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B.J Sandburg Legacy. Part One. Blair looked at the kitchen clock for the tenth time in as many minutes. It wasn’t like Jim to be this late. In fact since the twins had been born Blair could set his watch by the Sentinel’s punctuality. Jim had stuck pretty close to home lately. Ammie burped richly and dribbled something evil smelling all over the towel he had draped over his arm for just that purpose. After a month of wiping smelly butts and stinky puke Blair barely even grimaced as he mopped her chin and laid her back on the quilt on the floor next to her sated sister. Jordan had already eaten and was waving her fists around, still drooling and blowing milk bubbles. Blair looked at the clock again. Reaching for the phone he dialed Jim’s cell phone number, cursing and stabbing the off button as he was met yet again with the ‘out of range’ message. "Out of range," he muttered, screwing up the smelly cloths and tossing them on the counter. "How the hell can he be out of range?" Blair washed and rinsed bottles then mixed another batch of formula and carefully filled more bottles, stacking them on the fridge door. All the time his tension mounted, so that when the phone finally rang he jumped a mile and fairly bounded across the floor. "Jim?" There was a pause. "No, Blair. It’s Simon." Blair sank down on the couch, feeling his heart freeze in his chest at the quiet tone. "Simon?" he whispered. "I just got a call." Simon paused again. "Jim’s been in an accident." "A-accident?" Blair managed to stutter, heart in his throat. It was hard to grasp the words for a moment. If he’d ever thought about getting a call like this it would have been to hear that Jim had been shot, kidnapped, something. "Accident?" "His truck was broad-sided at an intersection just outside of the Academy," Simon reported. "He’s alive, but it sounds like it was pretty bad." Blair tried to grasp the sense of Simon’s words but his daughter caught his attention. She was playing with her own hands, touching one finger to the other in wonder. "Blair, are you okay?" Simon cursed under his breath. "Megan and Joel are on their way to your place now. One of them will stay with the twins while the other drives you to the hospital. Blair?" "Hospital," Blair repeated, heart beginning to pound again, brain firing up. "Which hospital?" "General," Simon said, sounding relieved. "I’ll meet you there." "Simon," Blair called, sensing the captain was about to hang up. "Is he, I mean, what?" "Blair," Simon interrupted. "He’s alive. Hold onto that until we see him for ourselves, okay?" Blair swallowed hard and nodded. Simon murmured a good bye but all Blair could do was sit there, phone still clutched to his ear. "Jim," he breathed. He was still there when the buzzer sounded and for a moment hope leaped in his breast. It was Jim! Simon had made a ghastly mistake and Jim would swing in here, throwing off his coat, wrapping his arms around him and holding him close. But it was only Megan and Joel after all. "Blair," Megan said, reaching out and hugging him close. "Buck up, mate," she whispered in his ear. "Everything’s gonna be fine, I just know it." "Yeah," Blair said numbly allowing her to engulf him. "I know." He pulled away from her. "I just need to see Jim." "That’s why we’re here, buddy," Joel said bracingly, slapping him on the arm. "Megan and I decided she’d drive you to the hospital while I stay here and watch the twins." He looked over Blair’s shoulder. "Anything I need to know?" Blair shook his head and stepped back, all the logistics of leaving the twins crowding into his mind, pushing aside his worry and fear. What had he been doing sitting around just waiting for Joel and Megan? He should have been getting ready, writing a list for Joel. He looked around for a moment, not sure where to start. Megan grabbed him by the shoulders. "Get your coat," she advised. "I’ll phone your mum, okay? She’ll know what to do." "Mom’s out of town," Blair reported, grabbing his coat. "We had a fight." He shook his head, not wanting to think about that. "You could call Jim’s dad? He and Sally have been over here a few times, they know their way around." "Great idea," Joel said enthusiastically. He picked up Blair’s keys and wallet from the basket by the door and handed them to him. "Don’t worry about them, Blair," he sad sincerely. "You just go take care of Jim." Blair met his eyes and swallowed hard, fighting back tears at the loving concern in them. "I will," he vowed. He cast a look over at the twins nodding