A Sensational 4th for Blair Sandburg
Brought to Him by The Powers That Be
and James J. Ellison
Police Detective James Joseph Ellison, retired and Dr. Blair Sandburg, PhD,
anthropologist with minors in archeology, psychology and recently forensic
anthropology, were out of the country. Requested by the current government of a
volatile Middle Eastern country when a mass grave was uncovered. Blair was
brought in to organize the dig and examine the remains to determine how and when
the people had died. Jim went along for the ride because the lifemates and
former work partners couldn’t bear to be apart. Plus, it was commonly known but
never spoken aloud, that when the partners worked together, results were
produced rapidly and accurately.
After a long day at the site, the partners showered in preparation for bed. They
lay on top of the sheets surrounded by mosquito netting listening to the life
that went on around them. The dull rattle of the ancient air conditioner that
barely cooled off their room was trying to lull them to sleep. Blair reached out
his hand to clasp Jim’s and after a while spoke.
“You know, when I was a kid and traveling around the world with Naomi, she
always found a way to bring us home to the States for the Fourth,” Blair
explained as he snuggled closer to Jim. “It didn’t matter which part of the
country we landed in. We could be in Texas or California or Maine, Mom and I
would always go to the local fireworks display.”
Blair turned his head to gaze at a tiny flag that he had fished out of his
backpack and placed in a glass on their bedside table.
“I know, Chief, and I’m sorry,” Jim began. “I was hoping to get us home in time
but...”
“It’s not your fault, it’s no one’s fault. I could have postponed.”
“No you couldn’t have. The political timing was right and who knows when things
might change. Blair, you made the right decision,” Jim said as he gave Blair’s
hand a squeeze.
“Still, I kind of miss it, man. Ya know?”
“I know, Chief,” Jim said as he closed his eyes hoping he could come up with a
way to make Blair feel better about missing home and the Fourth.
Jim settled his head back into his pillow letting his mind wander, allowing the
universe to invade his thoughts. When he opened his eyes, his world was tinted
blue.
“Who are you?” his younger spirit self dressed in green combat fatigues asked
Jim. They were standing in the all too familiar Peruvian jungle.
“Enquiri, Sentinel of the Great City,” Jim replied.
“Who are you?” his younger self asked again.
“Lifemate to Blair Sandburg, Shaman of the Great City, and one unhappy Guide.”
“All decisions have consequences,” his spirit self stated the obvious. Jim
stopped himself from rolling his eyes. It was not a good idea to piss off the
spirits.
His spirit self then morphed into the black jaguar, Jim’s spirit guide. Jim and
his panther cocked their heads when they heard a forlorn howl of the wolf.
“He misses the celebration and fireworks back home,” Jim said to his panther.
The panther grunted in acknowledgment then morphed back into Jim’s younger self.
They stood toe to toe staring into each other’s eyes and listening to the sad
howl of the wolf, Blair’s spirit guide.
“Let him see through your eyes,” Jim’s alter ego commanded before he transformed
back into the panther. The panther heard the wolf again then took off toward his
direction in the forest.
“It’s never easy,” Jim muttered as he forced himself back to the real world.
“Jim, you okay?” Blair felt Jim shiver next to him. “I’m usually the one who’s
always cold,” Blair joked. “Besides, it’s gotta be 80 in here. Uh, Jim, what’s
never easy?”
“I took a small trip and of course I don’t understand what I was told,” Jim
griped.
“A trip. You mean you had a vision? Wow.”
“Settle down, Chief, I’m not sure what it all meant. Why can’t they just say
what they mean?” A rhetorical question which he and Blair had debated on
numerous occasions.
“Do you want to talk about it? I mean, maybe I can interpret what you saw,”
Blair asked hopefully.
“He said, let him see through your eyes,” Jim mumbled.
“Let who see what through whose eyes?” Blair asked with a grin as he turned
toward Jim.
“I dare you to say that again,” Jim said with a laugh as he grabbed the younger
man and positioned his body on top of his own. They had to be discreet in this
country. Their hotel room afforded little privacy. So they saved their
lovemaking for the shower and shared quiet intimate moments when they were in
bed.
