School Tax



[A short day in the life of Jim and Blair, Sentinel and Guide and life partners.]

***

 

“Hey, Professor, whatcha doing?” Jim asked Blair as he walked into the loft. Jim took off his jacket and shoulder holster, hanging them on the rack by the door. He flipped his keys into the basket on the table then went to get a cold brew out of the refrigerator. Blair was sitting at the dining table, glasses perched on his nose and laptop running. He appeared to be studying some sort of check.

“I got my refund today,” Blair said as he waved the refund check in the air.

“Is it a good one?” Jim asked as he placed a beer near Blair then took a good long pull at his own. Jim had had a long day at work and was looking forward to spending a nice quiet evening with his partner.

“Yes, a very good one,” Blair said with a pleased but somewhat pensive smile.

“You deserve it, Chief,” Jim said as he patted Blair on the back. “So what are you going to do with your bounty?”

“That’s my dilemma. I must owe you a gazillion dollars in back rent.”

“Blair,” Jim said, taking on a serious tone, “we’ve been all through this before. We’re partners, in more ways than one. What you contribute to my life is worth more to me than money,” Jim stated sincerely. Blair’s smile lit up the room. “Sooo, is the money going towards fixing up that old heap of yours or buying some new ancient tome ... or more hair conditioner?” Jim tugged on a long curly lock for emphasis.

“Oh, ha ha!” Blair glared at Jim but failed to look menacing. Jim thought Blair adorable. “What I’d really want to do with it is to pay off my student loans,” Blair said with a sigh. It had taken Blair a lot longer than he anticipated to complete his doctorate. But now that it was done, defended and he had those three sought after letters behind his name, Blair was finally recognized for the scholar that he was.

“Chief,” Jim said as he scooted his chair closer to offer support. Blair could never hide his true feelings from Jim. “You’re a bonafide doctor of anthropology and criminal psychology. You’re well respected by the Cascade police force and even the FBI has been buzzing around you. All that other stuff is well in the past. We fought it and got your reputation back.”

“I know, Jim. It’s all good, but sometimes it still hurts.”

“I know, buddy, I know,” Jim said as he put his arm around Blair’s shoulder. For a moment Blair leaned his head against Jim’s chest. “Is it enough to pay it all off?”

“Yes, plus a little left over,” Blair said with a grin.

“Heap, tome or conditioner?” Jim smiled at Blair, Jim’s ice blue eyes filled with warmth for the man he cherished.

“None of the above, but I’d like to take you to dinner. Somewhere nice, where we’d have to dress up.”

“You mean someplace where flannel isn’t considered formal wear?” Jim teased as he gave Blair’s flannel covered arm a pat.

“Something like that.”

“Then I accept your invitation. But are you sure our little night out won’t tax the limits of your refund too much?” Jim stood to make a reservation at a very exclusive restaurant.

“Nope, I can handle it,” Blair said as he took another look at his refund check. “But you may have to school me in the ways of proper etiquette. You know, what fork to use, which glass,” Blair teased as he raised his beer bottle. “I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”

“Never, Blair. You could never embarrass me. It’ll probably be me embarrassing you when I’ve zoned over a crystal goblet and you’ll have to perform some Guide magic to get me out of it,” Jim said with a grin. “Come on, Professor, time to clean up and put on our glad rags. Some of us need a little more time cleaning up than others,” Jim said as he ran his hands through Blair’s long thick dark hair and then over his short military type buzz cut. Blair laughed.

“Maybe I should have invested my refund in conditioner instead,” Blair declared as he sprinted into the bathroom to shower.

“Hey!” Jim shouted as he quickly followed.

-end-

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