part 7
And now? It was presumed that he couldn't cross the street without a Sentinel near at hand to stop the traffic if need be.
He shook his head and cast a fulminating look at the back of his Sentinel's head. Jim was sitting on the couch with the contented air of a well-fed cat, while Blair was at the kitchen table grading those books. And he knew all too well that he could forget returning to Rainier to retrieve any more; sneaking out without his Sentinel noticing was about as likely as Chancellor Edwards developing a compassionate streak.
Even the aforementioned university official, a long-standing thorn in Blair's side, was being nice to him - a stunning turnaround which he knew was totally due to his change in circumstances. He never thought he'd miss the snide remarks or acidic looks she used to throw his way, but missing them he was.
Lost in thought, he was brought back to the kitchen as a large, familiar hand placed a cup of tea in front of him.
"How's it going, Chief?"
For a second, Blair was stymied, then the blue books returned to his mind. "Oh, fine, man. I'm almost finished." Of course, that was due to the fact that most of the books he should have been grading were still in his office. Not that that mattered to his smirking Sentinel.
"Good. The game's on in half an hour and Simon's on his way over with pizza."
"I'll be done in a few minutes. Thanks."
As Blair was sitting at the table with Jim standing over him, he had to tilt his head back to meet his gaze. He suddenly realised that he was exposing his throat when the intent blue gaze dropped slightly and the Sentinel's fingers curled possessively.
For a moment, Blair was caught in that stare, not moving, barely breathing, then Jim sniffed the air. "Simon's here."
As Jim moved past the table to open the door, Blair dropped his head forward and grinned. He knew what they'd be doing (again) once Simon had left. His grin widened. Okay, bonding was definitely a perk of being bonded.
~'~
The next day saw Blair practically chained to Jim as the Sentinel refused to let his Guide out of his sight. Sighing to himself, Blair phoned Rainier's personnel office, again, to let them know that he wouldn't be in. Fortunately, a few colleagues still owed him enough favours for him to have his classes covered and, as Chancellor Edwards was totally star struck with having the bonded Guide of the Senior Sentinel Prime on her staff, he wouldn't catch any flak from her about missing a day.
Grinding his teeth slightly, Blair made a promise to himself that the very next day would see the start of his campaign to get Sentinels to recognise that Guides were not delicate flowers who'd wither in a sharp breeze without their Sentinels to provide shelter and safety. Sitting in Jim's truck, he cast a glance at his own personal 'shelter and safety'. He had no chance of starting his campaign that day, he knew that. He'd count himself lucky if didn't find himself taking bathroom breaks in 'shelter and safety' too.
The day after saw him back at the P.D., this time on one of his scheduled days there and, as he and Jim were working with Edwards and David, it gave him a chance to involve Guide Sutherland in his fight for equality. Not that he was going to tell David they were fighting for equality; David liked the quiet life too much. No, so far as David was concerned, they'd merely be collecting lunch for their Sentinels. Blair had no doubts that Jim, (and probably Edwards too, as he had a suspicious nature), would realise though, and he grinned at the thought.
"Lunch?"
"Yeah, Jim, lunch. You know, sandwiches, coffee. Food." Blair smiled at the two Sentinels. "David and I can go to the Deli and pick up whatever you guys want and bring it back. Can't we, David?"
"I don't mind," David quietly agreed. "I mean, if you and Sentinel Ellison want to continue working, that is, Neds."
Blair stopped himself from rolling his eyes. When people thought of a typical Guide, they had David Sutherland in mind; shy, compliant, obedient and not one to put himself forward. He grinned as he caught the glare Edwards was throwing his way as the Sentinel read his body language. Even thinking criticism about a Guide was frowned on by a Sentinel.
"Okay." Jim dug into his pocket and brought out his wallet. "Lunch for four then." The hard stare he gave Blair told him that Jim knew what he was up to and didn't approve in the slightest, but he was letting him 'prove' whatever it was he was setting out to prove. "And, Chief? None of that healthy stuff you're always pushing on me. I'll have one of Antonio's specials."
