"Hey Ellison, you old dog!"

Jim looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. "Pete?" he asked in disbelief, slowly rising from his desk. A slow grin spread across his face as he crossed the bullpen of Major crimes to embrace his old buddy.

Jim had last seen Pete right before he left for boot camp. It was years ago, but seeing his friend standing there before him made it seem like only yesterday. Pete looked just the way he had then, close cropped blond hair, lantern jaw, crooked nose (from being broken several times), and built like a brick shithouse.

"Still losing your hair, I see," Pete joked, as he pounded Jim on the back. Men hurt each other when they hugged; it was one of the rules. After forcefully showering Jim with affection, the larger man pulled back and gave his friend a once-over.

"Hmm.... Gotten kinda skinny since I saw you last," he teased, poking Jim in the ribs.

"Yeah, well...," Jim laughed, still in awe at the sight of this blast from the past. He and Pete had been inseparable in college. Together, they had kept the entire campus on its toes with their never-ending pranks.

"What's the matter, letting Carolyn try to cook again?" Pete pretended to gag himself with a finger, laughing.

"Actually," Jim said, wincing, "We're divorced." He smiled a little as Pete's face fell.

"Aw shit, I'm sorry El," Pete muttered. He sighed and shook his head. "What a moron I am...,"

"No no," Jim said waving a hand. "Don't worry about it. God knows {I} don't!" He smiled as Pete laughed again, but felt a twinge of guilt at dishing Carolyn like that. What was with him? Jim shook it off, and addressed Pete again.

"So, what the hell are you doing here in Cascade?" Jim asked, draping an arm around the taller man's shoulders and guiding him over to his desk.

Pete just smiled again. "Oh, just checking up on an old flame.... You know!" He bobbed his eyebrows at Jim in a conspiratorial way.

"Ahhh," Jim said, nodding. "Anyone I know?"

"Naw," Pete replied. "From after you left." He chuckled, low in his throat. "YOUR loss, by the way!"

"I'll bet, knowing your track record with the weaker sex," Jim laughed. {Weaker sex? Did I really say that?} Just then, Captain Banks' office door opened, and the tall, dark-skinned man stepped out, heading for Jim.

"Hey, Jim!" Simon called. He stepped up to the desk and looked inquisitively at the stranger. "Hello," he said, offering his hand. "Captain Simon Banks."

Pete looked at the offered palm for just a moment longer than was normal. Then he reached out and limply shook Simon's hand. "Pete Hanson," he said coolly.

If Simon noticed the tone, he didn't acknowledge it. He smiled cordially at Pete, then turned to Jim.

"Hey, Jim, I was wondering if you could see me later about the Mirez case? I have some questions about your report." With a final nod at Jim's friend, Simon returned to his office.

Jim had watched the exchange with a growing feeling of unease. There had been an undeniable look of distaste in Pete's eyes at Simon's presence. Almost as if....

{Don't go there, Jim,} he thought to himself. No use in seeing trouble where there wasn't any. He must have imagined it. Pete was his friend, after all.

"Hey, you awake?" Pete asked, shaking Jim's arm.

Jim snapped back to reality. "Yeah, yeah, sorry. Must've zoned for a moment." He gave an ingratiating smile. Man, it was good to see Pete again!

"So, I gotta split right now, El," Pete said, checking his watch. "What say we meet for a beer tonight, reminisce, you know?" Pete grinned, showing perfect teeth.

Jim thought about it, trying to remember if he had anything planned tonight. He had a nagging suspicion that there was something, but it eluded him. Deducting that it couldn't be very important, if he couldn't remember what it was, Jim smiled and nodded.

"Sure, Pete. That sounds great. Why don't we meet at Pearson's Tavern at eight tonight?" Jim quickly wrote down directions and an address on a slip of paper before passing it to the bigger man.

"Great! Later!" Pete called, turning to leave.

Jim watched him go, smiling and shaking his head. Man, it was something, seeing him again. He turned to go back to his desk.

"Hey, watch it!"

Jim's head snapped around at Pete's exclamation. He turned to see Blair on his knees just outside the elevator, hurriedly gathering up a flurry of scattered papers as Pete stood over him. Jim started toward them, then froze as Pete's voice reached his ears.

"Little twerp. Why weren't you watching where you were going?" Pete said sharply.

"I'm sorry," Blair stammered up. "I didn't see...,"

"Well, if you hadn't had your nose buried in those documents, maybe you would have...,"

Jim just stood there, not knowing what to do. True, Pete had always been gruff with people. Usually Jim would just chalk the behavior up to Pete's character, and not let it bother him. Pete was his friend, after all.

