My Disclaimer: The Sentinel and its related characters, namely Jim and Blair, are not mine. They belong to the lucky people at PET FLY Productions and UPN. No harm intended...I'm just borrowing them, and I'll give 'em back when I'm done with them. (Boo Hoo Hoo!)

Notes: BIIIIIIIIGGGGGG thanks to Becky! Without her push, I probably would have just socked this away for myself. Say, if you like Kayla, drop me a line. I don't have any scenerios that would suit her right now, but my arm could be twisted a bit. And JO! Hope you get a couple minutes to sit down and read...

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Not your typical date

by Wnnepooh

Blair was floating on air and he didn't care if Jim knew it. For the past hour, the anthropologist had been bopping around the loft getting ready for his date. And what a date it was. For several weeks, he'd been working his way up to asking out a girl in one of his classes. Just two days ago, he'd actually asked her for coffee after class, but she'd turned him down. It was a nice refusal, and Blair thought she was sincere. But it was still a refusal, so Sandburg had chalked it up to experience and turned to walk to his car. He'd only gotten a few feet when she'd grabbed his arm and, to his surprise, asked him out for Friday night.

Tonight!

So there he was, getting ready for his big date, and annoying Jim to no end.

Between Sandburg's humming and incessant mumblings, Jim couldn't focus on the paper or the TV. Giving up, he walked to the kitchen to fix a sandwich, still watching the flurry of activity that was his roommate. Once in a while Jim would focus in on some of the mumblings and laugh. Sandburg was worried about what he should wear, or what they would do. A couple times he'd wondered out loud - at least out loud to Jim's ears - why this woman was going out with him. Then he went into a fluster about his shirt or jacket, or socks. And so it went for a good half hour until Blair had an outfit he thought wasn't too dressy or too informal. The young man was bouncing on his toes in front of the windows, watching for her.

"So, who is she, Chief?"

"She's in my Human Animal class - Advanced Soci. I spent four weeks moving a couple seats at a time just to be near her." Blair said with a wide grin, then explained the circumstances of the date.

"Asked YOU out, huh?" Jim goaded. "She got mental problems, or what?"

They laughed a bit and Blair moved away from the windows. "Nah, man. She's like near perfect. About my height, brown hair with this wonderful darkness to it. Not brassy or anything - like coffee. And her eyes are green with these wonderful little flecks of gold...and the way they smile when she's talking about human instinct...it's amazing..."

Jim was impressed as his partner continued the description of his classroom goddess. "So tell me, did you get Zeus' permission to take Aphrodite off her clamshell?"

Blair's one hand went into his pocket as the other ran through his hair, a slight smile his only showing of the amusement he shared with Jim. "She's really smart, and funny, and kinda athletic. She's got this tattoo on her shoulder..."

At that, there was unbridled laughter from the detective. "That coffee colored hair better not be knotted or spiked, Sandburg, or big brother is gonna ground you. Ya got that?"

The younger man laughed. "Yeah, I got it. But I wouldn't be going out with anyone whose hair was spiked, let alone knotted. You know?"

"Yeah, and I swore I'd never have a partner with an earring - and I won't even mention the nipple ring... You got me?"

All Blair could do was nod and smile some more. Then, thinking about the little gold ring in his memory box, the young man chuckled and clasped his hands in front of him, rocking back and forth from one foot to the other "Why am I so nervous? I mean, I was gonna ask her out and then she turns around and asks me out and now I'm standing here rambling on to you...Oh boy."

Jim bit his tongue and, without much force, pushed Blair down into his favorite chair. "Try a couple deep breaths or one of those mantra things, but get a grip before she gets here, or else she's gonna find out just how weird you really are."

Taking his partner's advice, Blair slipped his shoes off and folded into a lotus position, a simple hum and inaudible words helping him release his tension. For ten minutes, Blair sat nearly still, focusing on his positivity and releasing the rough barbs that interrupted his energy flow. That done, he brought his energy to heel and relaxed. He was still sitting in the chair, much calmer than before, when the knock came at the door.

"I'll get it, you just unfold yourself." And Jim walked to the door slowly, opening it only after Blair gave a nod. She was facing away when the door opened, but as soon as she turned, Jim's smile widened. "Hi, you must be....Blair's.....date....Kayla?"

Her smile was just as wide as Jim's as she jettisoned her body into his. "OH MY GOD! NO WAY!!!" Blair raised an eyebrow to his partner who was being attacked by his dream date. And evidently liking it, by the way his arms had immediately wrapped around the woman and hefted her off the floor.

"I take it you two know each other.."

Jim read the curiosity in his partner's words. "Kayla and I go way back." Only Jim heard his partner groan, and he enjoyed every second of it. *Taunt me with your dream girl, will you.* "So, Kayla, what in the world are you doing in one of _his_ classes?"

"Masters in Criminology, Sir. Doing some side work in Human Profiling...How do you know Blair?" she asked and pushed a finger into his chest. Blair could almost see her winding Jim around that same finger.

"He's my roommate, and my partner...He didn't tell you?"

"Uh, Jim, you never really came up in conversation."

"Partner?" and she smiled at Blair, who had already started shaking his head. "You're a cop? Rules have changed a lot, I guess."

She walked to Blair, looking him up and down as she did. Her long strides gave Jim and Blair a chance to survey her as well. Her jeans fit well, accenting trim, sculptured legs, topped off with a firm stomach. Jim could just see the navel ring above the button fly, and below the edge of her cropped top. The top was also sleeveless, affording the two men a generous view of strong arms, and a strange-looking tattoo on her upper left shoulder.

"Nice marking, there." Jim commented, drawing their attention to the pictograph.

"Don't worry, it's just a Celtic Blessing Circle. Mom was cool about it..." She smiled over her shoulder to Jim, then flipped her hair back, the wavy mass falling halfway down her back. Her cool gaze traced the young man before her from head to toe as she whispered. "God, you look great..."

Jim heard the comment and turned away to avoid embarrassing a certain blushing anthropologist. "Where you two kids headed?"

"Well," she said, putting on the leather jacket she'd been carrying, and grabbing Blair by the shirt. "I thought maybe Blair and I would hit the Chu-Hing gallery opening, then out for a late dinner at Kelly's on the waterfront..."and with a quick lick of her lips and a wink, both pointed directly at her date, she finished with "and afterwards a very long night at my place - so don't wait up."

It was Jim's turn to blush. He'd forgotten how open Kayla was about things. Not so much for shock value, but because she felt that honesty was the best way to keep people from prying further. Her method had always been to give more information than necessary, knowing that people didn't always want the truth... Jim looked to his stunned friend, as the poor boy was fairly dragged from the loft. All the young man could do was smile and shrug as they walked past Jim and out to the landing.

"You took your vitamins today, didn't you Blair?" And Kayla kissed the detective on his cheek and winked to him. "I'll be a good girl, Uncle Jim. But don't wait up for him."

Jim was laughing. Kayla was laughing. Blair was choking.

"Uncle Jim? Did you say Uncle Jim?" Throwing a helpless look to his roomy, Blair pleaded wordlessly.

"By the way, Sandburg, Kayla's Dad and I were in the Rangers together..." Then the Sentinel closed the door, knowing his Guide was in for quite a night.