Keeping the smile on his face with an effort, Blair replied, "Sure, Jim. One heart attack on a baguette coming up."
Blair made sure that they went there and back in record time - after all, there was no point in proving how self-sufficient Guides were if they got lost, kidnapped or mugged on the way. And soon the four of them were eating, drinking and attempting to avoid dropping mayonnaise on the photographic evidence.
"So, did you have any trouble finding your way, Chief?"
Blair ignored the dig at his directional abilities, (he knew he could get lost on a straight road), but took the opportunity offered him. "Not at all. Well, there was a savage poodle who attempted to attack us, but we told it that we're bonded Guides and our Sentinels would be bound to come leaping to our rescue if he even tried to sniff us. So, he left us alone and chased a car instead." Ignoring the three pairs of eyes that fixed themselves upon him, Blair smiled sweetly and turned his attention back to his sandwich.
"But, Blair," David replied, sounding rather confused, "we didn't see any poodles."
Edwards choked.
~'~
For a week or so after that, Blair's campaign went well. Every time he was at the P.D., he made a point of going to fetch lunch or run errands, frequently dragging any other unlucky Guide he encountered along the way. Not, as he pointed out to Jim late one evening, that he was into running errands for Sentinels and Jim better hadn't get used to it. Jim merely smiled and asked him to fetch the remote control from the coffee table which was all of eighteen inches away. Blair smiled in return and happily lobbed the remote control at his Sentinel's head before attempting to escape into his room. As he was chased, grabbed and tickled into submission, he reflected, as well he could while shrieking for mercy, that sacrifices had to be made.
The next day, his entire campaign went to pot.
"Hey, David, Sentinel Edwards."
As usual, David was ensconced at his Sentinel's side, happily working on paperwork. "Hi, Blair."
"Blair." Edwards nodded in Blair's direction and turned his attention back to his paperwork.
"I'm just going to the deli and to the bank. Do you need anything?"
David exchanged a glance with his Sentinel, then stood up and grabbed his jacket. "I'll go with you, if you like."
"Sure." Blair frowned slightly as David put his jacket on and followed him to the elevator. His Sentinel, sneaky as Jim undoubtedly was, wasn't having him guarded by David, was he? Blair shook his head. Sentinel Edwards would never stand for that...surely. Doubts assailed him as he looked back over the past week. Even when he hadn't invited anyone to go with him on one of his self-imposed errands, he'd always ended up with company. Damn! He kicked himself. Jim really was craftier than he'd assumed. Since he'd made such a fuss about being guarded by Sentinels, it was obvious that he was now being guarded by Guides. And while it was great that their Sentinels thought they were capable of the job, it meant that he wasn't winning any kind of independence back at all.
"Blair, are you okay?"
He smiled and strengthened his barriers, hiding his annoyance. It really wasn't David's fault that Jim was such a sneaky son of a.... "Sure, I'm fine."
"Okay."
Blair could feel the other Guide's doubt, but David let it drop, for now, although Blair was positive Edwards would hear all about it later.
Stopping at the ATM, Blair groaned as he saw the 'out of service' sign flashing.
"It's okay, there's no one in there," David told him, glancing through the doors.
Blair glanced at the clock he could see inside the bank. He guessed it was too early for the lunchtime crowd. "I'll use the ATM inside then - assuming it's working."
Stepping inside, Blair was hit by an atmosphere of fear and he knew that David was picking up on it too. Glancing around wildly, the pair tried to back out of the doors but a large security guard wearing an oddly ill-fitting uniform grabbed Blair's arm and yanked him further into the bank. To Blair's dismay, David, instead of getting out, promptly stopped retreating and followed them. He really was going to have to have a word with Jim about being protected by Guides who had no sense of self-preservation.
"Larry! We got another two."
A masked face appeared over the edge of the counter, the eyes glittering deep within the eyeholes. "I thought you were going to stop anyone from coming in!" Larry snapped in return, his voice shaking nervously.