But for some reason, the contempt Pete was showing his partner filled the Sentinel with discomfort. He was just about to step in and put an end to Pete's rant, when it dissolved on its own.

"Yeah, well, you just watch your step, little man. This world is made for big people. Your kind can get hurt if they aren't careful!" With a final sneer, Pete turned on his heel and disappeared into the elevator.

Blair just stood there as the elevator doors closed, wondering which deity's bad side he'd gotten on. After a moment, he shrugged, and turned to slowly shuffle into the bullpen. When he saw Jim, his face brightened.

"Hi Jim!" Blair called. He smiled at his big friend as Jim walked over to meet him.

"Hi Chief," Jim replied. He laid a hand on his partner's shoulder, and frowned when he felt the nervous tremors there. "You OK?" Jim asked softly, turning to follow Blair back to his desk.

Blair blinked in surprise. He hadn't realized his little ordeal had been noticed by anyone. Of course, he reasoned, there wasn't too much that got by the Sentinel.

"I'm fine," Blair said softly. "We all have to deal with someone like that once in a while, it's just...,"

"Yo, Ellison!"

Jim and Blair looked up. Pete was striding toward them again. His gaze settled on Blair, and his face darkened noticeably.

"Back so soon?" Jim asked, moving instinctively between Pete and Blair. True, Pete was his friend, but he wasn't going to stand for him showing Blair any more disrespect.

"Forgot my coat," Pete said, smiling as he turned his attention to Ellison.

"I got it," Blair said. He grabbed the coat from the back of Jim's chair, and handed it across to Pete with a smile. He was trying to smooth over his and Pete's earlier confrontation.

"Thanks," Pete said, not looking at Blair. He all but snatched the garment out of the young man's hand, before calmly turning his back on him, facing Ellison.

"So, see you later?" Pete asked with a smile.

"Yeah, sure," Jim replied, forcing himself to return the smile. Pete was his friend, after all.

"Great, catch you at the pub, El!" Pete called over his shoulder as he moved away.

"El?" Blair repeated. "You don't mind being referred to as a Spanish definite article?"

Jim snickered a little, still watching Pete as the other man disappeared into the elevator.

"Jim," Blair asked softly, "Did I do something to piss you off?"

Jim started, and turned to face his young partner. "Piss me off? Why do you ask, Chief?" Jim was surprised to hear Blair's heart beating faster than usual, and to see a faint flush in the anthropologist's face. The young man seemed quite upset.

"Hey," Jim said, laying a hand on Blair's arm. "Don't let Pete bother you. Really. He treats everyone like that. It's just his nature." Jim tried to make light of the situation, trying to make Blair understand. Pete was his friend, after all.

"You're going out with him tonight." Blair said softly, lowering his eyes to look at the floor.

Jim was confused. "Yeah, so? He's my friend." Jim was confused at Blair's behavior. Then it hit him.

"Are you jealous, Chief?" Jim asked. He smiled a little as Blair stiffened, thinking he'd figured it out. The smile vanished when Blair met his eyes again with a look of disbelieving hurt.

"Jealous?" Blair asked blankly. "Jim... I... you said... I mean," Blair stopped to take a deep breath. "I thought you and I were going to the see The Highlander at the Cineplex tonight," he said, almost inaudibly.

Jim's jaw dropped. "Oh my God, your birthday!" he gasped. He had agreed to join Blair for a special showing of The Highlander tonight, to celebrate Blair's 27th birthday. Blair had been looking forward to it for weeks. He was a huge fan of the movie and television show, and wanted Jim to join him.

"Oh Chief, geez. I forgot!" Jim held his head in his hands. He was such a jerk. "I'm sorry, kid, I knew there was something I had to do tonight."

Blair just looked at him, trying to come off as cold and unemotional, but looking more as if Jim had just shot his dog. He never could hide his emotions.

"That's all right, man," Blair said softly, trying to keep his voice steady. "You go ahead and have a good time with... with your friend." With that, Blair turned on his heel and strode quickly out of the bullpen.

Jim just stared after him in despair.

Blair quietly ate his dinner alone, automatically saving a plate for Jim before cleaning up the kitchen. He'd called everyone he knew, trying to find someone to go to the movie with him, but everyone seemed to have other plans. Blair didn't blame them; he hadn't told anyone but Jim that it was his birthday.

After hanging up the phone for the last time, Blair decided to just spend the evening by himself. He didn't want to go to the movie by himself, too darned depressing. Not that sitting at home was going to be much better.

