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B.J Sandburg Part Four.
The park was pretty full for a Tuesday. Jim sat on a bench by the duck pond, staring aimlessly at the ducks, who were busy ignoring the bread being thrown at them by an old lady. Actually, she really looked as if she could have used it herself. Jim wanted to counsel her. Don’t waste that manna on those smelly ungrateful ducks, lady. They’ll probably turn around and bite you, and you’ll end up with the avian equivalent of rabies. The elderly lady scattered the last crumbs on the water and shuffled away. Two kids skate-boarded by, and Jim wondered idly why they weren’t in school. It felt odd being off work on a week day. Felt like he was being dishonest or something, sitting in the sunshine while his colleagues slaved away over hot criminals like good little detectives. But Simon had thought it was a good idea for Jim to see Blair off on his year’s sabbatical, and had insisted he take the day. The captain had been all concern for the past week, driving Jim up the wall with his veiled concerns about how the Sentinel would manage without his Guide. How Jim would manage without his friend. Have we been so inseparable then? Jim thought. I guess we have. So is that why I feel like this now? Like I would have if Blair really had just taken off for a year? No wonder Simon and everyone else had been giving him such weird looks all week. He should have been disconsolate and brooding. He should at least have been sad. Kind of the way he was now. "Hey." Jim looked up in surprise. Blair was standing right next to him. "Not often I can sneak up on you," Blair joked gently, sitting down on the bench, pulling his legs up into his favourite cross-legged position. "I still haven’t tuned into you yet," Jim explained, turning back to the placid pond. "As a woman, that is." "Thought you’d know me anywhere?" Blair half smiled. Jim raised one shoulder. Next to him Blair sighed. "You know, Mom really wants to see the new me, and she just can’t get away from LA for a while. I’m thinking, maybe I should just head up there and visit for a while." Jim’s throat felt tight. "Is that what you want to do?" Blair shifted on the seat. Jim twisted to look at him, scanning that face for what felt like the hundredth time that day. It was actually quite a lovely face, and certainly one which would have drawn a second look from him in ordinary circumstances. Blair still had his smooth tan skin, a high intelligent forehead, dark winged brows and lively blue eyes. His nose was... perfect, and exactly the same shape as before. His lips were the same, lush, slightly red, quirking up at the corners. Maybe the dimples had been there before too, Jim pondered. Had they? The whole face was just the same as before, but altered so subtly, so delicately, it was as if a master artist had decided to play a fine game with his brush strokes. That softly feminine face was sad now, and Jim didn’t fight the urge to reach out and cup that pointed little chin in his hands. How many times had he touched Blair’s face in just this way? "Chief?" he said softly. "Please don’t go." "I don’t want to!" Blair blurted out. He raised a shaking hand to his brow, and Jim dropped his own hand reluctantly. "But you seem to be having a really hard time with this." "I am," Jim admitted. "But it’s not just the woman, thing, you know?" "It isn’t?" Blair said uncertainly. "What is it then?" "I just..." Jim shrugged again. "It’s dumb, but I guess it’s just sinking in. You’re gone. He’s gone. Blair." Blair opened his mouth and closed it again. "See," Jim quirked a smile. "Told you it was dumb." "It’s not dumb," Blair shook his head. "I just remembered. That year, when Mom was having such fun being a guy? I missed her. She was there all the time, but she was different." "Yeah," Jim nodded his understanding. "You’re different, Chief." "You mean 'cos I never checked you out before?" Blair said, chuckling a little. "That’s one thing," Jim agreed, laughing huskily. "Well, maybe I did but you just never caught me at it," Blair said playfully. Jim leveled a finger at him. "Too much information, Chief." Blair unfolded his legs and climbed to his feet. "To repeat myself, Jimmy: Don’t get tickets on yourself." Jim stood. "What does that mean anyway?" Blair shrugged, leading the way out of the park. "I’m not sure. Sounds good though, doesn’t it?" He led the way to the truck and Jim followed. "You really want me to stay?" Jim reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "I guess it’s the least I can do," he said cheerfully. "You’ve seen me through some pretty weird shit over the years." "True," Blair agreed. "Nothing as weird as this of course," Jim pointed out. "Depends on your point of view, I guess," Blair returned smartly. End of Part Four.
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