off on their quilt, then followed Megan out the door. ~~~~~ "They think it was a drunk driver," Megan told him as she drove them towards the hospital. "Ran the red light and just kept going." Blair leaned his head against the window, gazing out at the street as they drove. It was a rare day in Cascade, the sun was shining, and the sky was almost completely blue. He’d thought about suggesting to Jim they take the twins out for a walk in the park this afternoon. The four of them hadn’t been out of the house together since they’d come home from the hospital. "Where was Jim going anyway?" Megan filled the silence. Blair thought for a moment, slogging through the tangle of his thoughts. "He had an interview at the Police Academy," he recalled. "Just to look around, see if he wants to teach there." Megan shot him a look. "The Academy? I had no idea he was thinking of giving up police work." Blair rubbed his face. "He wanted to do something less dangerous," he said absently. Then the irony hit him and he huffed an empty laugh. "Less dangerous," he repeated. "What a fuckin’ joke." "Blair," Megan said softly. She reached out a hand and squeezed his arm. "Sorry," Blair muttered. He shook his head, trying to get a hold of his rampaging emotions. "He’s gonna be fine, I know it. I just can’t believe after all we’ve survived..." "You’ll survive this too," Megan sad firmly. "Like you say, Jim’s a survivor." Blair nodded, hands clenching together in his lap. ~~~~~~~ Simon met them at the door, hands out stretched. "He’s alive," he said first, one big hand on each of their shoulders. Blair reached up and grasped his hand. "How badly is he hurt?" "He has head injuries," Simon said soberly. "I saw his doctor as soon as I got here and they were just bringing him up from the Emergency Room. Right now he’s still in a coma, but the doctor said that’s not unusual." "Head injuries," Blair repeated blankly. "I need to see him, Simon." Simon nodded. "Of course. He’s in Intensive Care." "I hate hospitals," Blair muttered to himself as they rode up in the elevator. "We’ve spent way too much time in them, Jim and I." "This one’s keeping him alive," Simon said sturdily. Intensive Care looked the same no matter which hospital you were in, and Blair hastily donned a gown and mask while Simon had a word with a nurse at the desk. "I’ll wait here," Megan whispered and Blair nodded, unable to even spare her a grateful glance. All his attention was for Jim now. "Just a few minutes," the nurse said quietly as she led them down the hall. Blair’s eyes had already found Jim’s still figure through the glass walls and they clung to him. "Blair?" Simon said, hand on his shoulder again. Tearing his eyes away for a moment Blair followed him through the door. Jim was lying flat on the bed, his head padded with bandages, one covering his right cheek. An IV was hooked to his arm and a sheet covered his body. A neck brace was strapped below his chin. Blair stepped forward and laid a tentative hand on his arm, half expecting to find it cold under his fingers. But Jim’s skin was warm and vibrant under his hand. His breath sawed naturally in and out of his lungs, and from the shoulders down he looked fine. The ominous bandage was stark white against his tanned skin. "Jim?" Blair whispered. Jim’s eyes didn’t even flicker. "What did the doctor say?" Blair appealed to Simon. "Severe concussion," Simon murmured. "Some contusions and bruising. His head hit the window when the car hit the side of his truck." "And his neck?" Blair asked in dread. "Whiplash." Blair closed his eyes in relief. Then he opened them again, worry still eating at him. "When do they think he’ll wake up?" There was only silence behind him and Blair turned, catching a look the nurse exchanged with Banks. "Simon?" "They don’t know, Blair." ~~~~~ "You should go home," Megan said to him, handing him the cup of coffee. "Get some rest." "I’ll be okay here," Blair said restlessly, looking around the waiting room. All he wanted to do was sit by Jim’s bed, but the rules in the Intensive Care Unit were very strict. When Jim woke up they would move him to a private room and Blair could stay by his side. But for now he was relegated to this waiting room outside the Unit between visits. William Ellison had arrived half an hour after he had, and he was in with Jim now, taking his turn. "Blair?" Megan said softly. "They won’t let you back in there until tomorrow. Why don’t you go home?" Jim’s my home, Blair wanted to say, but he swallowed his words. They wouldn’t help. He shook his head