He was hurt. He hadn't told Jim at the precinct, but Jim had really hurt his feelings today. First, for defending Pete's behavior, although Blair could understand that part; friendship could do weird things to a person. Still, it felt strange that Jim hadn't seemed to care that Pete was cheerfully treating Blair like dirt.

Then forgetting the birthday plans he'd made with Blair, opting instead to go drinking with Pete.... That hurt, a lot.

Blair sank slowly down onto the couch and looked at the clock. A part of his mind had hoped that Jim would blow off Pete after all, and come home to go to the movie with him. But it was way past the time that Jim usually got home. Blair sighed as he accepted it; he and his birthday were playing second fiddle to Jim's mean spirited old friend.

Blair sat there stewing for a few minutes. Soon, he was just plain seething. What the hell was wrong with Jim? Didn't he give a crap about his Guide anymore? Blair's jaw dropped as he suddenly realized that the inevitable had happened.

Jim no longer needed him.

It was so simple, once he accepted it. Jim had stopped caring about him because he could now control his Sentinel abilities on his own. Blair had become a fifth wheel. Slowly, Blair got to his feet and headed into his room. Well, if he wasn't needed anymore....

Jim jogged up the stairs to 307, and set his parcels down outside the door as he reached for his keys. He hadn't meant to be so late, but it had taken him awhile to find the birthday gift he'd been hunting for. He found his key, and moved to unlock the door. Blair would be out by now, no doubt, probably having found a group of friends to paint the town with.

Jim extended his hand with the key, and jumped a little as the door was opened from within. He looked up, and his greeting died on his lips when he saw Blair. The young man had an enormous bag hefted on his shoulder, and a guilty look on his face. Jim's heart dropped into his feet when he realized what was going on. Blair was leaving. Because of him.

"Chief?" Jim asked, moving forward. Blair had to either retreat or be trod on. He chose retreat, letting the duffel drop to the floor with a thud as he turned away from Jim.

"What are you doing home already?" Blair asked softly. "I thought you and Pete were gonna be out all night." He kept his back to Jim, not wanting his emotions to get the better of him.

"I told Pete that something more important had come up," Jim replied, moving into the loft and shutting the door behind him.

"And what's that?" Blair asked.

"You, of course," Jim said, grinning. "We had plans to go to the movies, right?" He looked down at the bag on the floor. "What's with the bag?" he asked carefully. Maybe he was mistaken. Maybe Blair was just going out to do his laundry or something.

Blair sighed, narrow shoulders heaving. "I'm leaving," he said simply.

"What? Why!?" Jim gasped. It was a shock to hear Blair say it out loud. Quickly, Jim came to stand in front of the young man. "Blair?" he asked desperately.

Blair turned, trying to avoid Ellison's gaze. He'd been ready to storm out. He knew he'd be able to do it, as long as he didn't have to see Jim's face. If he could just get to the door without seeing the helplessness on his friend's face, the same helplessness he could hear in his voice....

"Why?" Blair parroted, carefully sidestepping Jim to head for the door. He hefted the bag onto his shoulder again. "Because you don't need me, man."

Jim grabbed Blair by shoulders and gently, but firmly turned the young man to face him. "Why do you think I don't need you, Blair?" he asked softly.

Blair closed his eyes. "Well, do you?" he asked.

Jim was lost for words. Of course he needed Blair. How could the kid think he didn't need him?

Blair took Jim's pause as a no. Quickly, he turned and darted toward the door, feeling tears beginning to well up in his eyes. He almost made it.

Jim was still lost in the idea that Blair could feel he wasn't important. Cripes, Jim would be hard pressed to find anything in his life that was MORE important than Blair. Jim's head shot up as his young friend bolted for the door.

"Wait!" Jim said sharply. He lunged forward and took hold of Blair's arm as the young man was opening the door.

"Let me go!" Blair demanded, shrugging out of Jim's grip. His duffel dropped off his shoulder in the struggle. With a muffled curse, Blair bent over to pick it up, which turned out to be a mistake. He yelped in indignation as Jim's arms suddenly seized him around the waist and lifted him off the ground.

"Put me down!" Blair shouted, struggling in the strong arms.

Jim kicked the door shut, so the neighbors wouldn't be disturbed by Blair's yelling. Then he half dragged, half carried the young man over to the coat rack. Blair continued to struggle as Jim turned him, and picked him up under his arms.

"I said, put me down, dammit!" Blair cried, with less conviction. He knew Jim was way too strong for him. Resigned, he stopped struggling. He looked up in surprise to see Jim standing a few feet away with folded arms, just looking at him. Then who was holding him off the ground?

