walters little world

~*~*~*~
Title: The Ring
Author/pseudonym: Squidgie (Walter H. Hopgood)
Email address: walterh@squidge.org
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: J/B

Status: NEW
Date: 2/28/98
Archive: YES to Merry and Michelle
Archive author: Squidgie
Archive email address: walterh@squidge.org
Series/Sequel: Part of the Panda series 
Other website: http://www.meer.net/~walterh/walter/

Disclaimers: I don't own Jim or Blair - they're owned by UPN and Pet
Fly. However, I *do* make many trips up to Vancouver, and if the
boys just happen to make their way back home with me in my suitcase,
I promise to send them back relatively unharmed. :)

Notes: This is dedicated to my Panda.  This story is the second in a
series called "The Panda Series."  Each story is a standalone, but 
contains a panda in some way.  The first of this series was titled
"The Bear."  Big old bear-hugs to you, ShelBear!  You're a great
influence on me, and a wonderful editor!  This is my second
Sentinel story.  Feedback is wanted desperately (or I'll send you 
an email chain letter!  Bwahahahahahaha!!!)

Summary: It's just a Jim and Blair story

Warnings: None, unless you don't like romance.  There is no sex in
this, but there is a steamy scene.  :)
~*~*~*~

The blue and white truck pulled off of the road, turning into the
parking lot of a convenience store.  "Sure, Chief, whatever.  When they
start carrying whole wheat, organic Twinkies at Whole Foods, I'll
buy them there.  Until then," Jim pulled his keys from the ignition,
turning to Blair and giving him a flat expression, "after you buy
groceries, I get to stop here and pick up my junk food."

A sigh escaped Blair's lips.  "Man, don't you know how *bad* those
things are for you?  Think about what that crap is doing to your
insides, Jim!"

Jim's face lit up with an innocent smile.  "Yeah, but it keeps me
looking young, Chief."  When Blair's face threw an expression that
could only mean, /Yeah, right/, Jim narrowed his eyes at him, sending
imaginary daggers right through Blair.  

Oblivious to the invisible blades penetrating his person, Blair continued
on with his tirade as they made their way in and through the store.  
"Jim, you heard about the latest findings about what preservatives are 
doing to us, haven't you?  Did you know that the average corpse is 
degrading at a rate that is 53 percent slower than corpses from the 19th 
century?  And-"

"Blair!" Jim almost yelled, "I don't really need to know this.  But
what I *do* need," he said while grabbing a few packs of Hostess'
finest, "is my own little version of heaven.  Besides you, that is,"
and shot a smile to his partner that showed he'd won, and Blair's
version of healthy cardboard "treats" were not long in finding their
way to the dumpster.

Blair wished that Jim wouldn't do that.  It was hard enough that through
the course of the last couple of years that he'd fallen head over heels
in love with him, with a healthy amount of lust thrown in for good measure.  
But when Jim teased him, unknowing of his teasing's effects, it made 
Blair's desire ache that much more.  It did, however, have the desired 
effect that Jim was going for.  Blair became flabbergasted at the remark 
and had stopped his health food tirade.

The pair made their way up to the checkout counter, which was now
a couple of people deep.  The clerk spotted them over the ten year
old, who's icy drink was dripping all over the counter and the change
he spilled out of his pocket to pay for the beverage, and shot
an instant smile towards Jim.  /Your day's looking up, Delores/ she 
thought, /Your sexy detective is here./  Delores had a thing for
the cop that started the day he walked in wearing his dress blues.
Her suggestive smile beamed at him, her eyes not hiding a bit of
desire.  Jim, never the one to take flirting well, blushed a deep 
crimson when her made up eyelid winked at him.

"She want's ya, big guy," Blair whispered to him, which made him blush
even deeper.  

"Knock it off, Ch-"

"DON'T MOVE!"  The voice came from behind them suddenly.  Everyone in
line's attention was immediately drawn to the young man, pointing a
gun at the crowd.  The man's eyes seemed desperate, almost wild.
"Give me all your money!"  All hands in the line instinctively went
up, as Blair and Jim began to scrutinize the robber, searching for
a weakness.  /Jesus/ Jim thought to himself.  /This kid's strung out
on something./  Seeing this, he knew instinctively to take the situation
easy; don't provoke the kid or he might do something stupid.

Jim began speaking slowly, quietly.  "It's OK... Why don't you-"

"SHUT UP!  Now give me all the money in the register, and everybody
give me your wallets.  You!  Behind the counter!  Put it in a bag and
pass it this way."  The kid was sweating, his eyes darting about and 
hands shaking.  He couldn't have been more than eighteen, but scared 
and desperate.  His tenseness was echoed by the people he was now
holding up.

Again, Jim tried to calm everyone down with a calm, authoritative voice.
"It's OK, everyone.  Just do as he says and he'll leave us alone."  He
reached into his pocket and retrieved his wallet, handing it to the boy
along with the others that were being offered.  Realizing that his 
situation was working as he planned, he began to shake off some of
his nervousness and reached out to grab the items offered to him.
Hands shaking just slightly, he took too big a handful, dropping a
couple to the ground.

"SHIT!" He exclaimed, pointing the gun directly at Jim.  Jim looked down,
realizing it was his wallet that had fallen, opening up and displaying
his badge prominently.  The gun, aimed directly at Jim's head, was
shaking violently.  "You a cop?" he asked, the meekness of his conviction
showing in his voice.

Jim didn't even get to utter the words.  As he began to form the word "Yes" 
on his lips, shaking his head affirmative to the question, the boy panicked
and grabbed the person nearest him, treating him as a shield between him
and the cop.  The money forgotten, he tried to back away from the group,
all the while holding his captive close to his body.

/Shit, man, not again./ Blair thought to himself.  He kept his arms up as
the robber held him by the neck, backing slowly toward the door of the 
convenience store.  His eyes locked onto Jim, his arms also still in the
air, and conveyed his panic back to Jim.  Blair and the robber were about
five feet away from the group, when the noise of an oblivious teenager
coming through the main door startled them.  The thief flung around and 
shot the gun toward the sound of the noise, sending him and Blair off
balance.  

This slight distraction was all Jim needed.  He lunged at the thief as
soon as he began to turn in a desperate attempt to control the situation.
He landed on the robber, who's arms flailed, sending the gun one direction
and Blair the other.  As Jim and the thief landed on the ground with a
thud, Blair's forehead connected with the corner of a display table with
an eerie crack, his body falling to the floor unconscious.  Panic took 
over in Jim's thoughts as he flew into Blessed Protector mode for his
guide - *his Blair*.  "Blair!?" he called, as the young man beneath him
began to stir and fuss, reality coming back to him.  He asserted his
entire weight down on the robber, adjusting only to flip the boy over,
yanking the boy's arms behind his back harshly.  "BLAIR?" he yelled 
again, inflicting pain on the robber by pulling his arms even higher, as if
punishment for what he'd done.  With all the confusion and noise, it
took all his available strength and concentration to force out everything
around him - the groaning robber beneath him, the crying child who had
been at the front of the line, the sound of a police siren that was now
about two blocks away, everything - and focus on the heartbeat of his
guide.  There it was.  It was still beating at a rapid pace, but it was
there.  

Jim breathed somewhat easier, and turned to the woman behind the counter
who was still standing there, frozen.  "Did you trip your silent alarm?"

The woman slowly came back to reality, as if in a coma and waking up for
the first time in years.  She reached under the counter, pressing the
switch.  "I..I...I just did."

/SHIT/ Jim cursed to himself.  /That must have been for somewhere else/
he thought, wishing the sound of the police car was for the store.  "Get
on the phone and call for an ambulance!  Tell them it's an officer down."
Jim knew he stood the chance of getting written up, but Sandburg *was* his
partner, and after two years on the force, most of the cops treated him
as close to a cop as they could.  He *was* one of their own, at least in
Jim's eyes.  Another struggle of the body below him brought his attention
back to the young robber.  "Do you have any rope or anything back there?"

The clerk turned to hang up the phone and shook her head at Jim.  As soon 
as the phone was in it's cradle, she moved to the sink behind her and turned
the water on, letting it wet a washcloth in the sink.  She rang it out
and went to Blair, who was just barely starting to stir.  Jim blocked
the smell of blood as best he could, and watched the woman dab at the
crimson stained gash on Blair's forehead, cooing over him slightly.  
"Shhh... It's gonna be fine," she spoke quietly to Blair.  She wiped
away as much blood as the thin, well-worn cloth could handle, then
patted Blair on the chest before getting up to rinse it out and freshen
it up.  Jim couldn't stand not being able to help his guide, but took
a little comfort in the aid the clerk was providing.

Blair began to move gently, a moan escaping his lips.  He drew his hands
up toward his head, speaking in a voice barely audible to even a
Sentinel's hearing.  "Jim?"  His hand touched his bleeding wound,
wincing in pain as he did so.  "Oh, man..."

"Don't move, Chief," Jim demanded.  "You took a nasty fall."  The clerk
knelt again at Blair's side, dabbing his head and held the cloth
in place to slow the bleeding.  "Just take it easy," he added as police
and an ambulance pulled up outside.  

Raising his arms to his sides and pushing himself up, Blair tried to
force his back from the floor.  "I'm fine, Jim," he added woozily.
"I don't need to-"

"Forget it, Chief.  You're going to get checked out by the docs, so lay
down or as soon as I get off this guy, I'll come sit on you and hold *you* 
down."  Jim shot a smile to his partner.

"Promises, promises," Blair added, weakly, and collapsed back on the
floor.

There was a flurry of activity as Jim handed off the thief to the
officers, all the while keeping at least his hearing on Blair and
the EMTs who were caring for him.  He noted all the readings that
they had been doing, showing Blair's vitals had all been within
normal parameters.  Jim told the arresting officer that he'd be in
to fill out the paperwork Monday; this was his day off, and with
that, turned his full attention to Blair.

"Jim, *please* tell them that I'm fine.  I'm just a little weak.  I
can rest at home."

Jim snorted a cautious laugh.  "No can do, Chief.  Boys?" he looked
at the EMTs, "You may have to strap him in," which brought a
laugh from the technicians.  "Chief?  You do as they say.  I'm going
to get the groceries home, then come to the hospital and check on
you, OK?"  As much as Jim wanted to ride with Blair and the EMTs,
his Blessed Protector mode doing overtime, he also didn't want to
freak Blair out.  He looked fine, and was fine from what they'd
told him.

"I *told* you I'm just a little weak.  I'll be...." Blair's face went
blank, and his head hit the small pillow with a light thud.  His eyes
rolled back into his head, and his body began to tremble, each limb
convulsing violently. 

"CHIEF?!!?" Jim yelled, bringing the technician's full attention back
to Blair.

"Shit!  Grand Malle."  The first EMT called as he grabbed Blair's head
and held it back.  "Robert, get me a mouth plate!"  The second EMT flew
back out to the ambulance as panic covered Jim's face.

"What can I do?" Jim asked the EMT, his panic showing in his voice
as it did on his face.