The one whom Blair mentally named 'Moe' looked dismayed. "They were inside before I could stop 'em!" he whined.
"Leave them here and get back to the door - and keep everyone else out!"
As Moe stepped back, the door to the bank's 'inner workings' opened, and a well-built, masked figure stood there, beckoning them on with the large gun in his hand.
Calmly, Blair headed towards him, with David at his heels. The fear in the bank wasn't just from any staff or customers; the three bank robbers were petrified as well.
Curly stepped back, then shut the door firmly behind them as soon as they were inside. "O-over there."
Larry stood up as they approached, four well-stuffed holdalls lying at his feet. There were quite a few people sitting against the back wall, their hands and feet securely tied and gags covering the lower half of their faces. "Okay, let's tie them up and get out of here." He pulled his gun from the waistband of his jeans and aimed it at them, his hand trembling slightly. "Sit down."
Blair sank to the floor, keeping his hands in plain view and hoping David had the sense to do the same.
"You," Larry's gun waved in Blair's general direction, "slide over there, and lie face down."
Blair felt David's apprehension spike but he didn't move as Blair slid away and put his face to the floor; Curly's gun following his every move. Inwardly, he was cursing heartily. If he had to choose between nervous amateurs or calm professionals, he'd take the calm ones, thank you very much. Professional bank robbers were less likely to make mistakes and, unless they were violent, rarely wasted their time harming their hostages as long as they didn't attempt to interfere; they focussed on getting the job done and getting out with as much money as possible. Amateurs like these were far more likely to end up shooting someone by mistake or setting off alarms, which usually led to a stand-off with the police that ended in more than one death.
"Sit up."
Blair sat up and risked a glance at David who was now sitting with his hands and feet tied. He was pale faced but seemed calm enough.
Larry produced some more rope and tied Blair's hands together in front of him, then rummaged in the bag at his side. His fear heightened as whatever he was looking for wasn't found. "We're outta gags!" he snapped, turning the bag upside down and shaking it. His face turned towards Curly. "What are we gonna do?"
"That's okay, man, it's fine," Blair interrupted, his voice quiet. "No one outside would hear us if we shouted anyway - there's too much traffic around."
"Yeah. Yeah!" Larry stood up and paced for a second, then knelt to check Blair's bindings. "Yeah! You-you just stay quiet, you hear me?"
Blair nodded and saw David nodding quickly too.
Larry checked David's bindings then his eyes flickered up and met Blair's gaze briefly. "We don't wanna hurt anyone, we just want to take the money and get out. So, you keep quiet until we're gone and you'll be fine. Okay?"
"I hear that, man," Blair replied, quietly. "You don't have to worry about us."
"Good!" Larry stood up. "Benny! C'mon, we're outta here!"
Blair wondered who on earth Benny was, then realised it was Moe as that figure lumbered into view, panic on his face.
"Larry! There's a cop car outside!"
"No!" Larry cursed as he stomped up and down for a moment, then he pointed towards Blair and David. "We'll take them as hostages. Get 'em in the car!"
The ropes were ripped from their ankles as the pair were yanked to their feet and pushed towards a door with Larry and Moe panicking behind them every inch of the way. As they headed out of a back door, Blair's mind was whirling with two things. The first was a determination that both he and David would get out of this without a scratch, regardless of what he had to do to the three stooges accompanying them, and the second...he was never going to be able to persuade Jim to relax his 'protect the Guide!' attitude now.
~'~
Jim frowned as he looked at the clock. Given his Guide's recent determination to avoid even the impression of worrying his Sentinel, he'd practically been able to time how long it took Sandburg to get to the deli and back to the second. He knew that Sandburg had wanted to call in at the bank but, even so, he should have been back by now.
"Ellison!"
Giving the clock another annoyed glance, he headed into Simon's office. Three seconds later he came barrelling back out of the door, raced down the corridor, and collided with Edwards by the elevator.