Blair looked back, and sighed. Jim had hung him up on one of the coat hooks. His feet dangled about twelve inches off the floor. Blair twisted a bit, and felt the pull on his collar.

"This is gonna ruin my sweater, man," Blair growled angrily. He folded his arms in a cheeky mirroring of Jim's pose.

"I'll buy you a new one," Jim replied softly. He walked forward, studying his subdued partner. "Are you calm yet?" he asked in that maddeningly gentle voice.

"Yes," Blair said succinctly. "I am calm. May I get down now?"

"That depends," Jim replied. "Are you going to make a dash for the door again?"

"Maybe." Blair said snootily.

Jim held up his hands. "Fine, you can hang up there all night then." He turned and headed for the stairs leading up to his bedroom. "Maybe by tomorrow morning you'll have cooled down a bit."

"Wait, all right, all right," Blair called, defeated. It was humiliating being hung up like this. His shoulders were pulled up level with his ears and his belly-button was exposed to the world, thanks to the pull on the collar of his sweater.

Jim came forward and seized Blair by the ribcage. "You promise not to run away?" he asked. Blair nodded, closing his eyes, lower lip trembling. With a sigh, Jim lifted his young friend off the coat hook, and gently deposited him on the floor.

Blair moved quickly away from the big man, but made a point to move away from the front door. He walked across the loft, leaving a wide circle of space around Ellison, and roughly opened the balcony door. He stepped outside and willed the cool night air to dry the tears he felt streaming down his face before Jim saw them.

Ellison slowly followed Blair out onto the balcony. He stood a few feet behind the young man, feeling a lump in his throat at the soft sniffling. Blair was trying to keep his tears quiet, Jim could tell. But it was hard to hide things from a Sentinel.

He let Blair cry for a few minutes, then slowly stepped forward to lay a hand on one of the narrow shoulders. He waited, but Blair didn't shrug him off. After another minute, Jim took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Blair," He began. "Let me first say that I am so, so sorry about Pete." Jim sighed. "He was being a prick to you. And the fact that I just stood by and let it happen makes me an even more colossal prick." Jim shook his head. True, Pete was his friend. But so was Blair. "Keep going, you're doing fine," Blair muttered, reaching up to brush the tears from his face. He actually grinned a little as he heard Jim chuckle behind him.

"And forgetting about our plans tonight, that was just plain unacceptable," Jim continued. "I don't blame you for being pissed off at me, kid." He took a deep breath, wondering how to say what he was feeling.

"I... I don't know what happened, Chief." Jim said softly. "It was like, I saw Pete and suddenly we were back in college again. These two incorrigible boneheads who got off on causing other people trouble." Jim gave the shoulder under his hand a gentle squeeze.

"I guess I just didn't realize back then what a creep Pete was, because I was one myself." Jim said sadly. "And today, by treating you that way, I realized that Pete has stayed a creep. He's just an older, more respected creep." Jim smiled as he heard Blair chuckle a little.

"You're not a creep, Jim," Blair said gently.

"Thanks Chief," Jim replied. "I think I needed to hear that from you." He smiled as Blair turned around to face him. "Are you sure about that, though?" he asked the young man.

Blair sighed, looking up at the stars. "Jim, I think maybe I over reacted a little, you know?" he began.

Jim shook his head. "No Blair, you reacted the way any friend would, if they'd been treated the way I treated you."

Blair shrugged. "But Pete's your friend too, man," he said. "He's important to you...," he trailed off as Jim shook his head firmly.

"No Blair.... YOU are who's important. You're a better friend to me than Pete ever was." Jim reached down and framed his friend's face in his hands, tilting it up so Blair was forced to look into his eyes. The big man opened his mouth, then hesitated, worried that he was going to sound too mushy. Another look at the tears still shining in Blair's eyes helped him decide.

"Listen," Jim began softly, 'I know I may not always show it, Chief. I was brought up not to be emotional, you know? Dad thought emotions were a sign of weakness." Jim paused, and gently slapped Blair's face with his palms in his now-famous gesture of affection. He moved his hands to the young man's shoulders, feeling the tiny tremors there.

The next time Jim spoke, his voice was soft, almost a whisper. "But, you're the most important thing in the world to me, Blair. You mean more to me than anything, even my own life." Jim stopped to let the words sink in, and heard Blair's heart begin to accelerate.

"I ask myself every day what I could have done to deserve having you for my friend," Jim continued, "Since I can't seem to recall having saved the universe anytime recently." he smiled ingratiatingly.

Blair rolled his eyes. With a sigh, Jim pulled him into his arms and hugged him against his chest.

