Just One Week

December 11, 2007

August 2007 SA Themefic. Jaye Daver said. "I'd like to see stories about the real bond between Sentinel and Guide, especially as it leads to a committed long term relationship.
The stories can show the difficult road to that friendship or the bond itself, but, please, no non-con, slavefic, or other coercive elements. Crossovers would be a bonus."

Author Notes: Okay, some warnings. Some people may classify this as a songfic and if that's not your thing… stop now and run away. <G> If you want to still take a chance, all the song lyrics are in one section and you can just skip over that part.

Still here? LOL. The first scene from this story came to me as soon as I got Jaye's email. I got to the shower scene (see, not just a songfic ;)) and had to stop and take the kids to a class. When I got back to my computer, I had stalled out, so I stopped for the night. I woke up the next morning singing the lyrics from Annie (thank (or curse) family movie night for that) and suddenly, I had the next part of the story.

Back to that songfic part. I ran all the lyrics together as one paragraph with periods separating the lines. It was taking up too much room the other way. I should also let you know that I've never heard of two of the songs before, I found the lyrics on line and it worked with the story, so I used it. Love the internet. I didn't post the lyrics at the end of the story this time (it was threatening to make the story twice as long) but you can find them online by typing in the song title and the word 'lyrics' in any search engine.

Okay, I'm stopping now before this gets longer than the story. Except I have to thank Judy for tightening up this story and for helping me get unstuck in the middle. I started this August 16 and it took until December to finish the darned thing.

