Blair hurried down the stairs. He was lost in thought, worried about his injured friend. He never thought to be wary as he moved down the street toward the drugstore. He had no idea there was someone laying in wait for him in the alley near the corner. As Blair passed the alley, he heard a sound. Before he could turn to see what it was, a large hand clamped itself over his mouth. Blair struggled as an arm slipped around his waist and lifted him off the ground. He kicked, clawing at the arm around his middle as he was pulled into the alley toward the big black car idling there. As the car door was opened from within, Blair's struggles increased, and he managed to loosen the hand over his lips. Blair opened his mouth and sank his sharp little teeth into the flesh. His captor bellowed, removing the hand, and Blair screamed.

"JIIIIIIM, I NEED YOU!!!"

Up in the loft, Jim's head shot up as his Sentinel ears picked up the terrified cry . Wincing, he leaped off the couch, crossed the loft, and ran out the door. He slid down the stairs on his heel, clutching his injured wing, and dashed out into the street just in time to see a black Cadillac come screeching out of a nearby alley. Jim focused his Sentinel sight through the tinted windows, and saw Blair in the back seat being held fast by two men, one of whom now had his hand covering the young man's mouth. Jim broke into a run, chasing the car. Blair's eyes were frantic as the more muscular of the two men pulled his hands behind his back and began to wind a heavy cord around his wrists. Jim recognized him as Derek Wallace, younger brother of Liam.

Jim cursed himself as he sprinted after the car; he never should have let Blair out of his sight! His wing was throbbing. There was no way he'd be able to follow the car by air. So he did the only thing he could do; he ran like hell after the vehicle, praying that the driver would heed the stop sign at the corner. Jim breathed a sigh of relief as the brake lights came on, and the car slowed to a stop. Jim closed the distance between himself and the car, leaped onto the trunk, and scrambled up onto the roof. He laid flat, folding his wings tight against his back, and clutched the edges of the roof with his fingers. Then he held on for dear afterlife as the car resumed its journey, speeding down the street. "BLAIR!" he shouted, knowing that Blair, and only Blair would be able to hear him. "IT'S OK BUDDY, I'M HERE!"

Blair stopped struggling as the welcome voice reached his ears. He managed to glance back through the rear window of the car, and saw Jim's feet hanging off the roof. He relaxed then, and allowed his captors to finish tying him up. It would be all right, Jim would rescue him. "Where are you taking me?" Blair demanded, as Wallace finished binding his wrists behind his back.

"Someplace nice and private where we won't be disturbed," Derek sneered. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket as he added, "Someone wants to meet you."

"Who?" Blair asked nervously, although he had a feeling he already knew the answer.

"Someone you ought to be very familiar with by now," muttered Wallace. He tied the handkerchief over Blair's mouth. "Now then," he mumbled. "You just sit back and enjoy the ride." He casually laid an arm around Blair's shoulders, then snickered as the young man shrugged him off.

Blair felt his mouth going dry from the gag. He turned back to look out the window again, but saw no sign of Jim's feet. He panicked briefly, but then he turned to face front again and gasped. Jim was looking in through the front windshield, upside down. Blair stared at his Angel with wide eyes for a moment, and glanced nervously at the driver of the car. Then he remembered that he was the only one who could see Jim, and he relaxed again. He gave a feeble nod to his Angel, winking to let Jim know that he was safe, for the moment. Jim's worried look diminished only slightly before the close-cropped head pulled up out of sight again. Blair sat back with a sigh, looking up nervously at his kidnappers. This was not good.

Wallace's two henchmen bustled into Derek's office, dragging the bound and gagged Blair Sandburg between them. Derek was right behind them. "Tie him there," Derek ordered, motioning to a chair in the corner. "Were we followed?" he asked one of the thugs.

"I didn't see anyone, Mr. Wallace," replied the driver. He pushed Blair into the chair and picked up a length of cord from the floor. "We were careful," he added, as he tied the young man to the chair. "Although the little cretin sure did manage to bite a sizable chunk out of Ian's hand!" he laughed.

