B.J Sandburg

Part Ten.

by Gillian

Jim took an involuntary step backwards. "What?" he repeated.

"It's not at all the way I thought it would be," Blair said in agitation. "I thought I'd at least have some warning!"

Jim took another step backwards, this one quite measured. "Uh, sorry to hear it, Chief."

"But no," Blair continued, slapping his hands together. "Bam!"

Jim jumped and stumbled on his next sneaky step backwards.

Blair focused on him intently. "Where are you going?"

Jim froze, one foot still in the air. "Nowhere," he said quickly.

"Good, cos I need you to go to the drug store for me."

Jim began to nod, eager to get away and think for five minutes. Then a sneaking suspicion crossed his mind. "Why?" he asked cautiously.

"Because I can't go out like this," Blair said, in a why-the-hell-do-you-think voice. "And I need you to get me some... stuff."

"Stuff?" Jim repeated, horrified. "What stuff?" he asked, just in case he had the wrong end of the stick. Blair's averted gaze and high colour confirmed his worst suspicion.

"You know," Blair said, raising his eyebrows meaningfully. "Stuff."

"No way," Jim said firmly, planting his feet firmly apart. "I lived with Caroline for a year and a half, and I never bought her... stuff. I'm not about to start now!"

"Caroline was prepared for this," Blair said reasonably.

"Well, you should have been too," Jim protested. "You've had your whole life to get ready for this."

"I thought I had more time," Blair defended. "And I didn't even know for sure whether I would get the damn things." He sunk down under his covers. "Believe me, I wish I hadn't. This is one part of being a woman that I could do without."

Jim resolved not to be swayed by the pathos in Blair's voice. He hadn't known his partner as a woman for very long, but he'd known him long enough before that to be well aware he wasn't averse to using unfair tactics to get what he wanted.

Tactics like big blue eyes and quivering lips.

Firming his stance, Jim clenched his jaw and crossed his arms. No way was he going to be tricked or cajoled into this.

No way.

Twenty minutes later he was outside the drug store, still cursing under his breath.

"All right, we can do this," he murmured to himself reassuringly. "In and out. A surgical strike." He took a deep breath, and pushed open the doors.

Snatching a plastic basket from the stack, Jim began his reconnaissance. First thing on the list was a hot water bottle, which was easy, and would be quite handy later on for hiding stuff under.

Second was chocolate, and Jim frowned as he studied the display. Blair hadn't taken his warning about chocolate not being a good idea during a period very well. In fact the phrase, "Bring it back or I'll bite your face off", had been bandied about.

Jim selected several large bars and tucked them in his basket.

Last was the... stuff, and Jim hit on a brilliant plan while studying the hair dyes in aisle four. From here he could see the aisle he wanted clearly. Never had Sentinel sight been so appreciated! Forget nabbing the bad guys or bringing hardened criminals to justice. Just buying feminine protection without being horribly embarrassed made it all worth while!

"Hmm, absorbent," Jim mused. "Super absorbent, that's gotta be better." Jim zoomed in. "Hold the phone! Super absorbent with natural sphagnum moss, and wings! Wings?" Jim repeated blankly. "Wings. Whatever. Technical and natural. There's our winner."

The next move was incredibly smooth. Jim cruised down aisle three, feinted towards the deodorant, and at the last minute went for the bright floral package. With an easy motion it was in the basket and Jim was on his way to the checkout, triumphant.

There were a few nerve racking moments at the counter, when some old lady in a loud tartan scarf craned her neck trying to see what he was buying. Probably looking for condoms, Jim thought snidely, pointedly turning away.

The line shuffled forward and Jim turned that thought over in his mind. Condoms... Nah, no way. Just because he and Blair had been rolling around on the floor this afternoon in the throes of passion, didn't mean they were ever going to take that next step.

Yeah, sure, Jim sneered to himself. Blair's been a woman for less than a week and he's already got a Jim-hickey on his neck and some definite beard burns on his breasts.

He cut out of the line and grabbed some of his usuals.

********

Jim unlocked the front door and stood on the threshold for a minute, listening hard. Blair was still in his room, but he'd obviously ventured out long enough to put a really depressing CD on the hifi. The oven was off but the casserole was still inside, no doubt dried to a crisp by now. Jim dumped his purchases on the table, keeping the package for Blair in the bag.