Enjoy!

~~~~

Blair slammed into the loft and tossed his backpack toward its usual resting place. He threw his keys at the basket and when that didn't make enough noise, he picked up the basket and threw it across the room. It crashed into the counter scattering its contents before settling down to cover the answering machine. "Argh," he growled.

"I don't believe this!" Blair exclaimed to the room at large. "This is so unfair. Don't I have enough problems?" He gave his hair an exasperated yank trying to clear out the anger and allow some rational thoughts to filter in. "Who the hell did I piss off in a former life? I'm sorry," he yelled toward the ceiling, "but this is beyond unfair. What do I do now, what do I do now," he muttered pacing around in circles. He yanked at his hair again and decided to take a shower. I may be going insane, but I might as well be clean and insane. "This is so far beyond just 'one week, man'," he sighed, then went off to gather clean clothes from his room.

Blair decided to stay in the shower until the warm water ran out. "No Jim to worry about saving hot water for. At least for a few more days. Shit. What am I going to do?"

The sound of the water drowned out the sound of the phone ringing. The answering machine clicked on and Jim's voice echoed around the room. "Chief, are you there? Pick up if you are there… I guess you're out. Okay, I've had a … a change of plans and am on my way home. I should be there sometime tonight unless I miss my connection. Chief… Blair… I, um… I think we need to talk… okay? See you soon."

Blair opened the bathroom door letting a wave of steam escape. He felt slightly calmer, but still hadn't come up with any more ideas. "Maybe he won't notice." Blair muttered, then rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. He notices if I leave a cabinet door slightly ajar. But… maybe he'll just ignore it. He's good at that. He ignores all kinds of things. From me borrowing his shirts to bullet wounds in his body. I'm throwing out the old ideas. So from now on… no more talking. Repression is a good thing. I'm sure he'll buy it. The man could give a clam a run for its money."

Blair looked down at the wet towel in his hand. He walked back to the bathroom and put it in its 'proper' place. "No sense giving Jim too many things to ignore." He sighed then snapped his fingers. "Music. That's the ticket. Just turn on a little music to calm me down. Just the thing. He turned on the stereo. "And tea. Tea is very calming." Blair walked into the kitchen just as the sound from the stereo kicked in.

:::singing from radio::: Together at last! Together for ever! We're tying a knot, they never can sever! I don't need sunshine now, to turn my skies at blue -- I don't need anything but you! :::end singing from radio:::

"ARGH! Annie!?! Why are they playing music from Annie? Oh, right. I babysat for Jill three nights ago. The radio must still be tuned to the kids channel.

:::singing from the radio::: I'm poor as a mouse. I'm richer than Midas. But nothing on earth could ever divide us! And if tomorrow, I'm an apple seller, too-- I don't need anything but you! :::end singing from radio:::

"Crap," Blair punched in one of the preset stations on the radio. "I don't need any cosmic reminders of how unequal our situation is right now."

:::singing from the radio::: We belong to the light. We belong to the thunder. We belong to the sound of the words. We've both fallen under. Whatever we deny or embrace. For worse or for better. We belong, we belong. We belong together. :::end singing from radio:::

"No, no, no," Blair yelled. "This is not calming me down." He hit the next preset station button.

:::singing from the radio::: I'd be lost if I lost you. If you ever leave Baby, you would take away everything real in my life. And tell me now. How do I live without you? I want to know. How do I breathe without you. If you ever go. How do I ever, ever survive. How do I. How do I. Oh, how do I live. :::end singing from radio:::

"I don't believe this," Blair said as he changed the station again.

:::singing from the radio::: When you left I lost a part of me. It's still so hard to believe. Come back baby, please.  'Cause we belong together. Who else am I gon' lean on when times get rough. Who's gonna talk to me on the phone 'til the sun comes up.  Who's gonna take your place there ain't nobody better. Oh, baby baby, we belong together, baby! :::end singing from radio:::

"Deep breath, Blair.  It's just a song.  Change the channel."

:::singing from the radio::: Honestly what will become of me. Don't like reality.   It's way too clear to me.  But really life is daily.  We are what we don't see.  Missed everything daydreaming.  Flames to dust.  Lovers to friends.  Why do all good things come to an end?  Flames to dust.  Lovers to friends. Why do all good things come to an end? :::end singing from radio:::

"No, no, NO!" Blair yelled and punched the last button.

:::singing from the radio::: These times are so uncertain.  There's a yearning undefined.  ...People filled with rage.  We all need a little tenderness.  How can love survive in such a graceless age.  The trust and self-assurance that can lead to happiness.  They're the very things we kill, I guess.  Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms.  And the work I put between us, Doesn't keep me warm.  I'm learning to live without you now But I miss you, Baby.  The more I know, the less I understand.  All the things I thought I figured out, I have to learn again.  :::end singing from radio:::

 

Blair jammed the button to change the speaker input from the radio to the CD player.  "What's in here?  Santana.  That should be safe."  He took a deep and calming breath as the disk cued up.

:::singing from the stereo::: Don't you feel a change a-coming. From another side of time.  Breaking down the walls of silence.  Lifting shadows from your mind. Placing back the missing mirrors.  That before you couldn't find.  Filling mysteries of emptiness.  That yesterday left behind. :::end singing from stereo:::

"ARGH!!! This can not be happening to me. Is this some kind of cosmic joke? Don't panic. Don't panic. I am calm. I am calm. I am fucking kidding myself here. I should just go… somewhere. Crap. I don't know what to do," Blair sighed. "Tea. I was going to make some tea. And, maybe… meditate. That might work. I've got days still to figure out what to do. Days, nearly a week more before Jim gets back. I just have to come up with a plan. I can do that. I'm good at figuring things out.”

Blair drank his tea grumbling about fate, destiny, and karma. He gathered his candles and moved the coffee table away from the couch. He sank to the floor, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

Blair suddenly woke up into the blue jungle. "Whoa, monochromatic is not my scene. No wonder Jim complains about them. Blue is such a depressing color when that's all you see. Grass should not be blue. Neither should trees… that's just so… wrong." Blair came to an abrupt stop as he ran knee first into a wolf. "Hey, you're not blue. Wow, you're gorgeous! Oh, and there's Jim's jag. Cool. I guess I'm supposed to pay attention to the non-blue things, huh? Okay, I'm down with that. Sooo, what now?"