stubbornly. "What about the twins?" Megan persisted. Guilt tore at Blair’s heart. "They’re in safe hands," he whispered. Megan clutched his hands. "Of course they are," she insisted. "I’m not trying to make you feel guilty, love. I just think you’d feel better if you could go home and hold your babies for a while, that’s all." She squeezed his hands. "As soon as Jim wakes up the first thing he’s gonna do is kiss you. Then he’s gonna ask about the twins, right?" Blair tried to smile, his cold heart warmed a little by the thought of Jim waking up. "Yeah," he agreed softly. "So go home and get some sleep, Blair, please. I’ll drive you." Blair glanced back over his shoulder to the Intensive Care Unit, feeling torn. His mind knew there was nothing more he could do here tonight. Jim was as safe as he could be, and the doctor had assured him that his condition was stable. All the same his heart resisted walking away from his Sentinel, his lover, his husband. But at home their children waited. He sighed, knowing what Jim would want him to do. "I’ll come back first thing tomorrow." Megan nodded. "And I’ll take my turn sitting with the twins." ~~~~~ Sally and Joel greeted them at the door with a babble of questions. Blair left Megan to answer them and headed straight for the nursery. Jordan and Ammie slept side by side and he carefully slid his hands beneath Jordan, lifting her swaddled form and cradling her against his shoulder. "Hi, honey," he crooned, breathing in her baby scent. He didn’t have enough arms to cradle them both, and he longed for Jim by his side to lift Ammie up and hold her too. Then they would sit side by side as they always did, sharing their joy in the very existence of these two little miracles. "Blair?" Blair blinked away his tears and glanced over at Sally. "I packed a few things," she said softly. "You want to check and see if I’ve forgotten anything?" "Packed?" Sally frowned. "Mr. William told me to pack some things for the girls. He said you’d be staying with us while..." She shrugged. "Until Jim gets out of the hospital." Blair frowned uncertainly, gently hugging the dear weight on his shoulder. "He said that?" "So you don’t have to worry," Sally hastened to explain. "And Jim won’t have to worry either." Blair absently patted Jordan’s back. "I suppose it’s not a bad idea," he mused. "I can go see Jim at any time then, without worrying about them." "Exactly," Sally nodded, smiling. She nodded to a holdall on the bed. "I didn’t pack anything for you of course. I thought you’d want to do that yourself." "Thanks, Sally." Blair sat back on the bed, exhaustion over taking him. He didn’t want to think about this. He didn’t want to think about packing, or what was happening to Jim’s truck, or even what he was going to eat to fill the growling hole in his belly. All he wanted to do was settle back on the bed with his daughter’s warm weight in his arms and nod off. Fortunately he had friends around him to do his thinking for him. "I packed you a few things," Joel said quietly in his ear and Blair opened his eyes. "And I have the car seats strapped into the back of your car," Megan said behind him. "You better check them and make sure I’ve done it right." Blair wondered how long he’d been sitting here. "Shall I take Jordan?" Joel said tenderly, gazing down into the crib. Blair chuckled wearily, standing up. "This is Jordan." He patted his daughter’s back. Joel shook his head ruefully. "I’ll take Amelia then." He carefully lifted her in his big hands. "There’s a girl," he hummed. "Thanks guys," Blair said gratefully, beginning to feel life filtering back through his limbs, into his brain, around his heart. They’d get through this thing, all of them. With the help of their friends. ~~~~~~ "The girls are fine," Blair said quietly, holding Jim’s hand. "Your dad was home when we got there and he took us upstairs. You should see it, Jim." Blair squeezed his fingers. "You will see it. He has a nursery all set up for them. Pink frilly curtains and dolls everywhere." He made a face, knowing Jim would grin to see it. "Some decorator went mad in there, that’s for sure. Either that or a Hello Kitty bomb exploded." Blair shook his head. "Like you said once, the twins wouldn’t care if we tucked them into a drawer, as long as they were near us." Tracing fine hairs on the back of Jim’s hand, Blair smiled sadly. "They miss you Jim, I know they do. Jordan just wants me to cuddle her all the time and Ammie gazes up at me and then all around, as if she’s looking for you." He huffed a laugh. "All right, I know