"Hold his legs."  Robert, the second EMT, ran back in the store, handing 
the instrument to the first EMT.  Jim watched as it was inserted into 
Blair's mouth as Blair's body continued to convulse.  "Does he have a 
history of seizures?"

Jim shook his head.  "No.  This is the first."  Jim watched as Robert
hooked each set of straps from the side of the stretcher around Blair's
body, wrapping him into a medical cocoon.  "Did his fall cause this?"

"I can't tell.  Let's roll."  The pair moved Jim out of the way and 
brought the stretcher to it's standing position, and quickly made
through the door and to the ambulance.  

In an instant Jim was running after the pair, climbing into the cab of 
the ambulance.  Robert turned to him, not knowing the full extent of
the pair.  "Are you his next of kin?"

A shot of pain ran through Jim's body at the words, and he winced
slightly.  "I'm his partner," he offered firmly.  His eyes told the
driver not to question him, just let him ride.

"Fine," Robert added while reaching for the microphone.  "Just sit back
and stay out of the way."  He brought the microphone to his face and
announced their status.  "Cascade General, this is Alpha-40..."

***

The ride to the hospital had been the longest five minutes of Jim's life.
Blair's convulsion had stopped a few blocks from the hospital, but he
was still out.  Jim's senses were running at full capacity, his 
hearing and sight trained on his guide who was strapped down in the
back of the ambulance.  

Jim was climbing out of the vehicle before it had come to a complete stop
at the doors to the emergency room.  He ran to the back of the ambulance
and barely missed a door as it swung open.  The driver, Robert, made
his way to the open doors and the paramedics worked in tandem, taking
Blair out of the ambulance, rolling him through the doors and toward
a room.  Jim followed, listening to the pair give report to a nurse and
doctor to whom they were handing Blair off.  Before he could enter the
room, he was met by a nurse in blue scrubs, blocking his entrance.
"Are you with um, Mister..." she looked at the paperwork in her hands.

"Sandburg," Jim replied, almost yelling.  "I'm his partner."

"Then what I need you to do," she added in a much practiced and almost
condescending tone, "Is to go out there," she pointed towards the lobby,
"get him registered, and fill out his paperwork."

A scowl overcame Jim's face, but he knew he was defeated.  He trained
his hearing on Blair's room, and turned towards the ER lobby, sighing
his resignation of the situation heavily.  He walked through the double
doors, and sat in the chair next to the admitting clerk, and started
rattling off Blair's pertinent information to him, all the while alert
to the goings on in Blair's room.  As he heard it, Blair was stable, but
the doctor wanted several tests to be run to check the extent of his
head trauma.  

The clerk finished entering the essential information into the computer 
and handed Jim a stack of paperwork, nodding to a chair in the lobby
in which he could complete it.  As Jim rose, he smiled, hearing his
guide's voice as Blair came to.  He crossed the room, listening
in on the conversation.

"Wh.. What happened?  Where's Jim?"

"It's OK, Mister Sandburg.  You hit your head and had a seizure." The 
voice was singsong and calming.  "You're in Cascade General ER and
we need to run a few-"

"Where's JIM?!" Blair demanded, rustling the sheets on the gourney.  

"Lay back down, Mister Sandburg.  Your partner is out in the lobby.  After
we've run some tests, we'll let him come back, OK?  But until then," more
rustling of the gourney's sheets, "You have to lay back and let us finish,
OK?  Do you understand, Mister Sandburg?"

Blair must have nodded, as the person attending him turned and walked
out of the room.  Under his breath, he muttered, "Do you understand,
*Mister* *Sandburg*?"  He lay his head back down, the sound of silky,
dark curls running over the pillow beneath his head.  "Jim, I know you're
out there, and you're probably listening to me right now.  I'm fine,
so you can stop worrying."  Jim smiled quietly to himself.  His guide
seemed to know him quite well.  "You can take Blessed Protector out of 
overdrive now."

A heavy sigh of relief finally passed Jim's lips, and he slumped back
in his chair, finally allowing himself to relax for the first time
since the incident.  /God, I don't know what I'd do without my Blair./
he thought.  /Wait a minute, *my Blair*?  That's the second time.../
his thoughts trailed off as to how he was thinking of his partner in
a possessive sense.  The lamp of enlightenment had been lit back at the 
store as Blair lay bleeding, when Jim realized he couldn't do anything for
his partner.  All emotion began to clash within him, as he allowed his
deep, far hidden feelings to float to the surface.  Yes, *his* Blair.
The feelings of helplessness had helped chisel the love that he held for
his partner free from his darkened, closed off heart.  His eyes began
to well with tears as the emotions swirled within his chest.  /Yes/
he finally admitted to himself, /I'm in love with Blair./

Jim wiped the tear from his eye, as the frustration of reality hit
him hard.  /Stupid!  You're in love with your straight partner. *STRAIGHT*/.
He got up and dropped the forms off to the admitting clerk, and made
a quick trip outside.  It had suddenly gotten very stuffy in the lobby,
and he needed space - and time - to deal with his newfound emotions.
Once in the clean air, he shook his head, as if to force all of the
thoughts into one easy way of dealing with them.  Knowing how futile
this was, he began to walk.  On one hand, he wanted to rush to Blair's
side and tell him his new found feelings.  That's what Blair would want,
right?  But reality kept stomping the idea down, telling him that he had
a damn good thing right now, and not to blow it.  Jim laughed to himself
at his sudden pun.  "God, Ellison, what are you gonna do?"

Jim looked up to the sky, as if for guidance, and it came raining down
on him in buckets.  The sky was a beautiful blue, immediately reminding
him of his partner's eyes and the soul that prowled beneath them.  He
knew that was something he never wanted to lose, so he made a promise to
himself.  He could love his guide, but only from afar.  He had to hide
his true emotions from Blair, lest he find out and leave Jim forever.
Jim shuddered at the thought - he didn't think he could handle that.
"Do what you gotta do, Jimmy," he said quietly to himself.  "Just don't 
lose him." With a heavy sigh, Jim turned back to the emergency room, 
and walked slowly back.

The closer he got, the better he could hear his guide's heartbeat.  He
walked back into the ER, and started to make his way to his original
seat, still focused on Blair's room.  There were other people with him
now, discussing the further tests needed to be done.  He heard Blair 
speak.  "No way, man.  I don't *want* an MRI.  Those things freak me 
out, man."  Jim knew his partner was frightened by the edge in his voice. 

"Mister Sandburg, you really shoul-"

Jim was brought back quickly by the woman making her way to him.  
"Mister Ellison?"  He suppressed a flinch as the closness of the voice 
bombarded him, and mentally turned down his hearing.

"Yes?"  He replied, trying to be casual.

The nurse motioned her hand towards the double doors, through where his 
partner was.  "You can come back and see him now."

"Thanks," Jim muttered, and headed straight for Blair's room.  He rounded
the corner in near record time and came to stand just outside of the
room.  He knocked quietly as he entered, trying not to disturb the
conversation taking place too much.  "Chief?"

A pair of the bluest eyes he had ever seen met his, threatening to steal
his breath.  "Jim!  Thank god you're here.  They want to do an MRI, man.
I don't think I can handle it."

Jim took his place at Blair's side, opposite the doctor, touching his
leg gently.  "I don't know, Doc.  I tend to agree.  He can barely sit
still through a movie." He ignored the glare the was now beaming at him.
"I don't know how he'll be able to be still for an MRI."

"Well, like it or not, he has to have one.  Mister Sandburg," he turned
to Blair, "seizures don't just come about for no reason.  I want to make
sure that there's no scarring, no permanent damage."

"Too late," Jim added wryly, earning him yet another glare.  "Blair, I'll
be right there.  You'll be fine.  There's nothing to worry about."  Jim
realized his hand was still on Blair's shin, rubbed it in a comforting
motion, and withdrew it easily, as to not call attention to it.  For
Blair, this was too late.  Jim's touch had been electric, as it always
was.  He silently prayed to all the gods he could remember *not* to get
excited, not to let the electric touch of Jim's hand get to him, but a cool 
breeze gave his body other ideas.  As he tried to mentally turn his emotions 
off, the breeze caressed his chest, his shirt unbuttoned and laying open, 
causing his nipples to harden in an instant.  Blair tried to casually 
adjust himself, hiding it as a motion of giving in to the doctor's wishes.

"OK, I'll do it," he admitted, leaning forward to cover his nipples and 
minutely adjust the hardness in his jeans.  He turned to his partner.
"Just promise me you'll be there, man."

Jim was momentarily caught off guard, his sense of smell suddenly
pummeled by... pheromones?  There was the distinctive smell of Blair
with a new smell that challenged this senses as well as his thoughts
about his roommate.  "You got it, Chief," he added, trying not to be too 
conspicuous as he continued to investigate the odor.

***

"Take off all your clothes, and put this on."  Hearing this in any other
situation would normally intrigue Blair, turning him on if it were
the right person saying it.  But not now.  "Your jewelry, too.  
Mister Ellison and I will go into the booth."  Hospital gown now handed
over to Blair, the radiology technician turned to Jim, motioning
him to the door.  "Once you're undressed, let me know.  We'll go through
this door over here," he pointed to the door that led to the MRI scanning
room, "and I'll get you situation for the scan."  He turned back to
Jim.  "After you, Mister Ellison."

/Damn./ Jim thought as he made his way out of the changing room.  /Gonna 
miss the show./  His newfound feelings were still raging within him, now
fed with the thoughts of his guide, naked and so close to him.  Jim 
entered the MRI control booth, then turned to the technician standing
next to the door where Blair was.  "Where do you want me?"

"Sit anywhere in the back," he responded, reaching for the door where
Blair was.  "Just please don't touch anything."  The technician walked
in and escorted Blair into the room with the MRI equipment.  

Jim watched the pair enter the room, and smiled as he caught a whisp
of Blair's bare bottom.  The technician helped Blair up onto the table
and adjusted him to the position necessary for the procedure.  "OK,
just remember to lie back, take easy breaths, and do *not* move until
we are through."  Instructions given, the technician turned to leave
the room.

"Good luck trying to keep *him* still." Jim said quietly to himself,
thankful that he was the one with sentinel abilities and not Blair.  

The technician walked in and sat down next to Jim, trying to figure
out what the smirk on Jim's face was all about as he started getting
the MRI setup and ready to go.  As he performed some final adjustments,
he flipped on a microphone.  "Mister Sandburg, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear," came the response.  "Jim, you out there, man?"

"I'm here buddy.  Just lay back and take it easy, and do as the man
says, OK?"

"Easy for you to say," Blair added quietly.  "You're not the one that's
stuck here in this damn room."

The technician, having heard this banter between his patients and their
ever present guests too often, tuned out the exchange.  "Mister Sandburg,
are you ready for me to begin?"

"Yeah, I gue- Oh crap!  Wait a minute!"

A look of concern played on Jim's face.  "What is it, Chief?"

"Hey Jim?  Can you come in here a minute?"

Jim turned toward the technician, as if to ask permission to enter
the MRI room.  "Before you go in, Mister Ellison," the technician
began, handing a small basket to Jim, "Put your wallet and other
valuables in here.  You don't want your Visa zapped, do you?"

