleep now. Please 
talk to me."
 
"Yeah, I'm here, Chief." Jim said sadly and with a huskiness to his voice that
Blair 
had not heard before. 
 
"Something is wrong. What is it?" Blair pleaded. 
 
"Nothing to worry about, Chief. Go back to sleep. I'm going to bed myself. 
All 
right?"
 
"Jim, you won't be here tomorrow, will you?"
 
"Blair, I'm tired. I need to go to bed."
 
"Jim, please don't leave me! Don't leave me alone!"
 
"I'm just going to sleep for awhile. I'm tired.... That's all.... Rest..."
 
"Okay, I'll sleep for a while. I'll talk to you tomorrow then. Be well, Jim."
 
"Night, Blair." Jim said as he walked into his empty cabin. Jim felt the
sadness 
almost overwhelm him. He didn't know if he could do it anymore. He knew that 
he wasn't the loner that he pretended to be. He needed someone to love him. 
Someone to need him. Why had Jesse said that there was someone new in his 
life? Jim didn't have anyone in his life. He lay down on his cold bed and
didn't 
care if he ever woke up again. 
 
Jim slept, but tossed and turned until Blair's voice woke him. "Jim... can you 
hear me?"
 
"Yeah, I can hear you. I was sleeping. What do you want?"
 
"I can hear the doctors talking to my mother. They're telling her to turn the 
machines off, because I'm brain dead. Help me! I don't want to die yet!"
 
"Blair, what do you want me to do?"
 
"Could you come here? This is Halloween Eve, and I believe that you might be 
able to do something. You could give my mom a message and tell her I'm in 
here. God, you can't just stay up on your mountain and let me die can you?"
 
Blair proceeded to tell Jim what to tell Naomi, if and when he saw her. He
didn't 
really ask if Jim wanted to do it, he just figured that Jim sounded like
someone 
that would help him. 
 
"Blair, maybe it's time. Did you ever think about that?"
 
Jim heard Blair crying softly, making him wish that he was the one that was on 
the machine instead of the younger man. 
 
"I'm sorry for bothering you, Jim. Nice meeting you."
 
The silence that surrounded Jim was even worse than when Jesse left. He knew 
that Blair would be dead tomorrow, and he somehow had his fate in his hands. 
Now he just had to figure out what to do. Shit...
 
As Jim got into his truck, he prayed that it would start. He hadn't used it in
a few 
weeks. It started right up, and Jim headed down the mountain, praying the
whole 
time that he'd make it in time to save Blair Sandburg. He wasn't sure who to 
pray to, but he did know that someone had to be listening. They just had to
be. 
 
During the drive, he wondered what Naomi Sandburg would think after he gave 
her Blair's odd message. But until he could get to Cascade, he concentrated on 
the drive and getting there in one piece. 
 
It took quite a while, because the snow had started and it was slick, but once
he 
was down from the mountainside, he was able to make good time as he headed 
to Cascade General Hospital. // How do you know he's there? What if he's 
somewhere else? // Dismissing those thoughts, he continued on. As he got 
closer to Cascade, the lights were beginning to hurt his eyes, so he did what
Blair 
had told him to do with the dials. He hoped that the young man had known what 
he was talking about. Sure enough, it worked. For the first time in years,
Jim 
was able to drive at night without the pain from the lights of oncoming
traffic. 
 
When he pulled up to the hospital, he saw an old friend. Simon Banks was a 
detective at CPD and had wanted Jim to work with him years ago, before 
everything else had happened. Once his senses went online though, Jim had 
thought he was useless for that type of work. Now, maybe there was hope. It 
was the first feeling of hope he'd had in a long time. 
 
"Simon, what are you doing here?" Jim asked, shaking the man's hand. 
 
"Where in the hell have you been, Ellison? We looked everywhere for you." 
Simon answered, as he pulled Jim into a bear hug. 
 
"It's good to see you too, Simon. I had some troubles, and I had to move up to 
the mountains for some time. I might be able to think about life in the city 
someday again."
 
"Well we could use your help this time. Someone tried to kill a young Teaching 
Assistant at Rainier, and we can't catch a break."
 