"Tell me Sandburg's bank isn't Cascade National!" Edwards demanded, as frightened people threw themselves out of the elevator to let the two manic Sentinels have it to themselves.
"And there's been a bank robbery there," Jim growled in return, listening to the sound of Edwards' teeth grinding.
"That's it, Ellison. I don't care how unhappy your Guide is - he's a trouble magnet and he needs protecting!"
"Don't worry. After this, if Sandburg wants to go anywhere without me, it'll be with a full complement of bodyguards."
Once in the bank, it became obvious that all the hostages at the scene had been released, and that there had been no injuries or fatalities. Unfortunately, there were also no Guides.
~'~
Sitting in the back of the car, David glanced at the bank robber at his side, then at the Senior Guide Prime at his other side. Slowly, he inhaled and then exhaled, feeling his stomach muscles tremble as he restrained his urge to hyperventilate, then Blair's hand patted his arm comfortingly. He really didn't know how Blair was keeping so calm; his own thoughts were all over the place. One second, he'd be thinking that he really had to keep Blair safe, then he'd be worrying what Neds would be thinking, and how badly Neds was going to react once they got back. Neds really hadn't been happy about Sentinel Ellison's determination to allow Blair some leeway in how much protection he had - even if that leeway was surface only. And Neds definitely hadn't been happy about the idea that the other Guides could keep an eye on Blair. He really hadn't thought that was a good idea.
David glanced around at the three bank robbers in the car. He was going to have to agree with Neds on that score; wuss though he might be, he had to admit that he'd give a fortune to have Neds sitting at his side, knowing that he could depend on his Sentinel to keep them both safe, because that was what Sentinels did and it was about time Blair just accepted it. Blair was smart and resourceful and he really was being amazingly calm about this, maybe he got kidnapped on a regular basis or something, although David was sure he'd have heard if Blair did, after all, Guides talked to each a lot, in fact David didn't know any Guide who didn't like to talk and -
There was the sign for the freeway. It looked like the car was heading out of the city with them in it.
With a start, he realised that he'd completely lost the thread of whatever he was thinking about. Glancing around the car again, he also realised that he didn't care what he'd been thinking about; he wanted to be safe back in the P.D. with Neds.
~'~
Blair sighed to himself as he patted David's arm comfortingly. David was panicking; he could feel it. He really hoped it hadn't occurred to David yet that the bank robbers had removed their masks. If it did, David had to realise what Blair had realised: the bank robbers couldn't let them go.
Of course, it was possible that it wouldn't occur to Larry, Benny and the totally misnamed and shaven-headed Curly that their hostages had seen their faces and would be able to identify them. Possible, but not that probable, given the way Larry kept eyeballing him in the rear view mirror. Blair wished Larry would keep his mind, and his eyes, on the road. At the rate they were travelling, it really wasn't going to do anyone any good if he crashed the car.
And, assuming they reached Cascade's outer limits safely, Blair had an ace up his sleeve. He just hoped he'd get to play that ace before Larry used his gun to trump Blair's hand for good.
~'~
Having heard from the police officers who were first on the scene what direction the possible getaway car sped off in, Ellison and Edwards ran back to the P.D. to give chase. Naturally, they called out the rest of the Clan, for when you are in a dismembering mood, it helps to have as many Clan members at your side as you can find.
An APB was put out on the car's general description, with orders to approach with caution, while the Cascade Clan piled into whatever vehicles they had (or could acquire) in order to spread out around the city. Sentinel eyesight was considered an advantage when one of the Guides being hunted had distinctive curly hair.
~'~
Blair cast a glance at the "You Are Now Leaving Cascade" sign and glanced back to meet Larry's gaze in the rear view mirror. He could feel Larry's reluctance to do what he knew had to be done, and hoped it would be enough to stop him.
Taking a breath he commented, in as casual a tone as he could, "Did I mention that David and I are bonded Guides?"