"Oh sure, laugh it up!" Ian snarled, tossing a second length of cord to his partner. He turned to Derek and displayed his hand. "Look at that!" A neat semicircle of teeth marks was clearly visible on the webbing between his thumb and forefinger, surrounded by ugly purple bruising.

Derek Wallace snickered, and patted Ian on the shoulder. "Don't worry cousin," he came to stand over Sandburg as his men finished tying Blair's feet, binding them to the front legs of the heavy chair. "Young Mr. Sandburg is going to pay dearly for his crimes against the Wallace clan." Derek ran one hand in an almost tender caress down the side of Blair's face as he added, "Just like his partner did."

Blair's blue eyes widened in fright. He leaned away as best he could despite his bonds, as Wallace stroked him. He flinched, yelping into the gag as the crook suddenly slapped him across the face, leaving a red hand print on the smooth skin. As Blair recovered from the stinging blow, he heard a low growl. He looked up to see Jim standing in the doorway, glaring in hatred at Derek. The blue eyes moved to meet Blair's, and the expression on the rugged face went from hatred to concern.

"Are you all right?" Jim asked. He was relieved as the kid winked at him. It looked like Blair hadn't been hurt, except for that slap.

Wallace and the others of course did not see or hear Jim, and now Derek casually sent his men out to check for nosy trespassers. Jim stepped back and allowed the two thugs to pass. The Angel watched them move down the hall, then turned back to Blair. "Hang in there, kid," Jim said to Blair, "I'll be right back." Jim followed Wallace's men.

Blair watched Jim leave with a sense of dread, then his gaze settled on Derek once again. The man was studying him thoughtfully, moving to sit on the edge of his desk.

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun," Derek said, smiling. "You can't imagine what I have planned for you, kid." Wallace rubbed his hands together as he studied his young prisoner.

Blair fixed Wallace with his most contemptuous glare.

Derek just eyed Blair thoughtfully for a few minutes. Then he slid off the desk and came to stand over the young man. Blair drew back as the big brute reached toward his face. Derek took a few locks of Blair's long hair between his fingers and fondled them, bending to lift them to his nose for a moment. Blair's heart began to pound with new terror.Jim where are you?!

"You really are... quite a beautiful boy," Derek murmured softly, gazing into the gorgeous blue eyes of his captive.

Boy? I'm 27 years old, asshole! Blair thought. He stiffened as Derek came closer.

"You know," Wallace said, kneeling now so his face was level with Blair's. "I was planning on just torturing you for a few days, before killing you. You know, the usual, sand blasting your skin off, maybe a broken finger or two, perhaps a red-hot knitting needle applied to various parts of your body." Derek grinned as Blair's look of terror increased. Wallace licked his lips, reaching out to stroke Blair's face.

Go away go away go away... Blair's mind chanted helplessly. He tried to twist away form Wallace, feeling the cord dig into his wrists behind his back.

"But I'm thinking, maybe there's something else I can do," Derek continued. His fingers traveled in a long, slow caress along Blair's throat, over his chest, down his belly....

Blair squirmed, straining against his bonds.Oh God, Jim... please come back...! His skin crawled as Derek continued to stroke him through the cotton of his shirt.

Wallace droned on softly, "Something that will not only be unbearable for you, but will give me... extra satisfaction." Derek's grin widened as he slid his hand between Blair's legs.

Blair wailed into the gag as the loathsome fingers began caressing him through his jeans. He struggled wildly, but he couldn't get away from that touch. He couldn't even close his legs; his feet were tied apart. Thankfully, just then there was a huge crash. Derek leaped to his feet with a startled cry. Blair looked up, and sighed in relief at the sight of Jim standing beside Derek's desk. Jim had kicked two of the legs out from under the heavy desk, causing it to topple onto its back. The commotion drew Derek's attention away from Blair, for the moment at least.