"Is his name Blair Sandburg?" 
 
"How did you know his name? We've not released that information to anyone." 
Simon said. 
 
"It's a long story, but if you have a few moments, I could fill you in, and
then 
maybe you could help me talk to his mom. It's important that I speak to her 
tonight."
 
"Okay, let's go and have some coffee."
 
As they sat downstairs in the cafeteria drinking coffee, Jim told Simon what
had 
been happening. Simon just sat there with his mouth open and didn't know what 
to say, but he also knew that there was no other way that Jim could know about 
the Sandburg kid. 
 
"Jim, did I mention that I'm the captain of the Major Crime unit now? I think
we 
could use someone like you, with or without you being able to talk to people in 
comas."
 
"So you believe me?"
 
"Yes, I don't want to, but there is no other way you could know these things."
 
"Thanks, Simon. Now, who is the other TA that was involved?"
 
"There was no one else involved. He was alone when his class found him."
 
"He said that he was plugging something in for his friend, another TA, when he 
was shocked, and that's the last thing he remembers."
 
"Well shit, we need his name. Could you speak to him, do you suppose?"
 
"I could try."
 
Both men walked up to the ICU unit and found a pacing Naomi Sandburg. Simon 
approached her and said, "Ms. Sandburg, this is a friend of mine. He would
like 
to speak with you about your son."
 
"What? What could be worse than what's going on now?" the angry mother cried 
out. 
 
They took her into an empty waiting room and filled her in. She just stared at 
both men, as if they were insane and said, "Is that the end of this? I have to
get 
back to my son."
 
Standing up, Jim said, "Naomi, Blair sent a message for you. Do you want to 
hear it?"
 
"You're a very cruel man, Mr. Ellison."
 
Jim hurried after the retreating form and said, "Blair wanted me to tell you
that he 
wants you to save him a waltz on All Souls Night."
 
Naomi started crying and said, "This is his favorite time of year. He always
loved 
All Souls Night. He believed in so many different customs."
 
"Stop talking about him like he's dead. He's very much alive, and we need to
find 
out who tried to kill him. If you'll allow me to talk with him, I might be
able to do 
it."
 
"I'm not sure I believe this, but if whatever you believe will help my son,
then by 
all means do it." Naomi said leading the way back to the room. 
 
Simon and Naomi left Jim alone in the room with Blair. He held the young man's 
hand and spoke to him without moving his mouth. He knew that he didn't need 
to talk aloud now. "Blair, I'm here. I've come to help you. I need some help
from 
you."
 
"Jim, are you really here? I never thought I would hear your wonderful voice 
again."
 
"Yeah, I'm here. I gave the message to your mom, and she bought it. She 
believes me, I think. Well, as much as she can."
 
"You said you need my help. What could I possibly help you with?"
 
"You could tell me the name of the TA that was with you the night you were 
electrocuted."
 
"Well, that's easy. It was Martin Simmons. You can find him at our place."
 
"You share a place with him?"
 
"Yeah, he let me move some things into his place until I found a better place
by 
myself. He wanted to do more than just be friends, but I told him that I
didn't 
want to. He said he understood, and we moved on. That was about two weeks 
ago."
 
"Well, first of all, no one seems to know where you live, and he wasn't
anywhere 
to be found. Why would that be do you think?"
 
"I don't know ,Jim. Why would he do that? Would he hurt me just because I 
didn't want to sleep with him?"
 
"Maybe. I don't know yet. We'll see when we talk to him. Blair, did you tell
him 
that you were against gay men or something?"
 
Jim heard a soft chuckle, and then the sweet voice saying, "Well, Jim, I'd be
in 
big trouble if I had, because I'm gay."
 
Jim found himself smiling. // Hot damn. He's single, he's gay, and I might
have a 
chance. Oh geeze, get your mind off sex for once, Ellison. //
 
"I'm glad to hear that, Chief." Jim said just as softly. 
 
"Yeah, I figured that's why you asked. When I wake up, can we see each other?"
 
"Just wake up, Chief, okay? Then we'll discuss how you feel about dating 
someone losing his hair who's ten years older than you."
 