The car screeched to a halt as Larry slammed the brakes on and Blair's head bounced off the back of the driver's headrest. There was silence for a few seconds, then Blair continued, "David's Sentinel is Sentinel Prime Edwards, while my Sentinel, Jim Ellison, is the Senior Sentinel Prime of Cascade."
Larry and Curly suddenly looked rather green around the gills, while Benny looked confused. After a few seconds, his face cleared and he declared, as if solving a puzzle, "That's the head of the Clan!"
"That's right!" Blair said, smiling at him. Maybe this would work after all.
Larry's face turned a shade greener, then two doors opened and slammed shut as Larry and Curly hurled themselves out of the car.
Blair opened his own door and leaned out of the car to get a better view, not quite believing what he was seeing as the two figures fled up the road.
"What are they doing?" David asked.
"I think they're running away."
"Oh."
Blair looked at David, who looked back at him.
"You'd think they'd realise they'd get farther in the car," David pointed out.
Benny turned around. "Aren't we going to Canada now?"
Blair smiled and patted his arm. "It's okay, Benny, I'm sure you'll be going to Canada soon. Oh, look, they're coming back now." Pushing his own door fully open, he got out as quickly as he could with his hands still tied, and reached back in to help David.
"Out, out!" Larry screamed.
Blair found himself pushed to one side as Larry yanked at David. Suddenly, Larry reared back, horror on his face as he hastily started rubbing his hands on his jacket. "I touched him, I touched him - they'll know!" he screeched.
David hurriedly scrambled out of the car as Blair began to try to calm Larry down. "It's okay, Larry. Just - just take a deep breath."
Larry inhaled quickly, and exhaled just as quickly. Then took another breath that verged on hyperventilation as Curly dived into the car and slammed the door behind him. Obviously deciding that leaving now was a good idea, Larry yanked open the driver's door, then swung back to wave a finger in Blair's face. "We didn't hurt you! We didn't lay a hand on you!" Glaring at his finger as that digit waved far too close to Blair's nose, he yanked his hand back suddenly. "Just remember that!" he shouted, before diving into the driver's seat and slamming the door.
The vehicle screeched away, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.
Blair shut his mouth as the dust swirled up, then opened it again. "I think they've heard of Jim and Neds."
Beside him, David nodded, a stunned look still on his face. "I-I think so too."
Blair glanced down at his hands and offered them to David. "Untie me and I'll untie you."
~'~
Edwards glanced at Ellison's hands as they gripped the steering wheel. The knuckles were white and straining. Turning his eyes back to the road, he forced his hearing out to its farthest limit, hoping to hear the one heartbeat he knew best of all. When he got hold of David he was going to, going to...make damned sure he never went near another bank in his life. And make damned sure he never went anywhere with the Senior Guide Prime without him and a gang of Sentinels along as protection!
He glanced at those straining knuckles again. He was positive Ellison was thinking along the same lines.
With his hearing stretched out to the maximum, the phone ringing was like the trumpet of Jericho, and he recoiled sharply with his hands clamped over his ears. Mentally yanking at the sound dial, he almost missed the relief in Ellison's voice but the name got his attention quickly.
"Chief?! Where the hell are you?"
Instantly, Edwards zeroed in on the other end of the line. There, thumping merrily away with nary a skipped beat, was David's heartbeat. He was so focussed on that sound that he completely missed whatever Blair was saying. It wasn't until the call ended and David's heartbeat disappeared that he realised he was still sitting in the truck with Ellison.
"They're fine, the bank robbers let them go. They're on Interstate 5, at a diner just outside Cascade." Ellison had obviously realised that Edwards hadn't heard much, if anything, of Blair's conversation.
"Thank God for that!"
Leaving Ellison to stamp his foot down on the accelerator, which he did, Edwards reached for the radio and informed the rest of the Clan where the Senior Guide Prime and Guide Prime were to be found. He didn't care who reached them first as long as they were protected sooner rather than later.