Jim complied, piling his wallet and keys into the small container.
"Anything else?"  he asked.  The technician passed his hand through
the air, indicating it was OK for Jim to check on the patient's needs,
and turned back to the console, ready to begin the procedure.  Jim made 
his way into the room, where Blair's hands were fidgeting underneath 
his hospital gown.  "What's wrong, Blair?  You need some help?"  Jim 
stared intently, trying to figure out what Blair was doing with his 
unseen hands.  "Everything OK?" 

"There.  Got it."  Blair's hands came out from underneath the cloth
and presented a small silver ring to Jim's outstretched hand.  "Here.
Can you hold onto this for me?  I forgot to take it off."  As the ring
dropped from Blair's hand to Jim's, a huge grin plastered upon Jim's
face.

"Jesus, Blair.  I forgot all about your nipple ring."  The grin was 
contagious, as it spread to Blair's lips.  "You got anything else 
pierced that needs removing?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, big guy!" Blair replied, his eyebrows 
threatening to escape his forehead if he flung them about any further.
Blair let the feeling go, remembering the promise he made to himself
about his feelings for Jim.  /Don't flirt with the straight cop, unless
you have another place to live./

Taking one last look at Blair's body laid out on the table, Jim walked 
out of the room, putting the silver hoop in his pants pocket.

***

"Home sweet home, Chief."  Jim stepped aside as he let Blair pass him
into the loft.  They had left the hospital after a six hour stay had 
presented Blair with a clean bill of health.  The doctor told him to
take it easy for a few days, and to report back if any other problems
related to his head trauma came up.  He also asked if Jim would mind
keeping an eye on his roommate for the next few days, 'just in case'.
/Like that's going to be difficult./  Jim mentally replied to the 
doctor.  "Here, let's get you settled in," he told Blair, steering him
towards the couch.

"Jesus, Jim.  I'm *not* an invalid, you know," was the crotchety reply.
"I'm just a little weak, not helpless."

Jim mentally backed off some, as not to press Blair too much.  "Sure,
Chief.  Can I get you something?"

"How about you put a pot of water on to boil?  I've got some herbs 
that'll take some of this swelling away, and take the edge off of
this headache."  Blair sat back on the couch, listening to Jim
moving about in the kitchen, and tried to cover a yawn.  The entire
hospital ordeal had him tensed, and he just wanted to relax for
a while.  "You want help with those groceries, man?"  Jim was putting
away their items from their shopping earlier that day.

"No thanks.  You just sit back and relax, Chief.  I'll take care of
it *this* time."  Jim took a wet hand out of one of the plastic bags,
the items once frozen were now puddles of cool goo.  "Shit, I forgot
about the stuff for the 'fridge.  We're going to have to go back out
to replace some of this stuff."

"Sure... Let's," *yawn*, "go after a little while, OK?  I just want to
sit back and relax a bit.  That OK?"  Blair looked over at Jim, who
nodded in agreement.  "Jesus, it's cold in here."  Blair pulled his
hands into the sleeves of his sweater and crossed his arms over his
chest, putting his hands in each armpit to keep it warm.  As the
material stretched over his chest, it stimulated his nipples, causing
them to become erect.  It was a wonderful feeling, but something seemed
to be missing... "Oh Jim?  Can I have my ring back, man?"

Jim's face shot up from the soggy bread he was retrieving from the 
bag, images of Blair's naked chest filling his mind.  "Sure, Chief,"
he said, thrusting his hand into his pocket.  "It's right..."  Jim
searched his pocket, but the ring seemed to be missing.  He searched
his other pocket, then went over to the basket to see if it had
caught on his key ring.

"Oh man, don't tell me you lost it, Jim.  That was my only one!"  Blair
sat back against the arm of the sofa, as one more bad thing happened
to him.  The ring provided ample stimulation for him, and if he was
to be cooped up for the next couple of days, he was going to need
all the stimulation he could get.  Then again, just being around his
sentinel would give him at least adequate fantasy material for quite
a while.  As long as Jim didn't figure out why it was he always took
such long showers, he'd be fine in that department.  /A high water bill
just for the chance to get off/ He thought, smiling to himself while
wondering where he was going to get another nipple ring.  But the 
shower was the only place that he could safely get off, and have the 
odor masked almost successfully.  

Jim's face held disappointment, mostly because he'd lost something that
he had been entrusted with.  But there was a part of it thrown in because
he wouldn't see Blair with the ring in place.  "Sorry, Blair.  It must
have fallen out of my pocket, and I didn't notice."

Blair waved his hand at Jim, passing off the situation.  "Don't worry 
about it.  I'll get one later.  Right now," *yawn* "I just want to
sleep."  Blair put his head back against the arm of the couch and 
let his mind go, releasing the thoughts of the day.  Before he knew
it, he was fast asleep.

The bulk of their purchases either put away or tossed out, Jim turned off
the unneeded kettle of water and tidied up the loft as quietly as he could.  
As he put some magazines away from the coffee table, he noticed Blair 
shivering just slightly, the exposed skin covered in a light dust of goose 
flesh.  He went to Blair's room and grabbed one of the heavy blankets from 
the bed, returning to the couch with it, and draped it over his roommate.  
/God, I can't believe how beautiful he looks when he sleeps./  Jim thought, 
as the material left his fingers.  He focused on the closed eyes, watching
them dart back and forth, knowing Blair was dreaming.  He took it all
in, his body threatening to zone on all that was Blair.  When his
roommate adjusted himself fitfully in his sleep, Jim pulled the long,
silken hair from his face, letting it linger within his hands for
a second more than he should.  /God/ he thought.  /I've gotta get 
out of here before I attack him in his sleep!/  Jim left Blair's side
and jotted a note, leaving it next to his sleeping form.  He quietly
picked up his keys, and headed out the door.

***

Jim finished up the replacement grocery shopping, and was making
his way back to the loft.  He passed a strip mall a few blocks
from the grocery, and noticed a store that, until now, he'd not
paid attention to.  In large red lettering that hung just over the
doorway, the letters spelled out, "PIERCING PAGODA".  Thinking back
to the ring he was charged with, but lost, he pulled into the parking
lot, parked, and strolled into the store.

A teenage girl, who's perkiness and energy level challenged that of
even Blair's, greeted him as he walked through the doors.  "Hi! 
Welcome to Piercing Pagoda!  Can I help you?"

Jim's face went flush with slight embarrassment.  In a quiet voice,
so as not to attract attention from the other shoppers or staff, 
he asked, "Um, do you have any, um, nipple rings?"

"I'm *sorry*," was the syrupy reply, loud enough to send an extra pint
or two of blood to Jim's cheeks.  "We don't do nipple piercing here,
but I can direct you to-"

Totally flustered, Jim stopped her before she dug him in deeper.  "No
I *don't* want my nipple pierced.  I just want to buy a nipple ring."

The girl's face lit up, as she realized her mistake.  "Oh, just a
nipple *ring*."  Attention from the entire store, if not the entire
strip mall, was now fully on Jim.  "We have a small selection over
here.  Please follow me."  She walked behind the counter, directing
Jim to a small collection of thick rings and posts.  "Which one?"

A confused look covered Jim's face.  "Excuse me?"

"Which one do you have pierced?"

/This girl's got a *big* shovel/ Jim thought.  Just as he thought he
couldn't get any deeper - or any redder - this girl rose to the challenge,
and brought home the gold.  Jaw clenched, he replied, "I don't *have*
my nipple pierced.  I'm buying this for a *friend*."  /Is it me, or
is the heat up little too high?/  Jim looked over the selection, finding
one that was almost identical to the one he'd lost.  He pulled out his
wallet, then pointed to the ring.  "I'll take that one."

The clerk was obviously having a great time at Jim's expense.  "Woo,
nice one!  Cash, check, or charge?"

Totally defeated, Jim handed over a twenty dollar bill, took his 
merchandise and change, and left the store, thoughts of dismemberment
and bodily harm filling his head.  He walked through the doors, trying
to ignore the clerk's final words as he left.

"Enjoy!"

***

The truck pulled up to the loft. Jim grabbed his purchases into his arms, 
making his way up the stairs.  Taking each step quietly, he focused on the
loft, trying to determine if Blair was awake or not.  He realized that
yes, indeed, Blair was awake, and watching some nature special on
television.  Inserting his key, he opened the door to find Blair still
on the couch, engrossed in a documentary.  "Hey, Chief.  How you feelin'?" 
he questioned, as he put the bags on the counter.

"Pretty good, just tired.  Jim, you should come watch this, man."  Jim 
shot a quizzed look to Blair on the couch.  "It's a special on the Giant 
Panda.  You know, where they live, mating habits, that kind of thing."
Blair grinned to the image of the black and white bear on the screen.
"I mean, how can you not help but love these guys?"  Blair looked over
to Jim and nodded his head towards the bags on the counter.  "Thanks 
for getting the groceries, man.  I owe ya."  

/Yep, he's fine.  He's back in good old Blair mode./  Jim thought as he
brought his hand out of one of the bags, flashing Blair a pack of Twinkies,
a smile on his face.  "Hey, I had to go get these, anyway," he grinned.
"Not a problem."  Jim's mind returned to his final purchase, and his
grin stretched further.  "And I even picked something up for you."
Jim walked over to where Blair was stretched out on the couch and knelt
down next to him.  "Here."  Jim handed him the silver hoop.

"Oh man, thanks!  You didn't have to do that!"

Jim nodded, watching intently as Blair unbuttoned his shirt.  "Yeah, I
did.  I lost it, so I have to replace it."  His eyes followed Blair's
hands up his chest, and watched him as he opened the ring, getting it
ready to insert.  "Um, how does it work?"

The tension between the two was thick, and every movement seemed to be
electric.  Blair saw an opportunity to test the waters.  It seemed that
Jim was fascinated by the nipple ring almost to the point of arousal.
Promise or no promise, he wanted to see what Jim's response would be.
"Here," Blair pronounced, grabbing Jim's arm and putting the ring into 
the hand.  "Try it out.  I've had it a while, so you can't hurt me."  
/Yes he can, Blair.  He freaks and throws you out, and you will most 
*definitely* be hurt./

Jim's hand shook slightly as he raised it up Blair's chest to the nipple,
now fully erect.  His left hand followed, cupping the firm pectoral
muscle, and squeezed it gently, making for a better surface on which
to work.  His forefinger went behind the small part of the ring, and
guided it through the nipple, gently pushing it until the shiny surface
protruded through the other end.  Pushing it a little farther, he
used his thick fingers to adjust the clasp, until it was fastened.

Jim released the breath that he didn't realize he had been holding.
Fighting a sudden dryness in his mouth and throat, he asked quietly,
"That OK, Chief?"  

When Jim made no effort to remove his hands from the muscular chest, 
Blair finally spoke.  "You know, Jim," /Dammit voice, don't squeak
so much!/ "In some cultures, we would be considered married now."
He let his eyes meet up with Jim's, which he had avoided until he
finished speaking.  Jim's lips parted slightly, while his fingers
closed on the ring that was now in place, tugging on it gently.