you’d say I was imagining that, but it’s true. And that face Ammie makes is a smile, not wind." Jim slept on, chest rising and falling, monitor next to him beeping quietly. Twenty-four hours since the crash and the cop still showed no signs of waking. Again they had reporters camped outside their hospital room, again strangers clamored to hear about yet another tragedy in their lives. But there was something different this time. Because this time Blair felt a creeping tide of loneliness around him. Always before they’d met their challenges side by side, but now he was alone. His lover’s hand was a warm weight in his, but Jim slept on, unable to comfort him, help him, advise him. "Please wake up Jim," Blair pleaded, leaning over Jim’s hand, pressing his forehead to its warmth. "I can’t do this without you." But Jim slept on. ~~~~ Wearily Blair trudged up the drive, gazing up at the big house numbly. It was odd how he never related Jim to this big cold house. He never felt any kind of connection with his partner here, even in his old bedroom where Blair had curled up to sleep last night. Inside was cool and quiet and Blair stood for a moment, leaning back against the door, eyes closed. "How is he?" Blair started at William’s quiet voice. "No change," he reported dully. William was wearing his coat and jingled a set of keys in his hand. "I need to talk to you, Sandburg," he said coldly. He nodded to the door. "Outside." Blair blinked in surprise at the tone, but he obediently stepped out onto the top step. "Is something wrong?" "I didn’t see the point of making a fuss last night," William said, slapping his hand with his bunched gloves. Blair was instantly reminded of the day that Jim’s father had dropped in unexpectedly, all those months ago. How cold he had been, until he’d put two and two together and figured out that Blair’s swollen belly meant grandchildren for him. "Especially since we didn’t know if Jim would come right out of it," William continued. Blair’s throat tightened. The doctor said the longer Jim stayed in a coma the harder it would be for him to come out of it. He pushed the thought away. "But Sally over-stepped her mark last night." William slipped his gloves into his pockets. "I’ll just be blunt, Sandburg. The invitation to stay here didn’t include you." Blair stared blankly. "What?" William looked away, squinting in the strong afternoon light. "I’m a straight forward man, I believe in saying what I think. You’re not needed here." Blair blinked, the words beginning to sink in. "I’m not needed here?" he repeated in disbelief. "Excuse me?" William set his jaw. "You heard me," he bit out. He met Blair’s eyes evenly, jaw set in a familiar manner. "You’re Jim’s friend and I appreciate that. But this is a family matter-" "Those babies are my family," Blair ground out. He stepped around William and grasped the doorknob, and then reeled in shock as William intercepted him, pushing his hand from the door. "This is my house," Ellison senior said firmly. "And those are my children," Blair returned, not even caring how that sounded. He squared his shoulders, staring into pale blue eyes that met his with a frown. "You’re crazy," William declared in disgust. "You’re thirty years older than me," Blair said in a low voice. "But if you don’t get out of my way I will knock you down these stairs." William’s nostrils flared as he attempted to stare Blair down. Something in the younger man’s eyes must have convinced him he was serious because he bit his lip and took a small step backwards. He was still in front of the door though, and Blair clenched his fists in frustration, fighting the urge to shove him aside and run to his children. This was still Jim’s father and he didn’t want this to get any uglier than it already had. "You’re not taking my grandchildren," William insisted. "Please move," Blair whispered harshly, voice hoarse with strain. "I’m going to call the police," William promised. Blair would have laughed if his throat hadn’t been closed with strain. "In this town?" he said incredulously. "You think you’ll find a cop who’ll help you steal Jim Ellison’s children?" "I have more right to them than you do!" William yelled, raising his fist and shaking it furiously. Blair shook his head sharply. "Not under the law or before God," he swore. "Jim made me their legal guardian and gave me full power of attorney before they were born." He met William’s incredulous gaze proudly. "The man’s a cop, he risks his life every day. Is it so surprising that he would protect his children?" William shook