~'~
Putting the phone down, Blair stepped out of the phone booth and looked at David. "They're on their way."
"Was Neds there?"
"Yeah, he's in Jim's truck, with Jim. Jim's driving."
David's eyes widened as that piece of information sank in. "Oh, God."
"Well, look on the bright side; it won't take them that long to get here." Blair was just hoping their Sentinels would arrive in one piece. "Look, let's go get some coffee while we wait. You and I both know it'll be days before we're let out again."
He got a laugh that was halfway to a sob. "At the moment, Neds in Blessed Protector mode sounds great to me. Even if I won't get to step outside for a week."
"A week?" Blair led the way to the diner. "We'll be lucky if we get to go anywhere within a month."
Just as he reached the door, David's hand grabbed his arm. "Look!"
Blair turned.
And saw a whole convoy of vehicles, including quite a few police cars, heading their way. Naturally, Jim's truck was at the head of it and, from the looks of things, he was definitely breaking the speed limit.
"Do you have the urge to run away?" David asked, very, very quietly.
"Oh yeah. Screaming all the way."
The truck screeched to a halt and Jim and Neds leapt out, heading towards the two Guides at a run.
Blair smiled, projecting calming thoughts at his rapidly approaching Sentinel. "Hey, Jim. You'll never guess wha -" He was yanked into a tight hold, and checked over firmly. "What happened to us today," he finished, faintly.
His Sentinel growled in return, obviously smelling three strange scents on him and identifying them correctly as the kidnappers. With the rest of the Clan surrounding them, Blair was turned on the spot as Jim stripped off his jacket and flannel shirt and threw them to one side. His protests were ignored as the Sentinel removed his own jacket and wrapped it carefully around him. Glancing over, Blair saw that David had suffered a similar fate as Edwards hurled David's jacket away from them.
The discarded jackets and shirt were grabbed by other Sentinels who sniffed them over carefully, growling as they did so, before passing them on to other Sentinels.
Glancing up at his own Sentinel, Blair watched the dancing muscle in his jaw before dragging his attention back to what Jim was saying.
"Did they say where they were headed?"
Blair's eyes met David's for a brief appalled moment. While he knew that Larry, Curly and Benny were bank robbers who could have hurt any amount of people during that stupid bank robbery of theirs, Blair was extremely reluctant to hand them over to the Clan. Not just because of his previous experience of Clan justice but also because Larry hadn't wanted to hurt them. Maybe if he calmed Jim down before telling him where they were going, he'd agree to simply hand them over to the Cascade cops to be dealt with? But David, it seemed, had no compunction about leaving them to their fate, as he happily replied, "Canada," before tucking his head under Edwards' chin and accepting the bear hug being bestowed upon him.
"David!"
Jim's arms tightened around him in response. "Leave it, Sandburg," he ordered, as several Sentinels and Guides disappeared back into their vehicles and roared off down the interstate. "The Clan will bring them in for justice."
"Jim, they didn't hurt us - they let us go!"
"Only because you told them we're bonded Guides," David chipped in, far too cheerfully for Blair's liking.
"You know what, David? You're not helping!"
A wide smile cracked Edwards' face as he beamed at a suddenly confused Blair. "No, he's not, is he? Senior Sentinel Prime, I'm taking my Guide home."
"Good idea, Edwards."
"Blair? Nice job."
Blair frowned even more as Edwards and David moved away and got into Dr. Harvey's car.
"Nice job? What on earth is he talking about, man?"
"You, Chief. You kept your head, and you got yourself and David out of there without either of you being injured. Now let's go home."
"But -"
"No buts, Sandburg. Let's go."
~'~
Pushing his Guide to the truck, the Sentinel helped him in, then made sure that his seatbelt was securely in place. Sandburg was silent but Jim knew it was only a matter of time before he started arguing on behalf of the bank robbers again. As he moved around the front of the truck, he shook his head. For all that Sandburg couldn't, or wouldn't, accept the Clan's way of doing things, the Sentinel was still glad that they'd met. This was his Guide, no one else's, stubborn streak of independence and all.