Derek moved cautiously to stand beside the remains of his desk. It seemed two of the legs had just spontaneously collapsed. Bizarre. With a shrug, and a vow to never buy second hand furniture again, Derek knelt and righted the desk, wedging the legs back in place. The desk stood unsteadily, but at least it stood. Derek picked up a few objects, including his telephone, and began to arrange them on the desktop. Just then, the phone rang, jarringly. Derek picked it up.

Jim took the opportunity of Derek's attention on the desk to move quickly to Blair's side. He'd seen what that filthy bastard had been doing to his beloved, and it filled him with rage. It took every ounce of self-restraint in Jim's body for him not to grab Derek by the throat and choke the life out of him on the spot. But that wasn't his mission; he was supposed to get Liam Wallace put away. That had to be his main priority. Jim knelt now, and spoke to Blair. "Wallace's men have been taken care of." he said, breathing heavily. "Are you all right?"

Blair closed his eyes and nodded, embarrassed as a tear slipped from under his lid to run down his cheek. His breath was coming in shallow gasps, and he was relieved as Jim carefully loosened the gag, without actually removing it.

Wallace was facing away from them, so Jim was able to tenderly frame his love's face in his hands for a moment. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have left you alone with him." Jim kissed the tear from Blair's cheek as the young man leaned to rub his forehead against Jim's, a gesture of trust and forgiveness. Jim stroked the hair back from Blair's brow, caressing his love's face with his thumb. "Don't worry; I'll kill him before I let him touch you again."

They nuzzled for a few moments while Derek was on the phone. Jim focused his hearing on the caller's voice. "It's Liam," he said, kissing Blair's brow. "He's on his way here." Blair's tear-filled eyes went wide. Jim calmed him with another kiss. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise," he vowed. Just then Wallace hung up the phone. Jim moved quickly out of the bastard's path as he came back over to Blair.

"Well, my young friend," Derek began.

"You lay a hand on him again and I'll tear your throat out," Jim snarled. He knew Wallace couldn't hear him, but the threat made him feel better.

"I'm afraid my own pleasure will have to wait," Wallace was saying, as he stood over Blair. "My brother will want to deal with you first; he's the boss, after all." Wallace smiled . "But after that, you're all mine." Derek moved to look out the window overlooking the bay, admiring the view of the water. "He'll be along shortly, don't worry."

Jim was looking around the office, trying to come up with a plan. Oh sure, he could just knock Derek senseless and free Blair. But that wouldn't solve anything. He had to find a way to incriminate these bastards. His gaze settled on the telephone amidst the clutter on the desk, and an idea formed. Jim smiled. The idea was so simple, but it just might work. He moved over to the phone, and carefully lifted the receiver off the hook. "Blair," he said. "Blair, try and get Wallace to take your gag off."

Blair nodded, wondering what Jim was planning. He began to talk through the gag, mumbling loudly at Wallace. When Derek turned to look at him, Blair gestured with his head for him to come closer.

Curious, Derek crossed the room to kneel before Blair. "What's up, gorgeous?" he asked.

Blair mumbled incoherently.

Wallace chuckled. "Well, I suppose it's safe to take this off for a bit. We're way too far away from anyone who might to hear you, if you're stupid enough to try and scream." Wallace yanked the handkerchief from Blair's mouth. "Besides, it's ruining my view of this... beautiful mouth." Derek ran his thumb over Blair's lower lip.

Blair gagged, and tried to clear his parched throat. He looked up at Jim, who was dialing the phone behind Wallace. Fortunately for Derek, the Angel hadn't noticed that last caress.

Jim finished dialing Simon's number at the precinct, then laid the receiver down on the desk. "Try and get him to talk about himself and his brother, Blair." Jim buried the earpiece of the phone under a pile of papers so Simon's voice wouldn't be heard by Derek, leaving the mouthpiece exposed, pointed toward Wallace. Jim's Sentinel ears picked up the sound of Banks answering the phone.

At the headquarters of the Cascade PD, Captain Simon Banks picked up the telephone.

"Hello?" Simon said. He waited, but there was only silence from the other end of the phone. "Hello?" he said again, growing irritated. He was about to hang up, when he heard voices. Simon listened, and his eyes went wide as he recognized Blair's voice.