He knocked on the door. "Chief? I got it."

The door opened and Blair appeared, still dressed in his sweats, hair still tumbled and loose.

"Thanks," he said flatly, snatching the bag and heading for the bathroom.

"I got the hot water bottle too," Jim called, pulling the tags off the bottle and setting a kettle on the stove to boil. "And chocolate. Although I was serious about it not being good for you. Caroline said it's the sugar, or something. Raises your blood sugar levels-"

"What's this?" Blair was by the table, staring down at the jumble of items.

Jim flushed when he noticed the box of condoms. He'd completely forgotten buying them.

"You're buying rubbers?" Blair asked incredulously.

Jim turned back to the stove, praying for steam. "I'm a mature, responsible adult, Chief. I use protection."

"Congratulations," Blair said sarcastically. "Just don't think you're using them anywhere near me." He turned and shuffled back to his room.

Jim's mouth opened in shock. "What?" He slammed the kettle back down and followed Blair into his room, trying to control his temper. "What did you say?"

"You heard me," Blair said, pulling fresh clothes from his chest of drawers. "You can forget everything that happened here this afternoon, because it won't be happening again."

"All right," Jim said steadily. "Let's just ignore your incredible ego trip for one second, including your assumption that I'm planning on going any further with you than that pathetic little groping session."

Blair turned a vicious glare on Jim and flung his underwear on the bed before yanking open his closet door.

"But would you care to tell me what the hell you're talking about?" Jim continued. "And why I'm suddenly being treated like public enemy number one?"

Blair swung around, clean jeans clutched in his hands. He opened his mouth furiously, then paused, huffing a breath. "I..." He clenched his hands on his jeans. "I really... Damnit." He sat back on the bed with a bump. "Damnit."

Jim felt his anger melt a little at the pathetic figure his rumpled little partner made. "Don't feel so good, Chief?" he said gently.

Blair sniffed once and then threw himself back on the bed, turning to face the wall. "I really don't," he said in a muffled voice.

"Yeah," Jim said sympathetically. "I remember how Caroline would get this time of the month."

"I am not like this," Blair insisted, head still buried in the pillow. "I am a calm, reasonable adult. I should be able to deal with this."

"Yeah, so should a million women out there who go through this their whole lives," Jim said fairly. "But I'm guessing it must be something pretty crappy to go through, because some of the calmest, most reasonable women I've ever met can completely change personalities during this time."

Blair rolled over and made big eyes at his partner. "Jim, you have no idea," he said fervently.

"Tell you what," Jim suggested. "I'll go fill your hot water bottle, and you go and have your shower. Then I'll give you a patented Jim Ellison back rub. Okay?"

Blair blinked hopefully. "You'll give me a back rub?"

Jim flexed his sensitive fingers. "I've been known to have women purring under these babies," he bragged, trying to draw a laugh from Blair. He got a small smile, and was happy to see it.

Blair disappeared into the bathroom, and minutes later Jim heard the shower pounding down on him. He sighed. This really was going to be a long year.

Half an hour later Blair was snuggled up in bed with clean sweats and a hot water bottle on his tummy.

"Feeling better?"

Blair pulled the covers up and smoothed them out. "Yeah," he admitted, a little shame faced. "I can deal with this, Jim."

"Never doubted it, Chief," Jim assured him. "Now, you hungry?"

Blair made a face. "I couldn't eat a thing." He quirked a sly grin. "My back is aching," he revealed.

"Okay, Chief, hint taken. Roll over."

Eagerly Blair rolled over onto his side, tucking the hot water bottle low against his belly. Jim had to smile at his enthusiasm, even as he shook his head at the weirdness of the situation. He had given Caroline a few back rubs, something she had very much appreciated. In Blair's case he would have done hand stands if it meant making him feel better.

Jim flexed his fingers and pulled up the back of the sweatshirt, marveling at the long slim sweep of Blair's backbone. Just hours before he had stroked down that necklace of bones, cupped that narrow ribcage, caressed that smooth pearlescant skin. Carefully he ran his hands up and began to gently massage Blair's tight muscles.

"Umm," Blair hummed, arching into the firm grip. "Ooh."

Jim couldn't help but grin at the pleased moans and sighs escaping from the young woman beneath his hands. "Feel good?"