"Really?" Jim asked quietly, his eyes hiding none of the desire that
was raging within him.  "Sounds kind of nice."  Jim tugged on the ring
with a slightly firmer motion, which brought a moan from Blair's lips.
Barely whispering, he asked, "You like that, Sandburg?"

Blair could hold back no more.  His hands went to the sides of Jim's
face, pulling him close.  He licked his lips, then surrounded Jim's
lips with his own, thrusting his tongue deep into Jim's mouth.  Jim
rose from his kneeling position and put his body over Blair's, hovering
as his free hand began to explore the body beneath him while the 
other still tugged gently on the silver ring.  Blair let his hands 
roam, finding hard, red-hot flesh beneath his fingertips, threatening
to sear his skin off.  The couple broke off the kiss and stared deep
into each other's eyes.  

"Jesus, Jim," Blair panted.  "Where have you been hiding *that*?"

Jim just smiled, then gave Blair a quick kiss before standing.  "You
never asked for it before, Sandburg."

Blair immediately missed the closeness that the two had shared just
seconds earlier, his face questioning why Jim was now standing away
from him.  His unasked question was answered as Jim extended his
hand, summoning him to his feet.  "Come on, Chief."

Blair extended his hand out, and it was swallowed between the older
man's hands.  "What?" he questioned quietly.

"Come on," Jim responded, his eyes penetrating to the depths of Blair's
soul.  "We're going upstairs...to *our* room."

"Our room?"  Blair asked, not hiding the surprise in his voice.

Jim released himself from the pools of blue in which he had almost 
immersed himself completely, and turned slightly away.  He knew 
that if Blair took what he was about to say wrong, his heart 
would break.  By turning away, he could prevent some of that hurt 
if Blair shot him down.  "Chief, I know this is new to both of us, 
but I'm not willing to do this half-heartedly.  If I do this, I'm in it 
for good."  Jim turned back to his partner's face.  "Blair," he said 
quietly, "I love you."

A look of immense joy overtook Blair's face, his eyes sparkling.  
"Jesus, Jim!  Do you know how long I've waited for you to hear that?"  
Blair brought his hands to Jim's face, feeling the stubble underneath 
his palms.  "I love you, too."

Blair tilted his head up, stepping on the tips of his toes to meet 
Jim's full height, and kissed him gently on the lips.  As he came back 
down, he grabbed Jim's hand in his and led towards the stairs.  "Come 
on, big guy!"  he added, a mischievous grin spreading over his face.  
He took one step, but felt as if he had been chained to a tree, as his 
body snapped back into place.  As he turned to Jim, he noticed a look 
of concern on the detective's face.  "What is it, Jim?  Did I do 
something wrong?  What?"  Concern dripped heavily from his voice.

The cheeks of Jim's face held a blush, and he stammered as he began to 
quietly speak.  "Um... How do I say this?"  He brought his eyes to meet 
Blair's.  "Blair," he almost whispered.  "I've never done this before."

A light hearted laugh escaped Blair's lips.  "Oh man," he said, eyes 
crinkling with delight.  "You mean you're a virgin?"  When Jim began 
to correct Blair, he restated, "I mean for the male/male thing."

Jim's felt as if today he were in eternal blush mode.  "Yeah.  The male/male
thing."

"Oh man, don't worry about it.  We can take it as slow as you want. 
Whatever you don't feel comfortable with-"

"Wait a minute,  Sandburg.  You mean *you've* done this before?"  

Blair needn't have answered.  As he flashed Jim his most innocent smile,
he couldn't help biting his lip in a look of satisfied guilt.  "Yeah, but
I've hardly been around the block more than a few times.  And it's
been years, man.  You think I'd go out with a guy while I lived here?"
he asked, gesturing around the loft.  "You'd have smelled it in a minute.
But I have done some stuff, you know, nothing hardcore or anything.
Well, I've read a lot of stuff, but I've never been able to-"

"Sandburg!" Jim yanked on Blair's hand, bringing him close.

Blair was once again biting his lip, looking up at his partner.  "Yeah,
Jim?"

"Shut up and get upstairs."

Finish

~*~*~*~
Title: The Dancefloor
Author/pseudonym: Squidgie (Walter H. Hopgood)
Email address: walterh@squidge.org
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: J/B

Status: NEW
Date: 5/4/98
Archive: YES to Merry and Michelle
Archive author: Squidgie
Archive email address: walterh@squidge.org
Series/Sequel: None 
Other website: http://www.meer.net/~walterh/walter/

Disclaimers: I don't own Jim or Blair - they're owned by UPN and Pet
Fly. However, I *do* make many trips up to Vancouver.  I *did* have
my suitcase when I ran into a couple of the guys in Vancouver, but
didn't get close enough to judge size.  I ain't making any money off
of this.  Don't sue me, PLEASE!  I have two mortgages, two cats, two
birds and a husband to support!  Intended audience for this is slash
fans above the age of 18.  Not over 18?  Here, let me get a "Where's 
Waldo" book for you.  Don't read this.

Notes: When I started writing this story, I'd not yes seen any Sentinel
stories take place in a gay bar. Halfway through, I read pumpkin's 
"Happy Birthday, Baby" and worried that people might think this was a 
ripoff of her story.  She read the early draft, and OK'd it, so here it 
is.  BTW, the sex scene is dedicated to pumpkin, since she said she'd 
take her permission away if I didn't post a sex scene - hope you like 
it, babe!  And, as always, mucho-mucho hugs and kisses to Shelley for 
being the best editor on the face of the earth.  Honey, I promise to 
share Garett with you when I bring him home from Vancouver with me!

if $MSG="Flame" echo $MSG > /dev/null; Otherwise, I would *really* 
appreciate feedback, and other ideas/requests for stories.  All
feedback will be responded to, I promise!

Summary: A story about Jim and Blair in a gay bar.

Warnings:  Should not be read by the disco impaired.  There are
butch gay men, disco music, dancing, and sex involved.  And no,
this is not "Saturday Night Fever."  

~*~*~*~

Jim opened his cell phone, stopping it from chirping.  "Ellison,"
he responded, almost barking.

"Yo, Jimbo," responded the quiet voice on the other side.  "I
think I got what you're lookin' for.  Meet me tonight to discuss
the details."

A smile plastered across Jim's face, spreading his lips.  His
snitch had come through.  "Very good.  Usual place?"

The voice on the other end of the phone released a little distress
in it's voice.  "Sorry man, this is too big. Gotta be way outta 
the way.  How about Numbers out on Bentall - you know, West side?
Elevenish?"

/Oh great/ Jim thought.  "Sure," he responded, the slightest
hint of panic in his voice.  Numbers was one of Cascade's larger
gay bars, but in a little out of the way neighborhood close to the
city limits.  "We'll see you then."  

Blair immediately picked up the vibe.  "What's up, man? What's 
wrong?"

Always the one to suppress his feelings, Jim denied that he was
slightly uncomfortable with the situation just presented to him.
"Nothing's wrong.  We have to meet tonight at a bar up on the
West side."  Jim looked at Blair and said quietly, "Numbers."

Two eyebrows made it skyward, as a happy surprised expression
overtook Blair's face.  "Numbers?" he asked incredulously.  "Man,
that joint can be hoppin', especially on a Friday night."

Now it was Jim's eyebrow's turn to race upward.  "You know this
place well, Chief?"

Blair's cheeks flushed lightly, and his heart rate increased only
as much as could be detected by his sentinel.  "Well," he tried 
to cover slightly, being as nonchalant as possible, "I've been
there with friends and students a few times.  It's got a really
diverse crowd, and plays *excellent* music."  What he'd said
was true.  He *had* been there with a friend before, when he'd
confessed his feelings about Jim - feelings that he would never
tell Jim for fear that he'd be thrown out of the loft and Jim's
life.  

Jim just stared.

"What?" Blair asked.  "Can't a guy have friends?"  He studied Jim's
face a few minutes.  "What?"

"Nothin', Chief.  You just always seem to surprise me."  With that,
Jim smiled, easing the tension he'd obviously caused. 

It was Blair's turn to grin next, and he ran with it.  "Hey man, 
don't knock it 'til you try it!"

Jim tried to ignore the comment, motioning for Blair to get up and
come with him.  "Let's go, Chief.  Wonderburger.  My treat."  
/There.  That should change the subject./  Jim thought.  /He
doesn't know how much I *want* to try it - and he's not going
to, either./

The previous conversation shelved for the moment, Blair went into
what Jim thought of as his health-food-rant.  "Oh man, Jim!  When are
you gonna learn?  That stuff's gonna kill you, man!  Besides, it's
only 11 o'clock.  We just had breakfast three hours ago."  Blair's
voice was tinged with the slightest of whines.

"Yeah?  Well that tofu scramble crap that you made for breakfast
isn't exactly stick-to-the-ribs food.  Let's go."

The partners made their way down the hall, raising odd looks as
they passed their coworkers, heading out for their lunch.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sky blue eyes looked over at the body next to his in the truck, as 
it rhythmically bounced to the pounding music emanating from the 
nearby building.  Jim smiled as Blair's body gently rocked the truck, 
moving back and forth in a seductive manner, and nearly jumped as 
Blair spoke.  "So, you ready, big guy?"

Jim came back to reality, remembering the purpose for which he and 
Blair were parked in front of the bar.  He'd just hung up with Simon, 
getting some information on the case, and dreaded going in.  Not 
because of the clientele inside, but because it would bring his own 
true feelings closer to the surface - feelings for Blair that he tried
to think of only late at night, sleeping alone in his big bed.
"Yeah, Chief.  Whenever you are."  He glanced at his watch, noting
that they were ten minutes early.  /Oh well.  Enough time to
grab a beer.  I just hope I can concentrate, if Blair doesn't stop
moving his hips like that./  

Both men got out of the truck, Blair bounding by Jim's side as soon
as he'd cleared the front.  He grabbed Jim's arm, as if to escort
him to the door.  Jim tensed slightly, stopping mid-stride.  "Get
off me, Sandburg!"

A pout forced itself from Blair's face, as he batted his eyelashes
at Jim.  He quietly whispered, "Come on, man!  You're gonna stick
out like a sore thumb in here."  Blair reached back and whacked
Jim lightly on the butt, his hand stinging as it met the faded
blue jean material.  "Loosen up!"  

Jim turned to face Blair as soon as the hand reached his backside,
shooting him a look that would have felled any other man.  But not
Blair.  He was in his element, appearing to have the time of his
life.  As Blair recaptured Jim's arm within his, he resigned himself
to putting up with it.  /After all, there's no place around to 
hide the body.  And he's too damn cute to kill, anyway./  Jim thought.

They approached the door, and were greeted by a rather large man.
Blair was still bouncing to the music as they walked, as Jim took
out his wallet, trying to appear relaxed.  "It's five bucks cover 
tonight, boys," the bouncer announced.  "But sugar," he said 
sweetly, looking directly into Jim's eyes, "You promise me a dance, 
and you get in free."  The expression dropped, and one of loathing
took over as the bouncer motioned towards Blair. "Just lose the hippy."