"Hey, I was..."

"... just wondering," Blair said, looking nervously at Derek. "You and your brother have been trying to kill me for awhile now, right?"

"Yeah, so?" Said Derek, curiously. "What about it?"

Blair shrugged. "Well, for professional killers, you haven't done a very good job; I'm still alive," he said mockingly.

Derek smiled, a portrait of evil. "Not for much longer, I'm afraid," he replied.

Jim heard Simon calling for a trace to be put on the line. He smiled. He knew that the calls to the number he'd dialed were automatically recorded, as a security measure. "Good Blair, Simon's listening now, they're trying to find you. Just keep Wallace talking," Jim said, coming to stand beside his love.

Derek was speaking again. "Yes, I still can't figure out how you're still alive, Mr. Sandburg," he said quietly. "You must be the luckiest person on the face of the earth. I still don't understand how I missed you at the University; I'm the best shot in the family!" Derek shook his head. "Really makes you wonder about what they say about Guardian Angels, eh?" Wallace grinned.

Blair glanced up at Jim, and managed a feeble smile. Jim returned it, laying his hand lightly on Blair's shoulder.

Wallace didn't notice the smile as he continued, "I mean, when Liam decided to take out you and your partner, we never expected that you would be the difficult one to dispose of." He sighed, and raised his hands. "Quite a disappointment, Ellison was," he said. "Liam really was hoping for more suffering. I told him a fire bomb would be too quick, but he never listens to me." Wallace sighed as Blair glared at him. "Perhaps your death will be a little more gratifying," he added with a grin.

Jim trained his ears on the phone again, and heard Simon ordering all available units to the address they were at. The trace had been successful. "Hang on Blair, help is on the way," he said, squeezing Blair's shoulder. He smiled as Blair leaned into his arm a little. "You're doing fine," Jim added, leaning down to kiss the top of Blair's head.

"Your brother didn't kill James Ellison, that was an accident!" Blair said loudly, hoping his voice was carrying through the phone line. Derek rose to his bait.

Derek chortled. "You really are naive, little Blair," He said, moving to stroke the young man's curls again. "I made the bomb that killed your partner myself!" He said proudly.

"You son of a bitch," Blair snarled at Derek. "You and your brother are going to hang for what you've done. And that bastard Marcus is going to rot in pris... ungh!" Blair's sentence was snapped off by Derek's hand striking his face again. Blair's head jerked back with the force of the blow, and as he recovered, he saw Jim glaring at Derek.

"Hang?" Derek laughed and folded his arms. "Young man, do you know how many people met with unfortunate accidents before your partner?" Wallace sneered as he moved to look out the window at the water. "I hate to disappoint you, Mr. Sandburg, but the Cascade PD has yet to directly attach my brother or me to a single crime in this city. The Wallace clan is far too careful." Derek suddenly looked thoughtful, and moved to peer out the door of his office. "Ian? Marty?" he called.

"Uh oh," Jim muttered. He stepped out of the way again as Derek came to kneel next to Blair. Jim's fists balled up in anticipation, but the thug only replaced Blair's gag before moving out of the office and down the hall. The second the footsteps rounded the corner, Jim removed the gag again.

"What did you do to them?" Blair asked, as Jim studied his face where Derek had belted him.

"I'll kill him," Jim murmured, eyeing the angry bruise blooming to life on his love's cheekbone. Then, to answer Blair's question, he added, "I knocked them out and hid them in the storage closet, Chief." He ran his fingertips soothingly over the bruise. "Are you all right?"

Blair nodded. "How long do you think it will take for Simon and the others to get here?" he asked quietly. The blue eyes were wide as they gazed into Jim's.

"Not long, I hope," Jim replied. "It didn't take long to get here, from the loft." Jim moved to look out into the hall. "You just hang tight, everything will be fine," he said reassuringly.

Blair sighed, then looked up at Jim as his big lover turned to him again. "Jim?" he said softly.

