The Magic Bullet!

 

 

 

 

 

Jim’s ‘classic,’ his ‘69 Ford pick up, slowly pulled into his parking space at 852 Prospect.  The Sentinel was tired.  In fact Jim didn’t know when he had ever been this tired.  He turned off the motor then sat for a while trying to dispel all the bad vibes and emotions he had accumulated over the past three weeks before entering the only sanctuary Jim had ever known, his loft apartment.

 

Detective James Ellison, along with the members of Major Crimes had been a part of a citywide task force that included the Homicide Division and the local branch of the FBI.  They had combined forces to hunt down a brutal serial killer, who for no other reason, killed for sport.  Jim’s senses had been on constant high alert and without a break.  His main anchor, Blair Sandburg, PhD, had been out of the country on special assignment, expected back some time today.  And although Blair desperately tried to get back early in order to assist his Sentinel, the powers that be kept the Guide busy, to Jim’s eternal gratitude.  As much as Jim could have used Sandburg’s help, the cruelty of the murders made Jim grateful that Blair was not a witness to them.

 

Over the years, the Guide had helped the Sentinel to hone his gifts so that Jim could use his senses for long periods without the need for a guide.  But even the most powerful sentinel the world had ever known (or not known) needed a break now and then.  Jim had a killer headache, his skin was crawling and his ears were ringing.  He needed a shower so badly that his own body odor was offending him.

 

Jim closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the steering wheel for a few moments before tackling the stairs up to the third floor to his loft apartment.  Gradually, a familiar cadence washed over him, gently easing away some of the pain.  The Sentinel smiled as his guide’s heartbeat worked its magic.  Jim was surprised to hear Blair’s pulse racing.  He figured after Blair’s long flight, the man would be asleep.

 

“Ouch!  Stupid, stupid, stupid!  Oh, man, he’s going to kill me!” 

 

The Sentinel heard the painful cries from his Guide.

 

“Must protect the Guide,” Jim uttered as his primal Sentinel instincts took over.  In spite of his exhaustion, Jim leapt from the truck, ran into the apartment building, taking the stairs two at a time up to the third floor.  With his weapon drawn, Jim cocked his head, listening for dangers that could harm his friend.

 

“Crap!” he heard Sandburg exclaim in frustration as Jim entered the loft.  “Jim!” Blair called out with a mixture of relief and embarrassment.  Blair was holding his left hand close to his chest, it was wrapped in a towel.

 

“What happened here, Chief?  Are you all right?”  Jim stepped up to Blair, holstering his weapon then doing a quick survey of his Guide’s vital signs.  The metallic smell of blood hung in the air.  “Let me see, Chief,” Jim said gently as if he was talking to a wounded bird.  Or in this case, a wounded Guide.  “What did you do to yourself?” he asked as he unwrapped the towel, exposing a couple of bleeding fingers.

 

“I was going to surprise you with dinner,” Blair said dejectedly.  He winced as Jim washed his fingers in the sink.

 

“Consider me surprised.  It’s not so bad.  You won’t need stitches,” Jim assured his friend.  Blair took one look at the elongated cuts on his hand and began to sway.  “Sit down before you fall down.  I’ll go get the first aid kit.”  Jim made sure Blair was secure in a chair before going to the bathroom to retrieve the first aid supplies.  Jim took a few deep cleansing breaths trying to rein in the primal Sentinel, putting James Ellison the man, back in charge.

 

“He’s not hurt that badly,” Jim murmured to himself as he went back out to Blair.  “Here we go, Chief,” Jim said as he began to bandage up his friend.

 

“I’m sorry, Jim.  I got home a few hours ago and called the station.  I was going to head over but Rhonda said it was all over and that you guys were just about to do the paperwork.  I figured I had several more hours yet.”

 

“You would’ve, Chief, but Simon took pity on us and sent us home.  I have to go in for a few hours tomorrow but then I have a week off.”

 

“I don’t have to be back at Rainier until next week.  We could go camping if you’d like,” Blair said with a hopeful smile.

 

“Great idea!” Jim agreed as he ruffled Blair’s curls. 

 

Jim finished wrapping the tape around the dressing then looked around the kitchen.  The full scope of the mess finally struck him.

 

“Uh Blair, what happened?  It looks like a salad bar blew up in here.”

 

“I was trying out that new salsa recipe.  It seemed so simple on TV.  You know, just roughly chop up the vegetables, put in the chopper-blender thingy.”

 

“Thingy?” Jim asked with a smirk.  His genius partner rarely used words like ‘thingy.’

 

“Yeah, well, I lost some blood cells to my brain,” Blair snapped back, almost reading Jim’s mind. 

 

Jim looked contrite then waved at Blair to continue.

 

“I guess I wasn’t paying too much attention to what I was doing.  I thought I screwed the cup on tighter.  So when I pressed down, it kind of flew out of the machine and my hand got in the way.  I really wanted you to come home to a nice meal.”

 

“Thank you, Blair,” Jim said as he bent over to give the younger man a hug.  Jim stood to survey the damage.  “It’s not that bad,” Jim declared.  “And not a drop of blood in the vegetables,” he teased.

 

“Oh ha, effing, ha,” Blair grumbled.

 

“Here, take this,” Jim said as he handed Blair a cold beer.  “Tell me all about your trip while I clean up.  We’ll have dinner and plan our vacation.” 

 

Blair’s smile lit up Jim’s heart.  Whatever tension Jim had previously felt was now gone.  Within the hour, the partners were patting their full bellies.

 

After Jim cleaned up and stowed the leftovers, he finally got to take that shower.  He toweled himself off then threw on a robe.  Jim needed his bed.

 

“Hey,” a soothing voice called to him as Jim made it to the top of the stairs.  Jim had no problem seeing the man in his bed even in the dim light.

 

“Hi,” Jim replied, taking off his robe then dragging his weary body into bed.  “How’s your hand?” Jim managed to ask.

 

“Better but never mind about my hand.  Simon called while you were in the shower.  He briefed me.”

 

“He shouldn’t have done that,” Jim said sadly as he snuggled closer to his lover.  He wrapped a protective arm around Blair’s waist.

 

“Yes, he should have.  You can’t always protect me, Jim.  I’m a big boy and your partner.  I’ll know the details eventually,” Blair said as he gently soothed the Sentinel’s brow.

 

“I know but can I at least pretend for a little while longer?” Jim begged. 

 

Blair snorted.  “Yes, you may.”

 

Jim drew up the blanket to cover them.

 

“And Chief, no more Magic Bullet surprises on little or no sleep,” Jim suggested sternly.

 

“Yes, Jim,” Blair sleepily agreed.

 

“But thank you, dinner was great.  I appreciate it,” Jim murmured, taking away the harshness of his words.  He leaned up to kiss Blair’s full lips.

 

“It did seem like a good idea at the time,” Blair mumbled before falling asleep safe within his Sentinel’s arms.

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