Once he was in the truck and the door was shut, Sandburg turned in his seat to face him. "Jim."
He knew it. Jim sighed and leaned his head against the headrest before looking over at him. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"They didn't hurt us."
Jim rolled his eyes. Sandburg had got his attention by using the most important thing to a Sentinel; his Guide would have made a great lawyer.
"As soon as I told them that David and I are bonded Guides, they couldn't wait to get out of the car and get away from us."
Jim frowned. "They left the car?"
"Yeah, it was kinda weird, actually." Blair half-laughed and shook his head. "I told them what we are, and who you guys are, and, man, they leapt out of the car and ran away! Talk about faster than a speeding bullet!" His laughter grew louder as he continued, "Then it hit them that they needed the car, and they came running back."
As reassuring, and entertaining, as it was to have his Guide talking and laughing at his side, the Sentinel stuck to the facts. "And then they left you on the side of the road where anything could have happened to you."
The laughter stopped and Sandburg met his eyes, an apology in the blue gaze. "I know, Jim, but -"
"No buts, Sandburg. I'm the Senior Sentinel Prime of the Cascade Clan. They kidnapped my Guide, and the Guide of the Sentinel Prime. When they're caught, and they will be caught, they'll be brought back to face justice."
"But they didn't hurt us!"
"I know that. They'll face justice, not vengeance."
Sandburg sighed and slumped back in his seat, turning his head to gaze out of the window for a moment. Finally, he looked back at Jim. "I haven't made any difference at all, have I?"
"I wouldn't say that, Sandburg." Jim smiled. He'd noticed a few differences himself in the way Guides were treated. Small differences, admittedly, but then the Guides were up against the ingrained instincts of pre-civilised Sentinels.
"You do realise I have to keep on trying, don't you, Jim?"
Jim's smile got wider. "Wouldn't have it any other way, Chief."
~'~
David sighed with relief as the front door was firmly shut and locked behind them. Slipping his Sentinel's jacket off, he hung it up on the coat rack, then buried his face in it, inhaling the comforting scent that still clung to it. He was, without a doubt, overwhelmingly glad to be home. Turning, he smiled as he watched his Sentinel stalk the perimeter. Neds was going to be extremely territorial over everything for the next few days - and that included his Guide.
His smile widened and he felt himself blush as Neds turned and stalked towards him, growling softly as he approached. Oh yeah, Neds was definitely going to be territorial for a while.
~'~
The door was shut and locked behind them, and Blair took off Jim's jacket and slipped it onto a coat peg, resisting the urge to bury his face in it as he did so. Resolutely, he turned away from the jacket and the comforting smell of his Sentinel that lingered around it. He was home, and he didn't need to hold onto any kind of security blanket at all.
He smiled and shook his head as he watched Jim check that the loft was secure. Sentinels, God love 'em, you could make a fortune betting on their reactions sometimes.
"Jim?"
The Sentinel paused for a moment to stare at him, then continued his prowling.
Blair's eyes narrowed as he considered his options; maybe feeding his Sentinel would help calm him down, although he knew that bonding was really the only thing that would work. Shrugging, he decided that food might help and took two steps towards the kitchen, then stopped as his Sentinel's gaze focussed on him with the intensity of a laser beam. It looked like he was out of time.
The Sentinel paced towards him and the Guide smiled and tilted his head back, exposing his neck, and showing his complete trust in his Sentinel. He was rewarded by being pulled into a bear hug, and having his Sentinel's face buried in his neck, as he was scented enthusiastically.
As he was half-tugged, half-carried towards the couch, the Guide dropped his barriers and rested his head on his Sentinel's shoulder. He might not have won equality yet, and it was only yet, but what he had really wasn't too bad at all. As his emotions filtered through the bond, he felt his Sentinel's answering emotions and grinned. Oh yeah, he knew it was only a matter of time.
~finis~
23rd April 2005.