Jim came to kneel beside him. "Yes, Blair?"

Blair swallowed hard. "I'm glad you're here." Blair closed his eyes as he felt tears welling up again. He sighed as he felt Jim's arms come around him, holding him close despite his bonds. "I love you, Jim," he whispered. "I wanted you to know, just in case anything happens to me... " Blair was stopped by Jim's lips gently closing over his.

"Shhhh," Jim soothed as their lips parted. "Nothing's going to happen to you, baby." He brushed the hair tenderly back from Blair's face. "I'll protect you.... That's why I'm here," Jim's head snapped up at the sound of a distant closet opening, followed by a groan. "Blair," he said, "It sounds like Wallace's men may have recovered. I should go check...," Jim trailed off, looking in regret at Blair's frightened eyes.

"Go on," Blair said, putting on a brave face. "I'll be all right." He managed a shaky smile as Jim got to his feet.

"I'll be back before Derek returns," Jim said. He moved toward the door.

"Jim!" Blair called.

Jim turned. Blair pointed with his chin at the gag in Jim's hand. Jim looked at it, then crossed to kneel before Blair. Blair opened his mouth, and Jim sighed. "Sorry," he whispered, gently stuffing the handkerchief into his love's mouth. Jim stood up strode out the door.

Blair listened as Jim's footsteps faded. All was silent for a few minutes, and Blair nearly fell asleep, despite his fear and the cord cutting into his wrists. Then the sound of returning footsteps jolted him awake. He lifted his head with a sigh of relief, expecting to see Jim entering the office. His heart fell as Derek Wallace appeared in the doorway.

"Did my men come back in here while I was gone?" he asked Blair. The young man shook his head. Derek sighed. "That's odd... I wonder where they...," Suddenly, Derek's gaze drifted to his desk, and he saw the telephone off it's hook. The thug shot a look at his bound and gagged prisoner as he crossed, and carefully lifted the phone. "Hello?" he said quietly. There was no answer. Derek laid the phone back down, shaking his head. He looked carefully at Blair. "You sure nobody came in here?"

Blair shook his head again, wondering if Derek could hear his heart pounding in terror. His eyes widened as he watched Derek slowly lift the handset to his ear, and press the redial button.Oh shit...,

Derek listened breathlessly as the unfamiliar set of tones dialed. The phone rang three times, then a female voice answered.

"Captain Banks' office."

Derek slammed the phone down. He turned to his prisoner, about to demand an explanation, when an unmistakable sound reached his ears. Sirens. Wallace ran to the window and stared in horror as half a dozen police cars came screaming up to the building. "Shit!" he shouted. He turned to his young prisoner, drawing a handgun from under his coat.

Blair struggled as Derek crossed the room to kneel beside him. He closed his eyes as he felt the gun pressed to his head, expecting to feel a bullet enter his brain. He was surprised as he felt Derek's free hand loosening the cord binding him to the chair. Blair opened his eyes to see Derek's face, white with fear and sweating. The man untied him from the chair, but left his wrists bound behind his back.

Derek stood, pulling Blair up by the front of his shirt. "Sorry kid," he muttered as he threw the slim body over his shoulder. "But you're my ticket out of here." Derek stood, carrying his hostage out the door and down the hall.

Blair groaned into the gag as he felt the blood rushing to his head. God, how he hated being carried like this. He winced as Wallace's hard shoulder dug into his belly. They turned at the end of the hall, and Blair heard a familiar voice cry out.

"POLICE, FREEZE!"

It was Simon! Blair tried to struggle, and Wallace tightened his grip on him. Blair closed his eyes as he heard the thug fire a few shots, praying no one would be hurt while trying to save him. Then Derek's voice rang out.

"You back off! I'll kill him!"

Blair's heart sank as he heard Simon telling his men to lower their weapons. The Captain told Wallace it was over, he had nowhere to go. Derek responded by emptying his gun in the direction of Simon's voice. Blair heard the click of the empty chamber just as Derek cursed.

