by Arnie
The hunger called to his very soul, drawing him in until the blackness of the alleyway was all he could see.
Finally, he stopped, one hand resting on the wall, his heart beating frantically. He knew that he wasn't alone but he had no idea what was in here. What was waiting for him.
In the darkness, Blair could have sworn that something brushed past him, and he swung away to put his back against the wall, his breath catching in his throat.
"Guide...." The word came on the gust of a sigh, and longing filled him.
He swayed towards the sound, needing to connect to the Sentinel.
"Mine."
The word was growled and Blair smiled as he moved closer. "Sentinel?" He blinked at the nervousness in his own voice.
A warm hand cupped the back of his neck and drew him closer, and Blair went willingly.
The aching emptiness that had filled Blair since the first day he came online flickered with a small warmth, and he leaned into the mysterious Sentinel, his soul hungering for the fire of the bond.
"Mine?"
The growl held a question and Blair nodded, sure that his Sentinel could see him. "Yours."
The hand tightened slightly, then moved to grasp his shoulder and steer him towards the mouth of the alley.
As they left the alley, Blair glanced up at the Sentinel and smiled at the determined look that was thrown his way.
Eagerness flooded the fledgling link between them, and Blair walked faster, allowing the Sentinel to direct him wherever he chose. They reached a truck, and Blair waited impatiently as the door was unlocked, then smiled as the Sentinel, his Sentinel, helped him in and seat-belted him in place.
"What's your name?"
The Sentinel smiled at that, and leaned in, his nostrils flaring. "Jim."
For a moment, the Sentinel leaned over him, longing written on every inch of his face, then, just as Blair was sure he was about to give in and claim him where he sat, the Sentinel pulled back and shut the door.
Blair felt almost disoriented at the sudden change, but he waited until Jim sat beside him in the driver's seat then leaned over slightly.
The intent gaze snapped up to meet his. "Don't do that, Chief. I don't want to crash the truck."
Satisfied, Blair sat back, although his fingers were curling with the urge to touch his Sentinel, to connect, to bond.
Jim evidently had the same fierce need, as the truck screeched its way out of its parking space, and sped off down the road.
"Relax. I'm not going to crash."
Blair gave a half-smile. He really hoped Jim was right.
Finally, they came to a halt, and Jim turned off the ignition, his hands shaking.
Blair glanced up at the building, then turned his attention back to his Sentinel as his door was wrenched open, his seatbelt was thrown back, and he was all but hauled out of his seat and hustled into the building.
Fortunately for the Sentinel, the elevator was just arriving, or Blair was sure the guy would have thrown him over one shoulder and charged up the stairs with him. However, a loud growl cleared the elevator quickly, and Blair was pushed inside and to the back, his Sentinel moving quickly to block the doors to any other resident wishing to enter. The doors slid shut, the elevator jerked into movement and the Sentinel seemed to relax slightly, moving to stand over Blair, and stroke his hair.
The bond between them flared into life again, and Blair moaned slightly, his need to bond growing.
"Shhh...."
As he leaned into the Sentinel and grabbed desperately at the jacket, the hand moved to his back and resumed its stroking down his spine.
Finally, the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
The Sentinel pulled but Blair went willingly, eager to complete the bond and quench the empty, gnawing need inside him.
There was a pause as Jim unlocked the door, then Blair was pulled inside and the door was shut, the lock thrown and the chain put into place. No one would be disturbing them.
Now that he was in the Sentinel's territory, Jim seemed to calm slightly, and Blair's jacket was pulled from his shoulders gently and carefully hung up on a coat peg. The Sentinel's jacket was discarded in the same manner, and Blair smiled as the Sentinel moved back towards him, his hands stretching out to welcome him.
He glanced over his shoulder as he was moved backwards, then stepped onto the rug, and knelt at his Sentinel's urging. The Sentinel followed him down quickly, the calm that had been there changing into a hurried, frantic need.
Pushed back, Blair fell easily to the floor, not caring at the hard grip on his shoulders that warned of a refusal to accept any defiance. For a moment, his gaze met his Sentinel's, then he tilted his head back, ready and willing to accept the bond.
A satisfied growl met his ears, then his Sentinel's weight settled over him, and warm breath touched his neck.
Blair smiled as he felt his skin shiver at the warmth, then moaned as sharp teeth nipped at his jugular. The bond surged into life, blasting his mental barriers apart and ripping its way through his empathic pathways.
Instantly, his Sentinel's mind followed; invading, conquering, surrounding and protecting. The brief flash of emotions from nearby strangers was blocked out, and Blair relaxed as stronger shields than he had ever known slammed into place around him.
Forcing his eyes open, he smiled up at his Sentinel, fatigue flooding his body and demanding that he sleep. "Jimm...."
"Shhh. It's all right." The hard grip on his shoulders relaxed, and he was lifted into a half-sitting position. "I'll be right here when you wake up."
The words slid away from him, half-heard, half-understood, but the safety and warmth couldn't be mistaken.
As his head rested on his Sentinel's shoulder and strong arms held him in place, Blair fell into the beckoning darkness, sure of the strength that would protect him while he slept.
24th December 2005.