"This is probably going to embarrass the hell out of you to hear," Jim said. Blair immediately tried to pull away, but Jim tightened his grip. He planted one hand firmly on the back of Blair's head and pulled the young man's face against his chest.

"But you're going to have to deal with it." Jim laid his cheek on top of Blair's head. "I love you, Blair." Jim closed his eyes as he heard Blair inhale deeply, then felt the smaller man's arms wrap around and hold tight. Jim smiled.

"I mean, I'm not talking wedding bells here," he continued, grinning as muffled laughter rumbled up from the face buried in his shirt. "But I mean it Chief. I love you so much. Those are the only words that really cover it, you know?" Jim sighed as he rubbed his hands over Blair's back.

"My muh vew too vrim,"

Jim looked down. "What was that?" he asked, leaning back a bit.

Blair pulled his face out of Jim's chest, flexing the muscles of his cheeks and brow, causing the larger man to chuckle.

"Sorry, was I squishing your face?" Jim asked sheepishly.

Blair nodded. "I said, I love you too, Jim." He smiled gently, then blushed. He looked around the balcony then. "We oughta break it up man, people will talk." Blair said, pulling away.

"Right Chief," Jim agreed. He patted Blair's back one last time, then turned him and followed him back into the loft.

"So," Blair began hesitantly. "Would you still like to go to the movie?" He checked his watch. "We can still make it." Blair looked hopefully up at his friend.

Jim thought about it, then nodded. "Sure Chief, but there's something else I need to do first." Jim crossed to the front door, opened it, and reached out into the hall for the parcels he'd left there when he came in. He carried the two boxes over and laid the longer of the two in Blair's hands.

Blair looked down at the gift, eyes widening. "What is it?" he asked excitedly, looking up at Jim.

Jim grinned. "Open it and find out."

Blair smiled widely, then moved to sit on the couch. He settled the box across his lap and carefully unfastened the tape holding the lid on. He lifted the lid off, and carefully pushed aside the packing material. His breath caught in his throat.

"I hope that's the right kind," Jim said, moving to stand over his young friend. "After all, I know almost nothing about The Highlander, only saw one episode of the TV show."

Blair didn't hear. Reverently, he lifted the Katana out of the box. He turned it over in his hands, studying the glossy jet black ebony sheath with its intricate cloisonné accents at the tip and on the handle. Carefully, he seized the handle and drew out the long blade, smiling as the light bounced off the shiny metal and onto his face. He looked up at Jim, trying to form words.

"Jim... I," Blair began. "It's.... This is just... so...," Blair had to stop and think of how he could put it into words. "Thank you," he said at last, gently replacing the sword in its sheath and laying it back in the box.

"You're welcome, Chief," Jim said, smiling almost as widely as Blair. "Oh here," he said, lifting the second box. he opened it, and held up the classy, darkwood display rack. "I got you this, so we can hang it up. I'll help you put it up tomorrow, OK?" Jim set the rack down against the couch.

"OK, Jim," Blair squeaked, still looking at the magnificent gift.

"You all right, kid?" Jim asked, noting the odd tone of Blair's voice.

"Yeah," Blair said faintly, laying the box containing the Katana aside, and standing up before Jim.

Jim saw that Blair was flushed red in the face, and grinned. He had a feeling that Blair wasn't used to getting gifts. The grin widened into a broad smile when Blair suddenly stepped forward and threw his arms around him. Jim actually grunted a little as the embrace began to cut off his air.

"Whoa," he gasped, reaching one hand to pet the back of the curl-covered head pressed against his chest. "Don't break any ribs, will you Chief?" Jim smiled as the young man laughed. Blair let go and pulled back. Jim wrapped an arm around his partner's neck, yanked him forward, and planted a great big smacker of a kiss right on his forehead. Blair laughed.

"Come on, buddy," Jim said, guiding Blair toward the door. "We need to hustle if we're gonna get there in time." Jim held the door open for his partner, then locked it up and followed Blair down the stairs.

"You're gonna love this Jim," Blair said excitedly. "Sean Connery, is like, AMAZING in this movie!"

"Well," Jim said, as they reached the sidewalk, "You've gotta explain this whole Immortal thing to me before we get there. I still say, if you can kill them by cutting their heads off, they aren't immortal!" Jim laughed as Blair gave an exasperated sigh.

"Oh man! How many times do we have to go through this?" Blair began to explain for the tenth time, the idea of Immortals.

Jim just watched Blair talk as they moved along the sidewalk together. The young man was animated, waving his hands to punctuate every phrase. People passing by gave the two of them funny looks, but

Jim didn't care a bit.

Blair was his friend, after all.

THE END