Derek Wallace was panicking. Simon eased his men back, yelling for them to take cover as the bastard began firing wildly at them. Simon didn't order return fire; they couldn't risk hitting Sandburg. He watched helplessly as Derek disappeared through the door into the stairwell.

"Keep the exits covered," Simon ordered. "I'm going after them!" The Captain charged to the door, listened, then ducked through holding his gun at the ready. He heard the sound of footsteps above him, and followed. Looked like Derek was heading for the roof. And from there, there was only one way down.

Jim heard the sirens as he was re-disposing of Wallace's thugs, this time not only knocking them out, but tying them up as well. He was just heading back to Wallace's office when he heard it; Wallace's voice warning someone to back off, threatening to kill. Jim's heart sank, and he broke into a run as he realized who's life Derek was threatening.

Blair kicked and struggled as Derek carried him up the stairs. He managed to shrug the gag off as they started up the fifth flight of stairs. "JIM!" he cried. "JIM, HELP!!!" He didn't know where Jim was, but hopefully his Angel's superior hearing would lead him to Blair. "JIM PLEASE, HELP ME!!!" he screamed.

"Shut up, you little bastard!" Derek snarled, reaching up to punch Blair in the kidneys. He grinned as the young man groaned, and fell silent. Derek shifted the young man, then shouldered his way through the door that opened out onto the roof of the building. He moved across the tar surface, looking all around for any signs of cops. He sighed in relief.

Blair's kidneys were throbbing from Derek's blow, and the pain increased as he was dumped ungracefully onto the roof. He landed with a thud, and looked up in terror at Wallace. The thug was looking over the edge of the roof.

Wallace visually measured the distance between this roof and the one of the building next door. He could jump it, he decided. But only if he wasn't carrying anything. He turned to grin at Sandburg, and shrugged. "Well," he said. "Looks I won't be needing your services anymore, kid." Wallace was reloading his gun as he spoke. "You should be thankful really. This death is going to be a lot faster than the one I hoping for." Wallace aimed the gun between the lovely blue eyes. "So long kid...," Wallace's finger squeezed the trigger.

Blair closed his eyes, but the shot never came. Instead he heard Wallace gasp in pain and terror. Blair opened his eyes. Jim was holding Wallace's wrist, keeping the gun pointed at the sky. Wallace's eyes were as big as saucers as he stared at his hand, feeling but not seeing the invisible fingers of one pissed-off Guardian Angel. Blair gave a great sigh of relief, actually grinning a little at the look on Derek's face.

Jim glared at Derek, iron fingers gripping the bastard's wrist like a vise. The steely blue gaze turned to focus on his love, lying bound but safe, a few feet away. "Are you all right?" He asked. He was relieved as Blair nodded, smiling. "Shall I kill him, Blair?" Jim asked.

"No," Blair said. He thought for a moment as he struggled into a sitting position. "Hang him off the roof," Blair suggested, grinning at the plan that suddenly popped into his head.

Jim grinned at Blair. He wrenched the gun from Wallace's now-limp hand, then reached down and grabbed the guy's ankles. Jim swung Wallace out to dangle upside-down over the abyss, stretching his wings out behind him for balance. Wallace screamed.

"Ohhhhhh no! Oh dear God no please don't let me fall! Don't let me fall!" Some unseen force had him suspended in space, perhaps ready to drop him at any moment. He closed his eyes in terror, then listened as Sandburg began to speak to him.

"Derek," Blair called. "Derek, listen to me. You are being held by the ghost of Detective James Ellison." Blair watched Wallace's reaction. The thug turned his head to stare at Sandburg, eyes wide. Blair nodded. "I am totally serious, man. It's the ghost of the police officer you and your brother killed," Blair paused and studied Jim's face. "And I gotta tell you man, he's MAD!"

Jim bit back a laugh as Derek began to bawl like a baby. "Keep it going Blair, I think you're onto something here!"

Blair smiled. "Now Derek, you don't want to get dropped, right?"

"Uh uh..." came the pathetic whimper.