Before Jim could put the bill into the man's hand, Blair slapped
a ten into the fattened paw.  "He's with *ME*," Blair announced,
quite possessively.  As he pulled a stunned Jim Ellison through
the door he announced, more for his own amusement than the bouncer's,
"He's *my* bitch."  

Blair made their way through the crowd, pulling Jim behind him, and 
saddled up to a free spot at the bar.  "So much for a quiet, out of 
the way place, huh Jim?" he almost had to yell.  He just hoped that 
Jim had deadened his hearing before entering the bar, and looked 
carefully at his partner to check on him.  Jim still appeared to be 
too tense.  "Come on, man.  Loosen up!  You wanna beer?"

A few seconds later, Blair could almost see Jim thaw from his frozen
state.  He took the stool next to where Blair stood, and settled 
in to his surroundings.  "Sure," he replied.

"Good, 'cause I'm parched.  Buy me one, too."  Blair, who had
continued to bounce to the techno rhythm since they'd pulled up
to the bar, shot Jim a wicked smile.  He knew that, in this
environment, he had the upper hand.  His grin grew, as he watched
Jim fish for his wallet, mouthing the word, "smartass" towards
Blair.

"Barkeep!" Jim almost had to yell.  "Two drafts, please."  When
the bartender motioned to the six types the bar stocked, Jim
mouthed "Bud" and turned back to Blair.  "So," Jim started,
as he paid for the newly arrived beer, "Where the hell is he?"
Jim took a long draw from his drink, and carefully eyed the
crowd.

A hand rested on Jim's shoulder, and he mostly ignored it.  Blair
squeezed slightly, smiling at Jim.  "He'll be here.  He's never
bailed on you before, has he?"

"A couple of times, when things got hot," Jim explained.  "We meet
on his turf and when he's ready, or we don't do business."

Blair raised the glass to his lips, and took a pull from the drink.
As he surveyed the room, he felt a hand come to rest on his hip,
and immediately stopped bouncing.  He looked, and found the arm
attached to one Jim Ellison.  A questioning look was fired at
Jim.  "Yes?"

"Nothing," was Jim's reply.  "I'm just taking your advice and loosening
up.  You know, fitting in."  Dark eyebrows darted up and down, as
a pair of colorful blue eyes sparked in Blair's face.  With his
hand still on Blair's side, Jim dialed up his sense of touch, feeling
the warm skin underneath the smooth fabric.  As his fingers told him
the story of what it was to be Blair Sandburg, he noticed the slightest
elevation in temperature and felt his guide's heartbeat rise
somewhat.  Jim had touched his partner many times, though he was
always careful never to cross the line between appropriate and
inappropriate behavior.  But with Blair's reaction, he began to
wonder what was going on.  /Is it my imagination, or is he nervous?/
he questioned.

His sense of touch told him that Blair was calming down slightly,
as his guide's body began to again keep time with the music.  He
slowly began to remove his hand from the gyrating man, when his
hand was captured.  Blair's eyes caught his, a pleading look deep
within them.  "It's all right, Jim.  I don't mind," was the breathy
reply, and his hand was brought back to the moving hip.  Jim hooked
his finger through the beltloop, and held on to his guide, smiling
quietly to himself.

Each man began to wonder how far the other one was willing to take
this, and how far their own courage would allow them to go.

"Jesus, it's boiling in here.  I'm going to get rid of my coat.
Want me to take yours?"  Blair began to shed his top layer, as he
asked Jim.  Jim's coat came off, revealing a tight white tee-shirt,
bulging like it had been overstuffed.  Blair's eyes viewed the taut
muscles, trying like hell to hide his arousal.  With all the beauty
around him, and Jim being at the top of that list, it wasn't going
to be easy.  

"Here."  Jim handed Blair his coat, and turned back to the crowd,
wishing he'd worn something a little less revealing.  Blair had
been turning him on since early that evening, and his nipples,
now hard and quite perky, showed prominently through his shirt.
They seemed to have their own radar, as man after man seemed to
hone in on them, like he was a piece of meat surrounded by a pack
of hungry wolves.  He lowered his eyes to his beer, and nursed it,
hoping Blair would be back soon.

Jim made one fatal mistake.  As he drained the last of his beer, he 
focused on the bottom of the glass, seeing a well-built man coming
his way.  Jim froze slightly, hoping the man would continue past and
avoid him.  His hopes were dashed when the man saddled up next to
him.  The deep voice came from a well sculpted chest, "Hi."  The
voice matched the body - solid and sure.

As Blair made his way back from the coat check, he spotted a buffed
man walking towards Jim, and recognized the look that the man's
eyes held - lust.  At first he was content to slow down and let Jim
deal with the situation himself - it would be hilarious to see Jim
try and get out of this one.  But that thought only lasted a split
second, replaced by a fear that perhaps Jim would actually take the
man up on his offer - whatever that offer may be.  He quickened his
pace, and was almost next to Jim when he heard the stranger greet
Jim.  Just after the words left the strangers mouth, Blair appeared
by Jim's side, took his partner's hand into his, and motioned
to the multi-colored floor adjacent the bar.  "Let's dance," he
said, startling Jim slightly.  Jim placed his empty glass on the
bar to keep the stranger company, and allowed himself to be pulled
out toward the dance floor.

The feel of Jim's hand in his made Blair tingle with excitement -
and terror.  He was hesitant to turn and face Jim -- afraid of what
might be staring back at him.  Once they reached the far side of
the dance floor, Blair felt Jim's hand drop from his, and turned
to face his partner.  He turned slowly, and let his gaze drift
up to Jim's face, where he was greeted with a grateful grin.  The
smile was infectious, and Blair felt his lips stretch across his
face, a giggle bubbling up through his chest.

"Thanks," Jim acknowledged.  "You saved my life back there."

Blair's face grew bright.  "Does this mean I'm now *your* Blessed
Protector?"  

Both men laughed at the inside joke, glad to have relieved some of
the tension for the moment.  "Sure," Jim joked.  "I protect you
from bodily injury, and you protect me from big, butch men in gay 
bars.  Deal?"

"Deal." /Big butch men?/ "So what are we going to do?  I don't see 
your guy here, do you?"

Jim scanned the room, searching for his informant.  "No, and it almost
fifteen after.  He's always on time.  Maybe he got hung up."

Blair scanned the bar area, noting that the guy he'd "saved" Jim from
was now working on bagging a bodybuilder that he'd seen walking from
the coat check earlier.  Deeming it safe, he asked, "You want to go 
back and hang out at the bar?"

Jim's face threw a playful hurt expression to Blair.  "Hey, you're the
one that dragged me out onto the dance floor," he pouted.  Secretly
he was loving this, but his insides were quivering with nervousness.
"What am I, a wallflower?"  The energy from all the men around them 
seemed to be energizing Jim, letting him be more bold than he normally 
would.

An instant of hesitation seemed like an eternity, until Blair grabbed
Jim's hand and pulled him a couple of feet back into the throng of 
gyrating, sweaty men.  He let go of Jim's hand and began bouncing, 
letting his hips sway back and forth, noting that they were followed 
closely by a pair of the bluest eyes he had ever seen.  Blair urged 
Jim to loosen up, motioning him with his ever expressive hands.  
"Come on!  Get into it!" and watched Jim go from a conservative beat 
to an all out disco-type bump in a few stanzas of the techno-pop tune.  
As the two danced, Blair gave Jim an approving glance.  "Not bad 
for an old guy!" he teased, over the music.

Not skipping a beat, Jim threw back, "Keep it up, Babe, and I'll send
you home with the bouncer!"

The sound of uncontrollable laughter was added to the ever-present music,
and the two continued to dance.  As Jim became more and more at ease, he
threw his arms above his head, swinging them back and forth with the 
rhythm of the music.  A few of these motions, and Jim's tee-shirt became
untucked from his pants, revealing Jim's tight abdominals to Blair, who's
eyes grew at the sight.  It was enough to distract him, when he was
put off balance by a nearby dancer's arm in the back, almost falling into
his partner.  

Jim never skipped a beat, as he righted Blair, who was now dancing in
his personal space - not that he minded.  The pair continued to gyrate,
Blair's leg between his massive legs, until Jim brought his hands to
Blair's sides.  At first Blair thought Jim'd had enough, and was leading
them off the floor, but was shocked to feel Jim turn him around, and
a very hot pelvis grind into his bottom as he was bent over.  Jim
continued to dance and gyrate, his hips grinding into his partner's
backside while powerful hands held Blair in place.  The beat throbbed
heavy, and the two bodies continued in their new position until the song 
drew to a close, and the two men stopped their dancing.

As Blair righted himself, still facing away from Jim, he instinctively 
drew his hand behind Jim's head, turning slightly to catch Jim's face.
His expression was full of questions, as he closed in on Jim's ear.  
"What was that all about, man?"

Jim beamed towards his smaller partner.  "What can I say?  You're a
bad influence on me, Chief."  His eyes drove into Blair's soul with
his stare, and he unconsciously licked his lips, finding himself
suddenly dry.  Blair's hand drew Jim's face closer, but instead of
speaking into Jim's ear, he stopped short.  Their lips were inches
apart, both men hesitating somewhat.  Jim, feeling quite bold with
his feelings tonight, cut the distance and took Blair's lips with
his own, claiming his mouth.

The taste of Blair overwhelmed Jim slightly, as their mouths opened
and tongues explored the new sumptuous cavern.  Jim drew his hands around
Blair's head, as Blair's hand helped to put Jim's head in the right
position.  Their bodies, already sweaty from dancing, began to cling
to each other tightly, as each man tried desperately to mold themselves
into one.  Jim's hands began to roam, finding the narrow hips that he'd
held just earlier, and the firm asscheeks underneath the denim cloth.
Blair's hands began with Jim's head, and made their way all around
Jim's body.  He latched onto the firm chest and back, and decided he 
never, ever wanted to let go.

As the two continued the deep, penetrating kiss, they suddenly became
aware of cat-calls and wolf-whistles coming from the crowd around
them.  They broke off just in time to hear someone yell, "Get a
room, you two!" and looked sheepishly into each others eyes.  Jim
looked at his watch - 11:25PM - and looked at Blair.  Both men spoke
at the same time.  "Home."

Blair grabbed Jim's hand, leading him back across the dance floor and
to the coat check area.  With each step, he could feel the spark between
them as it seemed to warm his hand, giving energy to them both, and
could feel Jim's eyes boring into his ass.  A quick look back confirmed,
and a quickly blushing Sentinel was comforted with an easy kiss.

Both jackets now picked up, the men left the bar, avoiding the 
conversation the bouncer suddenly wanted to start up with Jim again.  
They got as far as the truck.  Jim unlocked the door and turned 
to motion Blair in before walking to the drivers side, when he was 
pounced upon by his smaller partner.  Passionate kisses ruled for 
several moments, and Jim had to almost pick Blair up and put him 
into the truck.  As Blair's door shut, he made his way quickly to 
the drivers side and climbed in.