The wolf and the jag walked toward each other and rubbed noses happily. They curled around each other and went to sleep.

Blair snorted. "That's so not us."

The wolf slowly walked toward the jaguar. His tail was down and his coat matted. The jaguar growled in discontent over the condition of the wolf. The jaguar walked over shoved the wolf to the ground and started grooming it. After a few minutes, the wolf looked better and both animals got up and started to play.

"That's more realistic. But, he shouldn't have to do that. I can, I mean the wolf can take care of himself. They just needed to give us some time," Blair complained.

The wolf walked past the jaguar and continued on into the jungle. The jaguar yowled his displeasure and started to follow the wolf. The wolf growled at the jaguar and loped off trying to lose the big cat. In his rush to get away, the wolf wasn't being very careful and fell into a pit trap, impaling a stake through his chest. The jaguar was following too closely to stop and suffered the same fate. Both animals died.

Blair gulped in dismay. "Um, they're really okay, right? I mean this is just like a play or something right? It's not their fault."

The wolf walked toward the jaguar growling in anger. The Jaguar growled back. The two animals postured for a bit then simultaneously attacked. They fought savagely for a few minutes, then both seemed to realize what they were doing and stopped. The wolf and jaguar were embarrassed by their behavior and ran away instead of staying and apologizing. Both animals lived out the remainder of their lives wounded and alone.

The wolf snuck away from the jaguar. The jaguar searched and searched, but he couldn't find the wolf. In his despair, the jaguar forgot to eat and drink. He died of starvation. The wolf lived a long time and never stopped hiding from the jaguar or himself.

The wolf started toward the jaguar. Then the blue jungle started spinning. Variations on the same theme played over and over. Some of the choices had positive outcomes. Both the wolf and the jaguar were happy and in some they lived for a long time. The remaining options had other outcomes. Some were really bad. Others were worse. Blair started to get dizzy as the possibilities kept speeding by faster and faster.

Then suddenly everything stopped. Blair heard a disembodied voice. It said one word as the jungle started to fade. "Choose."

"Choose," Blair muttered as he rejoined reality.

"What was that, Blair?" Jim asked.

"Ack!" Blair yelled and put a hand to his chest to encourage his heart to stay in place. "Jim! Jim, what are you doing home? You're not supposed to be back for several more days. Geesh, warn a person next time. Talk about a heart attack." Blair got up and almost fell over as the blood rushed back into his numb legs.

Jim grabbed Blair to help, but Blair just shrugged off the gesture and stumbled over to the couch and plopped down on the cushion.

"I left a message, Chief. I'm guessing you didn't see it," Jim pointed toward the answering machine still covered with the basket.

"Oh, that," Blair said nervously. "Right, sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you anyway. It's your house. You can come and go whenever you want. You don't owe me an explanation."

"It's our house, Chief. And common courtesy suggests keeping close friends and family aware of your travel plans. I think you qualify, don't you?" Jim asked calmly.

Blair decided to ignore Jim's last question and ask one of his own. "Why are you home so early?" Blair got up from the couch and started fiddling with his candles.

"I was informed of the need to come back home," Jim stated, watching his nervous partner intently.

"Oh," Blair said with a relieved sigh, "Simon needs you back at work, huh? Okay, by me big guy… a cop's work is never done. So what now? A stake out on the waterfront, a crime scene you need to investigate, an undercover operation? I hope it's not that. I don't like it when you go undercover. You've got great control over your senses, but there's always a chance of problems. Did you tell Simon that I need to go under with you? I really don't like it when you're out in the field too long by yourself. He should…" Blair trailed off and cocked his head in confusion at his partner. "Why are you smirking at me?"

"I didn't say that Simon called," Jim said.

"Sure you did. You said you were called," Blair trailed off and thought of what Jim had said." He started pacing around the loft again. "Why am I the only one freaking out here? I mean, usually you'd be more freaked out than me. What's going on with you, man? Did you hit your head? Were you exposed to something that's messed up your senses? What?" Blair demanded.

"It's easy, Chief," Jim said calmly. "I've seen the alternatives and this option is much, much better."

Blair blinked at Jim. "Oookay, blue dream for you too, huh?"

Jim grunted in what could be taken as an agreement.

"Not going there, huh, Big Guy?" Blair asked. He rocked back and forth on his heels finally starting to feel calmer for the first time since this whole mess started.

Jim flashed a small smile in denial that changed into a frown as he recalled some of the options in their obviously shared dream.

"So, umm… guess this means more than one week, huh?"

"Look's that way, Chief," Jim stated. "A lot more than one week."

Blair let out a sigh of relief. "Don't get me wrong, Jim. I mean, I was raised by my mom during the sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll era. And despite her detach with love motto… I don't have a problem staying in one place long term… as long as it's with you."

Jim snorted.

Blair whapped Jim, cleared his throat, and continued, "I didn't mean it like that and you know it. I would do anything for you."

Jim interrupted Blair with a slap on the back. "I don't know about you, but all this talk has made me hungry. Let's go get some red meat."

"Jim, Jim, Jim," Blair said shaking his head sadly. "How many times do I have to tell you about the advantages of a macrobiotic diet?"

"Blair, we just had a frank discussion about our 'relationship,'' Jim said using his fingers to make quotes around the dreaded 'R' word. "We need to do serious manly things now.”

“I don’t know that this,” Blair grinned and waved his hands in the air, “qualifies as a ‘discussion,’ Jim.”

Jim continued blithely, “I'm thinking sports on TV, burritos, and nachos…"

Blair’s eyes narrowed as he considered his friend for a moment. Okay, serious stuff over. "And beer. I could go for a beer right about now," Blair added with a smile.

"Sounds good, Chief.”

Jim hooked his arm over Blair’s shoulders and they walked out of the loft together, in sync once again.

The end.

~~~

Songs in order of appearance

'I Don't Need Anything But You' from the Annie soundtrack

'We Belong' Pat Benatar

'How Do I Live' Faith Hill

'We Belong Together' Mariah Carey

'All Good Things (Come to an End)' Nelly Furtado

'Heart of the Matter' Don Henley

'Changes' Santana

Feedback is appreciated. CherylR

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