"Good," Blair said. "Now listen carefully; You and your brothers have done some very bad things. That's why Ellison is here to haunt you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes! Please!"

"Here's the deal," Blair continued. "You're going to be arrested now. When you go to the police station, the nice police officers are gonna ask you questions about those bad things. You are going to tell them everything you and your brothers have done, in detail. You are especially going to tell them what Liam did to detective Ellison. If you don't do this, Ellison will come after you again. Is that clear?"

"All right! I'll talk! Just please, make him go away!" Derek was becoming hysterical.

"What do you say Jim, do you believe him?" Blair asked, trying not to laugh.

Jim smiled at Blair, and nodded. "Oh... I think we've made an honest man out of him, baby." Jim swung Wallace back onto the roof, then knelt and sent him into oblivion with a right hook. Then he crossed quickly to Blair, knelt, and wrapped his arms around his courageous young lover. "Did he hurt you?" he asked into Blair's curls, enfolding the young man inside his wings.

"I'm all right," Blair said, snuggling against Jim. He flinched at the sound of the rooftop door being kicked open. He and Jim both whirled, then relaxed as they saw Simon striding toward them. "Hi Captain!" Blair called cheerfully as Jim stood up and moved out of the way.

Simon kept his gun trained on the limp body of Derek Wallace as he came to kneel beside Sandburg. The kid was still bound, and bruised, but looked fine otherwise. After cuffing Wallace, Simon began to untie the young man. He looked in confusion from Blair's bound wrists to the unconscious criminal. "OK, Sandburg," he muttered. "You wanna tell me how you managed that?" he asked, gesturing at Wallace.

Blair looked up at his invisible protector. Jim just shrugged. "Time to obfuscate, Chief," he said with a grin.

"He tripped, Simon," Blair said simply.

Simon finished untying the young man, and fixed him with a distrustful gaze. "Tripped, huh?" he asked.

Blair just smiled.

Blair spent the whole day following his rescue at the station. Derek Wallace sang like a bird when the police questioned him, just as he had promised to do on the roof. Now he was in custody without bail, and the police were looking for Liam. Derek was helpful enough to give the police a long list of possible locations where his brother might have gone into hiding after learning of Derek's arrest. Blair agreed to testify against the brothers, and Simon was very proud of how he had handled himself during his ordeal.

The mysterious package that Blair had been so upset by had turned out to be a bomb. A fire bomb containing the same components as were found at the sight of Jim's death, which Derek had taken credit for. Taggart had fortunately recognized the swirly, fancy-looking lettering of the address as the parcel sat innocently on Simon's desk. It was just like the mail bomb he'd diffused a week ago at Brighton's Cleaners. The package had been delivered to the business not long after Alan Brighton had refused the 'Protection Services' offered to him by Liam Wallace. Brighton had been suspicious, and that suspicion had saved his life. Just like Jim had saved Blair's by scaring him away from opening the package. Blair trembled when he realized just how close he'd been to death that day.

After a day of reports and paperwork, and telling his story over and over to every single soul at the precinct, it seemed, Blair was ready to go home. Jim had stayed out of sight pretty much all day, resting from his bullet wound, and now as Blair climbed the stairs to 307, his heart was racing in anticipation of seeing his Angel. He entered the loft, out of breath with excitement. They excitement faltered when he saw the dark, empty loft.

Blair closed the door behind him and dropped his keys into the basket on the table. "Jim?" he called, looking around the loft. He didn't see his Guardian Angel around, so he moved into his room to put his backpack away. As he entered the small bedroom, Blair saw something on his bed. He dropped the backpack on his desk chair and moved to pick up the piece of paper. It was a note. In Jim's handwriting, it said:

Put these on and come up to the roof. I have something special in mind. Love, Jim

Blair grinned. Special huh? He studied the clothes Jim had laid out for him. His black jeans, dark as midnight, and a matching long sleeved sweatshirt. Blair laid the note aside and quickly changed into the black garments, wondering what his Guardian Angel had planned for him.

Continue on to Part 4