Driving back to the loft was nearly impossible.  At almost each red 
light or stop sign, the men were almost uncontrollable.  One look 
between them would start a series of kisses, gropes, and hugs, that 
took the driver of another car to bring them back to reality.  
Realizing this would not be good for his insurance, and not wanting
to think about how he would explain an accident to his Captain, he 
put distance between them, keeping Blair at arms length, literally.  
Blair was now two feet away, held there with Jim's right hand, as he 
tried to drive with his left.

Blair took Jim's hand, holding it in his, then brought it to his 
mouth.  He inserted the index finger into his mouth and sucked it 
seductively, licking the digit carefully.  Jim tried to dial down 
his sense of touch, but found he was too aroused to focus enough 
for the task.  He withdrew his finger from Blair's mouth, and put 
it on Blair's leg instead.  "We'll be home soon, Chief," he said, 
desperation very noticeable in his voice.

"Oh yeah," Blair cooed.  He stroked Jim's hand gently, and drew it
into his crotch to rest against his engorged cock.  As Blair's hand
found Jim's crotch, Jim pushed Blair back.  

"Blair, honey," Jim breathlessly said.  "You gotta stop.  Come on,
Chief, I'm gonna crash here!"

Blair's desire instantly wiped itself from his face, and Jim soon 
found his hand resting comfortably on the seat next to him, 
suddenly missing the throbbing member that it held just seconds 
earlier.  "OK.  Fine.  I can wait, if you can."  Blair spoke in
an even, sterile tone.

The truck slammed to a halt, Jim's eyes screaming in desperation 
for the contact they had shared for the last ten minutes of the 
ride, now removed as if it had never happened.  He looked at 
Blair, incredulously.  "What in the...."  His eyes studied his 
partner, who was now cowering in a giggle on the truck seat. 
"YOU LITTLE TEASE!" Jim bellowed.

The smaller man was now almost doubled over, realizing the power 
he'd had over Jim, and laughing about it.  "Jim, man, I'm sorry."  
Jim's face was red, blushing deeply and easily forgetting the 
anger that his partner's teasing had caused.  

"Oh, you're gonna be sorry, when I get you home.  You think you 
can start something and just turn it off?" Jim play-lectured his 
soon to be lover.  "Just wait until I-"

Jim was cutoff before he could finish, Blair's tongue thrust down 
his throat.  The two leaned back onto the seat, Blair towering 
over Jim and kissing him deeply.  Jim's hands found their way to 
Blair's chest, tweaking the nipples found underneath the fabric, 
then pushed Blair away gently.  "Let's just get home."

For a split second, Jim contemplated pulling out the blue-light 
and siren to make their trip quicker, but they were only about 
a mile from the loft as it was.  He made it in record time, and 
pulled into the parking stall, both men hardly waiting for the 
truck to stop before jumping out and going inside.  Jim found the 
staircase and began to bound up them, assuming Blair was right 
behind him.  He reached the door to the loft, then realized that 
he was alone.  "Where the hell..." He almost yelled, then heard 
the telltale sounds of the rising elevator.  As he made his way 
to it, coming to rest in front of it, the elevator doors parted, 
revealing Blair.

An audible gasp was released, as Jim took in the sight of his 
partner.  Blair had removed his shirt and lowered his pants and 
boxers while en route, and was staring at Jim, stroking his cock.  
As if on autopilot, Jim walked into the elevator, taking in all 
that was Blair.  Two small hands removed themselves from Blair's 
throbbing erection, bringing a palm to Jim's face.  Jim breathed 
in deeply through his nose, taking the smell in and committed 
it to memory, for all time.  He licked the palm before him, 
sucking each finger gently.  The hands left Jim's face, as they 
began to tug at Jim's clothes, while tongues once again began 
their explorations.  

Jim was undressed in record time.  As he pulled his jeans off,
Blair finished removing his pants, never taking his lips from 
Jim's.  The smaller man's hands found their way behind Jim's 
neck, and pulled him down to lay on Blair's body, both bodies 
now rested on the floor.  With fingers intertwined, Jim brought 
the hands above Blair's head, holding him down, thrusting his 
cock against Blair's.  The feeling was electric, stronger than 
their earlier kiss.  Jim's cock was stabbing at Blair's crotch, 
gingerly wetting it with precum.  

Blair managed to get his legs from under Jim's, and started 
raising them in the air.  "Come on, Jim.  Fuck me." He begged.  
"I want to feel you inside me."

Though he'd never experienced this with another guy, he was not 
about to let that stop him.  Jim's hand left Blair's, and made 
it's way to his cock.  He spread the pre-cum liberally over his 
erection, then slipped a finger to Blair's ass.  As the slick 
finger gently squirmed it's way inside, Blair began to bare down, 
wanting more.  Jim added a second, then third finger, working 
them inside the smaller man.

Blair licked a free hand, reached down, and pulled Jim's cock, 
spreading it with moisture.  "Now, Jim.  Take me now!"  He yelled,
pulling Jim's cock in line with his ass.  Jim removed his fingers,
bringing his engorged shaft to the puckered entrance.  He tried
to start out gently, but Blair thrust back, almost splitting 
himself in two by the thick member.  Jim pumped in and out of 
Blair, lost in the sensation of tight heat on his cock.  Blair 
allowed his hands to roam over Jim's chest, tweaking the nipples 
that topped the heated flesh.  As Jim kept thrusting into Blair, 
he leaned down and took Blair's mouth, kissing him deeply.  Jim's 
tongue roamed over Blair's lips, then to the side of his neck, 
licking and biting gently, finally coming to rest on Blair's 
nipples.  He licked and bit them gently, matching his pounding 
rhythm.  

Jim rose slightly, leaving Blair's nipples, and towered over 
Blair.  He held Blair's ankles up, pushing them as much as he 
could, allowing him deeper access to Blair's ass.  As he continued 
to pound, abusing Blair's prostate with each thrust, Blair drew 
his hand to his crotch, and began masturbating.  With his eyes 
wide, he watched Jim's chest, dripping with sweat, as the older 
man thrust into him.  The attention his prostate was receiving 
had already brought him close, and it only took a few strokes to 
bring him over.  He cried out loudly as his orgasm took over 
his body, his seed shooting up around his chest.  At each spasm, 
his ass clenched down on Jim's cock.  With Blair complete, and 
Jim near the edge, Jim bent down and took Blair's mouth.  Jim's 
orgasm was powerful, the thrusts into Blair's body went deep, 
and he cried into Blair's mouth as thrust after thrust sent his 
seed deep into Blair's bowels.

The two men collapsed breathless, Jim's body almost crushed his
smaller partner's.  It took several minutes to catch their breath,
Blair coming to first.  "Oh, man..."  He leaned up slightly and
gently kissed Jim.  "You OK man?"

Jim threw an evil grin to Blair, returning the earlier kiss.

"What?"  Blair was trying to figure out the puzzling look Jim was
giving him.

Another quick kiss claimed, Jim smiled.  "Like I said, Chief.  
You're a bad influence on me."  

end

Though I've written a few X-Files slash stories, this is my very
first slash based on the television series, "The Sentinel."  The
possibilities of that show... Whew! :)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Jim or Blair; they're property of UPN and
Pet Fly.  However, I make many trips to Vancouver, and if they come
back with me in my suitcase one time, well I *will* eventually send
them back. 

THANKS: I have to thank my cybersis Steff for urging me to start
writing again, after not having written any fiction for over ten
years.  Major thanks to Panda for becoming my friend through feedback
on a Mulder/Krycek story I wrote, then using her powers of suggestion
to get me to watch The Sentinel.  She's now my editor, and I thank
her for her support.  Shelley, this story is for you!  (It's your
fault, anyway... You planted the seed in my head!)

This is "The Bears" by Squidgie.  It's rated PG13 for implied M/M
relationship and a little cuddling.  

Feedback is REALLY requested!  This is my very first Sentinel story,
and I'd like to know what people think of it.  You can reach me
at walterh@squidge.org.

I don't know who archives Sentinel slash, so feel free to archive it,
but please email me and let me know where it's been archived.  Thanks.

***********************************************************************

Blair almost flew out the loft's front door, grabbing for his
keys and slamming the door noisily behind him.  "UURGH!!!"  The 
groan of frustration eaked from his clenched mouth, while his 
hands flew from their restless point at his sides, now aiming at 
the sky trying to make sense of it all.  "Why is he so pig-headed?!" 
he asked himself, incredulously.  As soon as he uttered the words, 
he regretted it, having momentarily forgotten that Jim, Sentinel 
hearing no doubt focused intently, could hear every word.  As he 
made for the stairs, the door behind him flew open.  Blair took 
the stairs two at a time, a voice bellowing down after him, as if 
to ensnare him before he could flee.

"I'm *NOT* pig-headed. *YOU'RE* being *UNREASONABLE!*"  The voice
trailed after him, and he knew he had to escape, at least for a
little while.  When he heard the door slam from the floor above him,
he knew he was alone.  Jim wouldn't come after him.  Jim would
rather sit in the loft and brood for hours.  

/Unreasonable, huh?  Yeah right./  Blair thought as he
exited the building and walked along the busy street.  It had
started as a little nothing; Blair had to finish grading his 
student's papers and didn't want to go out - besides, it was their
one month anniversary!  There was nothing more he wanted than a
nice, quiet dinner at home with his beloved.  The thought made him
smile to himself.  /Well, maybe more than *just* dinner./  Thoughts
of the, well, it wasn't a fight as much as it was a tiff.... Well,
a tiff or a disagr.... Blair sighed heavily.  "Shut up, Blair!" he
scolded himself.  The brief smile was now lost from his face, 
replaced by a scowl that represented what he was feeling inside.
Yes, he'd wanted a nice, quiet dinner at home, but, "After all,"
Jim's words echoed through his head, "It's poker night.  Poker night!"
Blair huffed as he remembered Jim asking why it was that they couldn't 
just go out some other night?  "Pig," he said to himself, continuing
down the busy street, his eyes darkening to match his mood.

***

Before he knew it, Blair realized that he had stewed for a good hour,
and was now about three miles from the loft.  And cold.  /Why the hell 
did I walk out of there without my coat?/ he berated himself.  /Well,
I should head back.  Jim may be pig-headed, but he'd get over it and
damn, but it's cold!/ he thought, and turned around mid-step, when 
something in the window of the store he was in front of caught his
eye.  It was followed by a smile that could only be described as impish. 
"Oh, man... Jim'll kill me." he grinned, and walked determinedly into 
the store, pulling out his wallet as he strode in.  Yes, he was a
total romantic, but why was Jim so...the totally unromantic type?
He reminded himself as the clerk rang him up, /He may be unromantic, 
Blair, but he's yours./  

Satisfied with his purchase, Blair waltzed out of the store, as if 
he were on air, the mood that brought him this far from the loft now 
totally forgotten.  He decided to get back, make his apology with the
aid of his purchase, and pile himself into the truck for the poker
game.  After all, there were going to be hundreds of anniversaries
with Jim to celebrate, if he had anything to do with it.