"Ohh," Blair answered.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Jim, you are sooo good at this," Blair sighed. "Thank you."

Jim gentled his touch even more, not wanting to mark the delicate skin. His massaging turned into stroking, but Blair wasn't complaining, he squirmed under the light touch, sighing his pleasure into his pillow.

"You're welcome."

"Jim?" Blair angled him an apologetic glance over his shoulder. "I'm sorry about before."

"Don't worry about it," Jim shrugged.

"No," Blair protested, turning to face him. Jim's hands fell away and he met Blair's gaze squarely. "I mean it. I shouldn't have bitten your head off."

"And I shouldn't have called what happened between us a pathetic little groping session," Jim said sincerely. "It wasn't."

"Did you buy the condoms for us?" Blair asked directly.

Jim really wished he knew. "I bought them," he prevaricated. "I can't remember what I was thinking."

"I'm just... surprised, that's all," Blair admitted. "I expected you to be freaking about this right about now. I mean, you and me? Lovers? How weird is that?" His eyes were wide, and very blue.

"How weird?" Jim asked incredulously. "Chief, my weird-scale has shot off the meter lately. Look, in the last few days I thought my best friend was losing his mind, I've seen him change sex, and now I'm here rubbing his back because he's having menstrual cramps."

By the time Jim finished his speech Blair was giggling into his hand.

Jim grimaced. "Weird is just too tame a word for me right now."

"And what happened between us? Where does that fall on your new scale?"

"Somewhere between bizarre and freakish," Jim returned.

Blair raised a thoughtful brow, then broke into a grin. "I've been called worse," he admitted. "Usually by you."

"Little did I know," Jim said wryly. "That you had yet to reveal the true depth of your weirdness." He sobered. "I assure you, Blair. Sometime next June I will have a major blowout of a breakdown. I just don't have time for one right now."

"I really do appreciate you being here for me, Jim," Blair said honestly. "Even if I don't always show it."

"I know, Chief," Jim nodded. "And don't worry about the condoms, okay? Nothing's going to happen that you don't want to happen."

"Good," sighed Blair in relief. "Because believe me, I'm finished with all that man/woman stuff."

"What?" Jim, who had just described himself as practically unshockable, felt a thrill of surprise shoot through him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that's it. No sex. I'm spending the next year with my legs firmly crossed."

Jim cast his mind back over the events of the afternoon, wondering if he'd inadvertently done something to frighten or hurt his partner. Then he recalled the aggressive pleasure on Blair's face after their orgasms, and the way he'd straddled Jim's body with sensual fire.

"Why?" he asked.

Blair opened his eyes wide. "Are you kidding? Look at me, Jim. I'm menstruating. There's only one reason for a female to do that, and that's reproduction."

Jim shook his head in disbelief. "Did I say you couldn't get any weirder?" he appealed. "Blair, what are you talking about?"

"This isn't some game, Jim," Blair said earnestly. "I've been running around having a ball, flirting for all I'm worth, trying on dresses and high heeled shoes. Hell, I charmed a uniformed cop out of giving me a ticket yesterday."

"You did?" Jim frowned.

"That's not important," Blair dismissed impatiently. "My point is that I've been treating this like some game, and it isn't. It's deadly serious. This body," he sketched a wave over his figure. "This body is serious."

Jim tapped Blair's wide forehead smartly. "And this brain is useless," he quipped.

"I think I know what Naomi has been hiding from me, Jim," Blair said sombrely. "And why I've been lusting after you from the moment I saw you crawling away from me on the floor, ass in the air."

Jim felt a blush sizzle onto his face like a neon sign.

"This body wants to mate, Jim. It wants to get pregnant. I'm sure of it."

"Th... That's your hormones talking again, Blair," Jim said desperately. The mention of the 'p' word on top of the ass comment was just too much.

Blair shook his head. "No it isn't," he said firmly.

Jim stood up. "I think we better talk about this later," he said lamely. "When you're... feeling better."

Blair snuggled down under his covers. "There's nothing to talk about," he yawned. "You'll see, Jim. It's all for the best."

Jim studied Blair's placid expression as his long lashes drifted closed. He knew mood swings were par for the course, but this was ridiculous. 

He closed the door behind him, feeling oddly bereft.

End of Part Ten.

Part Eleven

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