"Man, I know I'm going to love you. Your voice is beautiful. That makes you 
beautiful. So I think it's a given that I'm going to be fine with you."
 
"I have to go and tell the police now. I'd really like it if you woke up,
Chief. Try, 
okay?"
 
"Yeah, I'll try. Will you stay with me until I do?"
 
"I'll be right back, Blair." Jim walked out to the hallway and told Simon the
man's 
name and told him what Blair had said. Naomi took Jim into her arms and just 
held on for dear life. If it wasn't for this wonderful and special man, Blair
would 
have been taken off the respirator tomorrow. Naomi could never thank Jim 
Ellison enough. 
 
Jim walked back into the room and held on to Blair's hand. He looked at his 
watch at midnight and said, "Happy Halloween, Chief," and lay his head down to 
rest until the young man woke. 
 
Jim woke up to someone petting his head, and it felt so nice. He smiled and 
wanted it to be more than a dream. He opened his eyes and saw that Blair was 
doing the petting. The machines around Blair were setting off alarms right and 
left. Jim jumped up because he wondered what was going on, but he could hear 
Blair's heartbeat. It was good and strong. So that wasn't it. 
 
The doctor pushed Jim aside and said, "He can't breathe correctly when the 
respirator is still in. He's starting to try to breathe on his own. Now let us
do our 
job."
 
Jim moved aside gladly. He pulled Naomi into his arms, and she said, "Jim,
this 
is so perfect! It's Halloween day. What a perfect day for rebirth and new
life!"
 
About ten minutes later, the doctor said, "Ms. Sandburg, he should be waking 
shortly. All of his vitals are good. No, let me restate that. His vitals are
great!"
 
"Thank you, Doctor. We'll stay here with him."
 
Naomi watched Jim and saw the love shine from his eyes. She had a feeling that 
Jim Ellison was in love with her son, and he hadn't yet met him face to face. 
But 
Naomi knew that Blair's spirit was enough to make anyone fall in love with him.
 It 
would not be surprising. Jim looked up and saw the smile on her face and 
realized that Naomi would be all right with them, if they did decide to have a 
relationship. 
 
"Hey..." came a soft voice from the bed. 
 
Naomi and Jim both ran to the bedside and said, "Blair!"
 
"Yes, that's my name. Now where is this Jim Ellison I've heard so much about?"
 
Smiling, Naomi said, "I'll be outside when you've finished talking to Mr.
Ellison." 
Leaning over, she kissed her son's cheek and whispered, "He's a keeper, 
sweetie."
 
"Hey Blair." Jim said almost shyly. 
 
"Hey yourself, where is that kiss you promised me?"
 
"I never promised you a kiss. That was never mentioned." Jim said laughing. 
 
"Well I want a friggin' kiss, damn it! But not until I get to brush my teeth. 
I can't 
imagine what your poor senses are doing right now." 
 
Jim smiled at him and leaned over and kissed his lips ever so softly. Blair 
moaned into Jim's mouth. Jim didn't mind the antiseptic smell or taste. He
didn't 
mind, because in the end, he got Blair. How could a man be in love with 
someone he had just met? Maybe it was fate. For once, Jim Ellison was not 
going to mess with fate. He wanted this man; he needed this man; and he could 
love this man as no one else could. He knew this to be true. He would have to 
remember to thank the gods for this gift. He was indeed blessed. Jesse had 
been right. He had met someone new. Yet at the same time, he felt he'd known 
Blair forever. Their spirits had been destined from the beginning. 
 
 Loreena McKennitt - All Souls Night
 
 
 
Bonfire dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the pagan sound.
 
Somewhere in a hidden memory
Images float before my eyes
Of fragrant nights of straw and of bonfires
And dancing till the next sunrise.
 
 
Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night.
 
 
Figures of cornstalks bend in the shadows
Held up tall as the flames leap high
The green knight holds the holly bush
To mark where the old year passes by.
 
 
Chorus
 
 
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides -- photo
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the pagan sound.
 
 
Standing on the bridge that crosses
The river that goes out to the sea
The wind is full of a thousand voices
They pass by the bridge and me.