The sun had begun to set as Blair closed in on their building.  He
looked up and saw that, though subdued, the lights were still on,
which meant that Jim was still home and had not gone out.  He
carefully and quietly made his way up the stairs and was almost
to the door, when he heard soft music coming from inside.  /Soft 
music, and the incredible smell of....lasagna?  What is going on
here?/ he asked himself, and turned the key in the door.  As the
door opened, Blair instinctively moved his hand over to the basket to
drop his keys in, but missed it by a foot.  There, leaning back on
the table that was now draped in cloth and filled with delicious
smelling items, was his lover, a meal in himself.  

"Welcome home, Chief," Jim said quietly and smiled to himself.  Blair
noticed that Jim was dressed now in a pair of khaki pants and a blue
silk shirt that made his eyes dance in pools of color that challenged
the movements of the candles spread about the loft.  "Are you going
to come in?"

Blair suddenly remembered that yes, he *was* supposed to be breathing.
He took a breath in, but the look of awe never left his face.  "Um,
uh... Jim?  Um, what's going on here, man?"  The words he had spoken
earlier about Jim not being a romantic now haunted his memory.

"What does it look like, Chief?  A nice, quiet dinner for two."  The
words oozed from Jim's mouth not unlike honey escaping it's container.

"But this was *poker night*, Jim.  You wanted to go out and play poker
with the boys.  What is this?"

An easy laugh escaped Jim's mouth, his massive chest moving rhythmically
underneath his shirt, the fabric brushing up against his nipples
sensually.  "That's what you thought, Chief.  I only *told* you it was
poker night to get you out of the house.  This dinner," he let his
arms flow over the food and wine on the table, "was supposed to have
been eaten at the restaurant.  It was supposed to be a surprise.  When
you left, I called and had to pay a pretty penny to get it delivered. 
After all," he added quietly, "it *is* our anniversary."

By this time Blair had practically melted into a puddle of goo, though
his face still held it's awe.  He carefully engaged his legs, after
desperately trying to remember how they worked, and walked over to
his lover.  "Jim, " he whispered, "Thank you.  You're incredible, man."

Blair threw his arms around Jim, pulling him tightly into his chest for
a massive hug.  As he did, he noticed Jim squirming in his arms.  "What
is it?"  Running his hands over the fabric, he asked, "What?  The shirt 
getting to you?"  Blair's eyebrows flew up and down, innuendo hanging 
heavy in the air.

A meaty hand left where it'd attached itself to Blair's buttocks and
reached for Blair's stomach, touching something through his shirt.
As the two separated, Jim asked, "No, this," he said, pointing to 
Blair's stomach.  "What is it?"

Blair blushed, his eyes bright with glee.  "Um, just a little something
that I picked up while I was out."  He began to unbutton his shirt
to take out it's contents, when Jim dropped his gaze, eyes spotting
the gift.

"Oh no, Chief!  You promised!"

The room was filled with Blair's laugh, which Jim's frown tried to
extinguish.  "Jim, I promised no more *teddy* bears.  This isn't a
teddy bear Jim.  It's a panda bear."  His smile beamed bright, threatening
to drown out the candle light that illuminated the loft, and Blair's
mouth began to form a word.

Jim's eyes darted from Blair's lips to his eyes and back, focused and 
intent on quelling the onslaught before it began.  "Blair?  Blair!  
Don't you say it, Blair!  Don't you dare!" all while Blair's lips tried 
to speak, forming the forbidden word.

"Oh Jim... I wouldn't *dream* about it," he added, handing Jim the
stuffed animal.  Under his breath, but loud enough for a Sentinel's
hearing, he added, "Pookie bear" and suppressed a laugh.

"That's IT!" Jim mockingly yelled.  He threw the panda across the room
and grabbed Blair, tossing both their bodies down onto the couch and
thrust his lips to Blair's, kissing him deeply.  It was one way he
could think of to shut Blair up.

***

After dinner was finished and put away and the wine polished off, the
two lovers slowly made their way up to their bedroom.  Jim stopped
mid-step and turned, bounding past his lover and back into the living
room.  "What is it?" Blair asked.

"Go ahead and climb in bed.  I'll be up in just a second," Jim called
after him.  As Blair got undressed and slipped between the sheets,
he could hear Jim downstairs, walking the length of the loft, as if
searching for something.  Seconds later, Jim appeared at the top of the 
stairs, holding the previously abandoned panda carefully in his hands, 
bringing the grin back to Blair's face.  Jim sat down on the side of the 
bed, placing the panda carefully next to the teddy bear that Blair had 
given to him a couple of weeks prior.  "Not another word, Chief," Jim
instructed, as he removed his clothing, then slipped between the
sheets and took his lover into his arms.

~*~*~*~
Title: Cactus Candy (from the late 1990s)
Author/pseudonym: Squidgie (Walter H. Hopgood)
Email address: walterh@squidge.org
Rating: NC-17 (well, almost)
Pairings: J/B

Status: NEW
Date: 5/3/98
Archive: YES to Merry and Michelle
Archive author: Squidgie
Archive email address: walterh@squidge.org
Series/Sequel: None
Other website: http://www.meer.net/~walterh/walter/

Disclaimers: I don't own Jim or Blair - they're owned by UPN and Pet
Fly. However, I *do* make many trips up to Vancouver.  I *did* have
my suitcase when I ran into a couple of the guys in Vancouver, but
didn't get close enough to judge size.  I ain't making any money off
of this, and besides, it's *Pumpkin's* fault, not mine!!!!!  Not
beta'd (too damn silly to have been) but has been spell checked and
double-checked.

Notes:  This is my response to the recent "Turn Blair into a giant
pink ostrich and have Taggart eat him" challenge that was put forth
by Pumpkin.  This is *NOT* my fault!!!

Summary: It's just a Jim and Blair story (with lots of silliness)

Warnings:  Unresolved sexual situation, drug use, childhood-tv-heroes,
and candymaking all put to shame. :)

~*~*~*~

The solitary figure walked slowly through the precinct, ignoring
the looks and gasps that seemed to follow him around each corner.
He ventured forth, entering the major crimes area, and noisily
dropped his backpack in front of the desk of one James Ellison.

"SANDBURG!!!  ...  Ewww...."

A pair of cerulean eyes rolled back in their owner's head, not
wanting to answer the question that awaited him.  "*Nice to see
you, Jim*."

"Sandburg, sarcasm does *not* become you.  And neither does that
shade of pink."  Jim turned his sense of smell down, after determining
where it was emanating from.  "I won't even ask you what that smell is."
A soft chuckle rounded the small office.  "So, what the hell happened
to you?  And what are you doing back early?"

Sighing heavily, Blair began delivering the practiced speech that
he'd worked on during the cab ride and walk from the airport.  "Well,
if you'd look at your calendar, you would notice the date.  Can you
tell me what day it is, Jim?"

"It's the ninth.  And you're not due back until the tenth, tomorrow."

"No, it's the tenth.  Jim, what day of the week is this?"

"Tuesday."

"No, Jim, it's Wednesday.  Remember Wednesday?  That day that you and
I set aside for you to COME PICK ME UP?!?!"

Jim flinched.  "Ouch.  I'm sorry, gup.  Without you here to keep me
on track the last few days, I've been kind of out of it."  Noticing
Taggart taking out a can of Lysol and spraying the area around his
desk, he added quietly, "What happened to you?  You want to shower
and change?"

A cry of frustration escaped Blair's lips.  "I don't want to talk about
it.  I just want to go home, get in the shower-"

"Whoa there, Chief!  You're not getting in *my* truck smelling like
that.  You can get a shower here."

"Fine."  Blair began rummaging through his bag.  "You got any clothes
here that I can borrow?  All of mine are dirty from the trip.  Good
thing this bag is waterproof, though."  He lifted out some clothes,
soiled only by his sweat from his journey, followed by a trinket
that he intended to give to Jim, and a green container.  "Here,"
he said, handing over the artifact.  "Brought you this back."

"What is it?"

"I'll explain later.  It's a little puzzle."

"Oh.  And what's in the container?"  Jim picked it up, trying to smell
the contents through the plastic barrier.

"That," explained Blair, "is a kind of candy.  It's made of some sort
of cactus.  One of the villagers I worked with for a couple of days gave
it to me before I left.  She said I'd like it."

Jim opened the container slightly.  The green of the container lent itself
to the contents, already a light shade of green.  "They don't smell
too good, Chief.  You want me to toss them?"

"No, no, they're fine," explained Blair.  "I had one on the train.
Well, a piece of one.  They're OK - not that sweet.  I like my candy
a little sweeter."  Blair searched, pulling a pink pair of sweats from
his bag that didn't seem too rank.

Grinning eyes greeted the sight of the shirt.  "What happened to your
clothes, Chief?" 

"Laundry mix-up.  You remember Bart?"

"What, the little idiot that went on the expedition with you and the
team?  Little guy?  Pointy hair?"

Blair tsked in disgust.  "Yeah, that's the one.  He got his 'lucky red hat'
dirty on one of the trips, so he tossed it in with the laundry on one of
the trips back to civilization to get supplies - *my* laundry.  My
*WHITE* laundry." 

It seemed this was Jim's day to catch up on his quota of laughs.  He's
been a bear for the last week while Blair had been gone, but he was
making up for it now.  "Sorry, Chief.  Can't help you in that department.
My locker's clean."

"Fine." He put the pink sweats to his nose, deciding the strong aroma
wasn't as bad as what he smelled of right then.  "These'll have to do.
Just get me to the showers."  Blair dropped his backpack on the side of
Jim's desk, ignoring the puzzle and open container of candy.  As they
passed Taggart's desk, he looked shocked as Joel aimed the can of Lysol
at him, threateningly.  He stopped following Jim, and went to Taggart's
side.  "What is it, guy?" He tried to get close to Taggart, who was
eyeing him menacingly.  "What, didn't you miss me?  Don't I get a welcome
back hug?"

"Get off me, Sandburg!"

The aborted hug now history, Blair gave Taggart his best pouty look.
"Aww... I'm hurt!  Admit it, Joel.  You just love me for my chili."

The expression, 'the way to a mans heart is through his stomach' was
not lost on Joel Taggart.  A big man, one of his main passions was good
food, and Blair's chili was at the top of that list.  "If it'll get
me a bowl of that ostrich-meat chili, I'll hug you."  He rubbed
his stomach, fondly remembering the taste.  "Damn!  You just have to
mention that stuff, and it's all I can think about for the rest of
the day.  You making another batch soon?"

"How about Saturday night?  We'll make a night of it.  Give me a
chance to make up some of the money I didn't win by missing the
last poker party."

Hunger filled Joel's eyes.  "Saturday night?  I'm there!"

"Cool!  I'll tell Jim."  Sandburg moved to claim his hug, but was
brushed off by the large fellow.  "Hey!  My hug!"

"Yeah, right.  Hit the showers, hairboy."

A mock sigh of rejection flung itself from Blair's lungs.  "Fine.
Foiled again."  Blair began to make his way to the back with Jim,
when he turned back to Taggart and the crew.  "Gents, there are some
treats in my backpack and in the container on Jim's desk.  I know
better than to not bring you guys back treats when I head out, now."
He remembered the play cold-shoulder he received when coming back
from a weekend study in Colorado, empty-handed.  "Have at it, boys!"  