his head. "Not you," he insisted. "He wouldn’t have trusted you that far." Blair nodded, not resisting the urge to move in for the kill while this chink in William’s armour was showing. "There’s more," he revealed. "He’s had papers drawn up making me their co-guardian with him. I’ll have full rights as a parent." Blair watched in satisfaction as the old man’s eyes glazed over. William was a lawyer, he must know how something like this worked. It was one thing for a man with a dangerous job to plan for every eventuality, to protect his children with a legal guardian. But it was quite another for him to give up half his rights while he was alive, to share his children with another person. Full realization sparked in William’s eyes. And then he finally stepped aside. Blair was past him in an instant, flinging the door open and racing up the foyer stairs. Sally was by the cribs, the holdall in her arms. Blair glanced at the babies and then back at her sad face. "I packed it for you," she said softly, holding it out. "I told him this wouldn’t work." Blair took the bag and laid it on the floor, reaching down and lifting Ammie up. Sally reached for Jordan. "I’ll help-" "I’ll take her," Blair interrupted. He tucked Ammie in one arm and awkwardly lifted the other tiny bundle up. He now had a baby in the crook of each arm and he shifted them a little, making sure he had a stable hold on them. Sally was standing by the bed, her hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Blair felt a prickle of guilt. "I’m sorry." He laid his cheek on Ammie’s red gold fluff of hair. "I’ll get my stuff later." He didn’t care if he never saw any of the clothes again. Things were easily replaced; right now all he was trying to do was keep his family together. Sally nodded, but lifted the holdall anyway and followed him downstairs. Blair braced himself for a fight, but William was nowhere in sight. He awkwardly leaned into the back of his old car and laid the girls in their car seats. This time Sally didn’t offer to help. "I’m not going to let this go," William said from behind him. Blair straightened and turned to face him. William’s eyes were red rimmed and angry. "William," Sally pleaded, taking his arm. He shook her off. She crossed her arms over her chest miserably. "You old fool," she spat. "Do you think Jimmy’s gonna let us see them now?" William set his jaw. "I’ve already called my lawyer," he said stiffly to Blair, ignoring her. "You may think you can hide behind your cop buddies, but you’re dead wrong." Blair thought furiously. William was a wealthy man with a lot of important friends in this town. And while Jim had a lot of friends they were mostly cops, not lawyers. He forced himself to remain calm. Tucking his hands in his pockets he leaned back against the door of the car. "Call him back," he ordered. "What?" William sputtered. "Call him back," Blair repeated. "And I’ll make a deal with you." William frowned suspiciously. "You want money?" Blair pushed himself away from the car with a furious motion, almost walking away there and then. He reined his temper in. "Not that kind of deal," he ground out, clenching his fists. "Listen to him William," Sally pleaded. William stared at him. "What kind of deal then?" "If you go through with this you’ll destroy your relationship with Jim. You know that." "Jimmy’s in a coma," William said doggedly. "And you think he’s not gonna come out of it?" Blair studied him pityingly. "He will wake up. And I have the power to make sure that when he does you never get to see your grandchildren again." William looked into the back seat of the car, his eyes veiled. He remained silent. "If you back off right now I won’t let that happen." "You won’t tell Jim about this?" Sally ventured. "I didn’t say that." William looked at him arrogantly. "Maybe you over estimate your influence over my son." "No, I don’t," Blair said simply. "Right now. This minute. You are deciding your future with these children." "Please," Sally said again, hands wrapped around one arm. "Please William." "I’ll back off for now," Ellison senior said slowly. "Because I think you’re right, Jimmy will come out of it. My son will overcome this. But the time will come, Sandburg," he sneered. "The time will come." "Bring it on," Blair drawled, giving his best Jim Ellison impression. Without another word he climbed into his car and drove away. ~~~~~~ Two blocks away he was shaking so hard he had to pull over to the side of the road. He leaned his forehead against the steering wheel and gasped for breath, letting the