Blair settled onto Jim’s muscular body. They gently kissed then stared into each
other’s eyes. Jim let himself hover on the edge of a zone so that he could
explore the depths of Blair’s deep blue eyes.
“Let him see through your eyes.” The words repeated over and over in Jim’s mind.
Suddenly Jim grabbed Blair’s hands and positioned them on each side of his face.
Jim mirrored the gesture with his own hands on Blair’s face. Jim stared
intensely into Blair’s eyes and willed Blair to do the same. Blair followed
where Jim led.
“Where are we?” Blair whispered, afraid that the vision would end if he spoke
too loudly.
“This looks like Washington, D. C.,” Jim said as he looked around. “I’ve been
here before.”
“Well, duh,” Blair commented, garnering a Jim glare. The partners had been to DC
many times, together and separately throughout their lives.
“That’s not what I mean. Look at what the people are wearing,” Jim said as he
looked around trying to remember.
“Looks like the 70's, very retro, man.” Blair loved the clothes. In fact his
wardrobe wasn’t all that different.
“You would have been a baby or a toddler, Chief. Making me about eleven or
twelve...” Jim said, his voice trailing off as he was remembering. “A business
trip! My Dad had a business trip to the capital and he took me and Stevie with
him. My mother had already left us but Dad took Sally with us. His business
contact got us special tickets to see the...”
Suddenly it was night and the sky became a blaze of color as firework rockets
shot up into the night sky and exploded into all the colors of the rainbow. A
huge band was playing John Phillip Souza and the spectators were all waving
miniature flags.
“Wow! This is so....” For once Blair had no words to describe what he was
seeing, let alone what he was thinking. ‘Watch and accept this gift from your
Sentinel,’ Blair heard in his head. The voice sounded like it belonged to the
Chopec Shaman Incacha. Blair understood the great honor that was bestowed upon
him. He continued to watch with awe, the wonderful display that surrounded them.
*****
Jim woke feeling a hot weight pressing down upon him. He quickly opened his eyes
to see Blair fast asleep and still laying on top of him. Jim smiled at the soft
snores. Blair seemed to be wrapped around Jim like a thick blanket. A very hot
thick blanket that was becoming heavier with each passing minute.
“Hey, sleepy head, time to wake up,” Jim said softly.
“Five more min...s,” Blair mumbled somewhat coherently. Blair went to reposition
his pillow under his head when he realized that his pillow was smiling back at
him. “WHOA!” Blair gave a startled shout as he rolled off Mount Jim and got
tangled in the mosquito netting.
“Easy there, Chief, before you strangle yourself,” Jim chuckled as he helped his
lover untangle himself. Within a minute or two Jim got them both straightened
out.
“Thanks, Jim,” Blair said cheerfully as he sat up and settled against the
headboard.
“My pleasure there, partner.”
“Uh, Jim, did we see what I think we saw last night?”
“What did you see?” Jim asked.
“I think I saw a huge 4th of July fireworks display with a marching band and
everything!” Blair said with enthusiasm, his hands flying everywhere as he
spoke. Jim smiled; there was his bouncy guide. Jim was afraid he wouldn’t see
Blair this happy until that got back home.
“I saw it too.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure but I think ‘The Powers That Be’ knew you were missing the 4th
celebration so they staged one for you through me,” Jim explained.
“That’s so...wow. I didn’t know we could do that,” Blair said.
“Neither did I but who am I to argue with The Powers. Did you enjoy it?” Jim
asked as he gazed into his lover’s eyes and gently caressed Blair’s high
cheekbones.
“I loved it and I love you. Thank you for sharing that memory with me.”
“Thank The Powers,” Jim quipped.
Blair closed his eyes in silent reflection, thanking the spirits for allowing
them to travel on a different plane to witness a happy moment in Jim’s childhood
and one that brought joy to Blair as well.
“Thank you,” the young Shaman whispered. The sentiment was echoed by Jim.
“As much as I would love to spend the entire day in bed with you, Professor, we
have a job to do,” Jim said in a slightly serious tone.
“Yes we do. A very important job,” Blair agreed as he and Jim got out of bed to
start their day.
Before they left their room, Blair reverently took the small flag out of the
glass, rolled it up and put it back in his backpack.
-end-
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