~*~*~*~*~*~*

The messy clothes now safely bagged up, Jim turned to see his lover
under the spray of water.  He stood back, taking in the lovely view
as the water spread over the sinewy body.  "Damn," he said, after he
was sure they were in the locker room alone.  "I missed you, Chief."

Blair opened his eyes, and focused on the immense body standing just
outside of the shower area that was groping itself.  At the sight,
he felt his own cock begin to rise under the warm jets of water.
"Don't do this to me, man.  Not here.  You don't know what being away
from you for six days does to me, man!"  Trying desperately to ignore
his approaching lover, he recited baseball statistics, Mayan chief
burial dates, anything.  When he finally reopened his eyes, his lover
stood dangerously close to the shower, pants down to his knees, stroking
his thick cock.  

"I gotta have you, Chief.  I can't wait to take you in my arms..."

"You were willing to wait until after I'd had a shower!"

His seductive concentration lost, Jim absently stroked his cock while
he tried to explain himself.  "Well... What do you expect?"  He pulled
his testicles slightly with his left hand, as his right continued to
stretch his cock.  "You were covered in...  What exactly were you
covered in?"

The memory of the trip - make that ordeal - from the airport came
back to him.  "Well, I was so pissed that you'd forgotten, that I just
grabbed a taxi and decided to come down here and bitch at you.  And,
I was so pissed that I forgot I only had ten bucks left, which
left me-"

"A couple of miles short."  Jim sighed.  "Jesus, Chief!  You should have
called."

"Yeah, well, I didn't.  So anyway, I told the cabbie, and he let me out
a mile from the station.  I figured I needed the walk, after the train
ride anyway, so I hoofed it.  I was making good time when my stomach
started hurting - probably from that candy Yuconda made for me."  Blair
stopped the flow of water, noting that Jim had tucked himself back into
his pants.  It was only then that he'd noticed one of the Vice cops at
a locker towards the end.  "Anyway, I had to stop.  I was *not* going
to make it back here without going to the bathroom."  Blair dried himself
off, and put on the sweat pants and shirt Jim held for him.  "So anyway,
I grabbed a port-a-potty at that construction site down the road, and
something freaked me.  That's all."

"Something freaked you?  In a port-a-potty?"  Jim chuckled maniacally.

Blair sighed.  "Jim, remember that X Files espisode that freaked me
out so much?  The one with the human tapeworm?"

Jim recalled that episode in his mind, smiling at the memory.  He loved
watching the show with Blair.  Besides the settings often reminding him
eerily of Cascade - some reason he couldn't put his finger on it - he
relished the scary episodes.  Those always found Blair cuddled up next
to him, shivering into Jim's side when the action with the monsters got
too much.  He'd never have guessed that his lover was squeamish about
a television show.  "Yeah?"

"Remember how I vowed never to go back in one of those things?" Jim nodded.
"Well, I broke that promise."  He began brushing his hair, and readying
himself back to being presentable in public.  "I tried not to think about
it, but when I was in there, I could have sworn I saw - something."

"What, Chief?"  Jim was trying to be sincere, but the giggles emanated
from his eyes from how they sparkled, instead of coming from his lips.

"That flukey thing."

The locker room was filled with laughter, as Jim howled.  Blair just sat
back, arms crossed, as his lover settled down.  He narrowed his eyes at
Jim.  Jim noticed, and tried to keep himself composed.

Blair rushed through his next statement.  "Anyway, I freaked, I went for
the door, but it was locked, and I screamed, which echoed and caused me
to freak more, and I pounded on the door and when it wouldn't budge I
tried to lean in and ram it, and instead of opening up it tipped over
and the contents spilled through the toilet and then I walked in here."

He could wait.  And wait he did.

After a good five minutes, Jim finally was able to keep from giggling,
as long as he didn't look at his partner.  Blair was more embarrassed about
the whole thing, and was somewhat lighthearted about the situation, but
still slightly annoyed by his lover.  After several false starts, with
each one sending Jim into a giggle-fit, he continued.  "So, what plans
do we have tonight?"

Jim lost a fight, letting loose a giggle.  "A fluke!  I'm flukeman!!!"
He reached out a hand towards Blair, trying to recreate a menacing
monster from a late-night B-movie scene.

"Jim, this is serious!"  Blair batted away the hand that toyed with
him.  "I *really* thought I saw something.  It was almost like I was
hallucinating or something."

The joviality of the situation drained from Jim's face, and he looked
at his lover more seriously.  "Hallucinations, Chief?  You need me to
take you to the doctor?"

"Naah."  Blair tried to lighten the mood again.  "Probably something I
ate, you know?  Just - OH SHIT!"

"What is it, Chief?"  Jim's eyes drew wide, as a look of terror overtook
his lover face.  

Before Blair was able to respond, a yell came from the bullpen.  "FIRE!!!
EVERYONE OUT!!!  FIRE!!!!"

"Shit!  That's Simon!"  Jim grabbed Blair's arm and began running towards
the main office.  "Come on!"

"But Jim!!!---"

Jim sailed out of the locker room, just in time to see his Captain make
a quick trip of the hallway, and bounded down the stairs.  His sentinel
senses at full alert, he began sniffing, trying to determine where the
fire was.  As Blair rejoined his side, he tried, but could only determine
the smell of one of Simon's cigars and a recently spent match.  

"Jim, I think I---"

Blair was cut off by Rafe, who was running at full speed after a fellow
police officer in full motorcycle-cop regalia, screaming, "Ponch!  Wait
for me, buddy!  Ponch!!!  Slow down!!!!!"

Pulling Blair up, Jim grabbed the pink material, almost barking at him.
"What the hell's going on, Sandburg?!?!?!"

"Jim, I think I know what caused that hallucination.  Remember that-"

Blair was cut short, as his body was thrown to the ground.  He opened his
eyes to see Jim stumbling backwards and tripping over a desk, as a
very deranged looking Taggart sat down on Blair.  "I'll make short order
of you!"  Taggart leaned down, his pearly teeth gleaming at Blair.

"Joel, No!" He struggled.  "Get off me, man!!!"

Taggart cocked his head and looked at Blair curiously.  "Well what do
you know?  This giant pink ostrich can talk!  How are you today, mister
ostrich?"  A look of terror in Blair's eyes confirmed what he'd been
hoping wasn't the case, and he began to struggle.  Pinning the squirming
body underneath him, Joel yelled.  "Now stop that right now!  You're
going to make yourself all stringy and tough!  I don't like my ostrich
meat tough!"

As the mouth opened into a wide grin, the pearly teeth almost blinded
Blair.  Being held by the larger man, he could do nothing but turn his
head and wait for the inevitable, for Taggart to take a hunk of him.
Hot breath burned his neck, and a drop of saliva dripped down onto his
skin.  

Just before Taggart could make contact, Blair heard a loud thump, and
was instantly covered by the larger man.  He sat still for an instant,
realizing that Taggart was not moving, and that he could not breath.
Arms flailing, he screamed and rocked back and forth, trying to get
the large body off of himself, when he felt his right arm being pulled.
he tried to lean left, and the unconscious body of one Joel Taggart
rolled off of him, as Jim pulled him up to the safety of his arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So, Chief.  You want to fill out the reports for this, or shall I?"

The lovers shared an easy laugh, easing off the tension of the last
couple of hours.  "Oh man.  I should have known."

"Chief, it wasn't your fault.  She didn't tell you that she used peyote,
did she?"

"No, but still.  Damn, how could I have been so naive?"

Jim put his arm around his lover, pulling him close.  "Don't worry about
it.  Just be careful next time, OK?"

"Damn straight."  The doctor appeared, a grin still on his face from
the tales he'd heard.  "Hey!  How're they gonna be, doc?"

Doctor Mathews smiled.  "They're gonna be just fine.  I'm going to keep
them under observation for the next eight hours, but I'll release them
after.  The peyote has been counteracted, but I still want to be sure
there aren't any side effects."  

"Good."  Jim added.  "If any of them need rides home, just tell them to
call us, OK?"

"Will do.  Oh, and Mister Sandburg?  I would suggest that you dispose of
the rest of that 'candy' post haste.  You wouldn't want any more of these
little episodes, would you?  What was it again?  Hallucinating a building
fire from a single lit match, imagining seeing one of your childhood tv
heroes, a giant pink ostrich...."

"Already done, doc.  Thanks."

"You can go back and see them, if you wish."

The pair looked at each other, then replied in unison, "Naaahhh."

End

   _______________________________________________________________________________

   Tidbit #2

   Rafe and Henry sat back at the table, smiling at what they saw. For one of the first
   times ever, Blair Sandburg sat across from them, stunned and totally speechless.

   "What?" he stammered. "What are you saying, Jim?"

   The  large  detective  sat next to his partner, and very matter of factly stated, "I
   said  that  I  think  we should have kids." Jim knew he was throwing his lover for a
   loop, and was totally enjoying himself.

   Rafe  was  the first to break the silence. "So, um, not to get too personal, but how
   would you guys do this? Would it be yours, Jim? Or Blair, yours?"

   Henry  Brown  was  now  staring  at  Rafe,  wondering  how he got suckered into this
   universe.  Obviously  the dinner had derailed somewhere about five minutes previous.
   And this was one train he wasn't sure he wanted to be on.

   Before  the  couple  could  answer,  Rafe continued. "Oh, I know! Once you guys find
   someone to carry the baby, maybe you would both go in on it together." An easy smile
   crossed his handsome face. "You know, kind of like putting it in a blender on puree,
   then load up the turkey baster-"

   Blair  finally spoke, his jaw firmly back in place from where it had been resting on
   the  floor. "No, no, no, no, no, no. It's either his or mine. No mingling of juices.
   That would be too weird."       

   A  puzzled look made it's way across Jim's face. "What? What's wrong with that idea?
   Unless  of  course,  you'd like to carry the baby yourself, Chief." A grin displayed
   itself beautifully, and the blue of his eyes danced across to his partner.

   "Are  you  kidding?" Blair asked, and incredulous tone to his voice. "You know, even
   with the strives in science and medical breakthroughs aside, do you even know what a
   woman  goes through? All those hormonal changes. Everything they have to put up with
   for nine months? No way, man. No way."

   The  smile  on  Jim's  face  was  replaced quickly by a fake pout, causing the other
   detectives to smile. As he tried to respond, digging Blair deeper and deeper, he was
   cut off by a now flustered Blair.                

   "Ain't  no  way,  no how, no sir." Blair began to pick at his food, pausing a second
   for  the  others  to  do  the  same  before  he  started  in again. "Besides, you're
   forgetting the main point, man."       

   As  the  other men munched, not taking the bait, Henry stopped mid way in picking up
   his  drink.  Leaning  in inquisitively, he asked, "And that would be?" He lifted the
   glass to his lips, taking a nice draw from it.

   Blair  cleared  his throat and declared quietly to the three men accompanying him at
   the table, "Butt babies don't live."

   And  every  occupant  of  the  restaurant turned as three grown men began choking on
   their  food  and  drinks,  as the man with the beautiful long, curly hair laughed as
   he'd never laughed before.