mother of all panic attacks wash over him. Well, he’d proved he could manage without Jim in a battle. But it really sucked big time. ~~~~~ "Simon called your lawyer," Blair said quietly, Jim’s hand back in his. "So far the old man’s kept his word and laid off the law stuff." Sighing wearily Blair laid his cheek against the lax hand. "But I really wish you’d wake up and kick your Dad’s ass, Jim. I really need you right now." He closed his eyes, feeling the burning behind the lids. "Not just right now," he whispered. "I miss you so much, my love. So much." Blair must have slept then, because he began to have the most beautiful dream. For the first time in two days Jim was touching him, his hand moving in his hair, stroking back the stray curls from his forehead. It wasn’t until the trailing IV line touched Blair’s cheek that he woke up with a gasp. "Jim?" Blue eyes blinked sleepily at him, lids already drifting closed. "Jim!" Blair screamed, diving for the call button and pressing it frantically. "Don’t go, Jim! Don’t close your eyes again!" But Jim’s eyes shut stubbornly. Tears rolling down his face, Blair watched as a nurse rushed in and babbled questions at him. "He was awake," Blair mumbled. The next minutes were a wash of sound and movement as another nurse arrived, and then a doctor. All Blair could see were those confused eyes, all he could feel was that seeking hand. He cursed himself for being asleep when Jim woke up. Maybe if he’d been able to talk to Jim he wouldn’t have slipped away again? "Jim?" the doctor was calling. He lifted an eyelid and shone a light. Even from where he huddled by the door Blair could see Jim’s body jerk. "Jim Ellison? Can you hear me?" Blair stepped forward as if pulled by a string. "Don’t shout," he said in a trembling voice. "And don’t shine the light in his eyes, his vision’s very sensitive." The doctor glanced at him over his shoulder. "Please wait outside," he ordered. "No," Blair said firmly. He pushed past the doctor. "Listen to me. I’m his partner, okay? If he’s coming back I’m the one who’ll reach him." He ignored the doctor’s angry scepticism and turned, leaning over his sleeping lover on the bed. "Hey, Jim? It’s me again. I know you heard me before, buddy. You woke up to be with me, right?" While he spoke softly to Jim Blair picked up his hand again, heart pounding faster than ever as he felt the difference. Jim’s fingers were twitching now, not lying lax in his grasp. "You’re fighting your back to be with me. Me and the twins. Please fight, Jim, please. We need you. Jordan and Ammie need you." Jim groaned and behind him the nurse exclaimed. Blair held his breath as Jim’s eyes flickered again, then opened to bright blue slits. "Blair?" Blair gasped a bubble of relief. "Yeah, Jim, it’s me. You’re okay, Jim, you’re okay." "Let me take a look at him?" the doctor asked quietly, and Blair reluctantly stepped back, not relinquishing his hold on Jim’s hand. He couldn’t have even if he’d wanted to, Jim was holding him so tightly he would have bruises in the morning. Blair decided he’d kiss every one of them. "Jim?" The doctor said again. "Can you hear me?" "Of course I can hear you," Jim said hoarsely. He frowned, looking deliciously rumpled and grumpy. "Am I in the damn hospital again?" Blair grinned at the grouchy tone. "Fraid so Jim," the doctor said apologetically. "I’m just going to check a few of your responses, is it all right if I shine this light in your eyes?" "If you must," Jim allowed. His sleepy eyes sought Blair’s and the younger man nodded reassuringly. Jim’s face cleared a little and he grudgingly submitted to the various tests the doctor tried out on him. "Still a bit concussed," the doctor pronounced. "But a whole lot better than he was an hour ago." He smiled at Blair. "Thanks for your help." Blair nodded, too full of joy and relief to speak. "Hey, Chief?" Jim asked quietly. Blair leaned over, still holding Jim’s hand tightly. "I don’t remember how I got here," Jim confided. "That’s quite usual, Jim," the doctor inserted. Jim shot him a poisonous look and the doctor suppressed a smile and turned back to his chart. "I heard you guiding me back," Jim said quietly. Blair nodded again, eyes devouring the sight of Jim awake, his eyes alive, his face mobile. Jim frowned, lifting the hand with the IV and rubbing his brow. "But I have a question," he said thoughtfully. "Yeah?" "Yeah," he nodded, then tilted his head and gazed at his Guide inquiringly. "Who are Jordan and Ammie?" End of Part One.
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