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  "Who's here with you, Sir?"

  It was the Captain's turn to grin. "You won't believe this but that's the FBI. A man named Thompson and his people." Simon saw Jim flash him a look of disgust. He knew Ellison was thinking of their dealings with the FBI in the past. Instances that had only served to make the working relationship between the federal agency and Cascade Police Department grate on everyone's nerves. After Simon had gotten over his initial shock of meeting an FBI agent who was actually willing to work with the local law enforcement rather than against it, he'd been anxious to introduce Thompson and his people to Jim. "This guy's not like any Fed we've worked with before. I think you'll be surprised."

  The look on Ellison's face told Simon he was skeptical about the prediction but he'd deal with it later.

  More shots sounded as the jewel thieves continued firing back at the federal agents.

  Simon looked toward the area he could hear the heaviest gunfire. "I'd better see about lending a hand," he took a quick glance back inside the building. "You gonna be okay in here?" he asked.

  "We'll be fine, Simon," Sandburg spoke up.

  Simon and Jim both looked at him. The trust that emanated from the anthropologist was astounding. Whether that trust was in Jim or Simon or the feds didn't matter.

  Simon pushed himself back out of the opening and crept to the front edge of the building. In the distance he could see Thompson's men spreading out. Simon smiled to himself. Jim and Sandburg had apparently been through hell. It was time to end this.

  * * * *

  Jim watched Simon leave and heard more shots from what he presumed were the FBI agents. Simon had said he had been surprised by this Thompson, he hoped his Captain was right. He'd had enough bureaucratic garbage with his previous encounters with the FBI.

  He felt Blair jump each time a bullet hit the building. "You okay, partner?"

  "Yeah. It..it's just a little unnerving. You know?"

  Jim saw him half-heartedly smile. It had to be rough to be hearing the gunshots and not be able to even tell how close they were coming. God he hoped Blair's blindness was temporary. He tightened his grip around the young man's shoulders again. "I know," he sighed, "We'll just sit here and wait while the feds and Simon do all the work. Okay?"

  Sandburg made a slight scoffing sound and this time the smile on his face was stronger, "I thank you, but you hate it and you and I both know it," he said, attempting to look into Jim's face. "You want to be out there with them."

  It was the truth, no matter how much Jim wanted to deny it. He thought again about how well Blair knew him.

  "That's not tr...."

  Jim was stopped short by his partner.

  "Don't worry, man. I understand," Sandburg paused, letting Jim grasp that he really did understand, "It's part of your genetic makeup. You're a sentinel. You were born to guard and protect, not sit around on your butt comforting me."

  Jim smiled. "What makes you think comforting you isn't part of guarding and protecting?"

  "Oh. It is." Sandburg smiled too, an impish grin that could melt the coldest of hearts, "Why do you think I put up with you acting like my mother sometimes?"

  "Your mother?" Jim's arm slipped from around his shoulders and he back away just the tiniest bit to let a hint of mock anger creep into his voice. "Your mother?" he repeated.

  A soft laught erupted from Blair at the attempt of severity.

  "You know what I mean," the younger man told him still trying to suppress the laughter in his voice.

  "Yeah, well..."

  "It's okay, really. I mean, I know you can't help it."

  Jim glared at him a final time before grinning as well. "Alright, junior. I think that's enough."

  "Junior!?" Blair made a disgusted face.

  "My, my. How touching." The cold quiet voice from the back of the collapsed building startled both men as Jim instinctively began bringing up his gun in defense and trying to move himself between Blair and the man. He recognized the voice as belonging to the man who had been called Whittaker. "I wouldn't do that, if I were you," Whittaker continued, "Not unless you want 'junior's' brains splattered over the wall behind you."

  It took more control than Jim knew he possessed to halt his gun hand, but Whittaker's gun was aimed directly at Blair and Jim wasn't about to take any chances with a mistake. Outside, he could hear sporadic gunfire as the FBI encountered the last of the thieves. Silently he cursed himself and his lapse. How could he have let this man sneak up on them? Dammit, he was a sentinel. Why hadn't he heard him? And where was Simon? Jim studied the other man through a glacial stare and felt a small amount of satisfaction as he noted the man looked as tired as Jim and Blair.

  Whittaker was in his middle fifties, tall, about six foot with thinning gray hair. He looked out of place surrounded by the haphazard array of fallen timber and Jim judged he would have been more comfortable in boardrooms and high-class restaurants than the out-of-doors. "Toss it away," he said, motioning at Jim's gun with his weapon.

  After a brief hesitation, Jim did as instructed, tossing the gun toward the doorway where it landed just outside the opening.

  "Now," the man said quietly, his eyes flicking toward the sound of men shouting to each other beyond the building. "Where are the diamonds?"

  Jim stared at him, refusing to answer.

  "Come on. I don't have all day. Where...are the diamonds." His voice was hard.

  Jim calculated how long he would be able to stall.

  "Answer me...or I'll shoot the kid."

  Jim felt Blair flinch beside him. His partner hadn't stirred since Whittaker had appeared. Blair couldn't see the gun trained on him, but he knew his partner was aware of what was happening from the conversation.

  He hesitated a moment longer, but gave in when he noted the man's finger twitch slightly on the trigger of the gun.

  "Okay. Take it easy," he heard a soft footstep beyond the walls behind them. "They're in the backpack," he said, indicating Blair's pack lying beside him.

  He reached down, pulling the thermos containing the jewels from the pack and prepared to toss it to the man.

  "No!" he said urgently, "Not you. You stay still. Him." He indicated Blair.

  Blair's sightless eyes widened further as Jim place a protective arm across the front of his chest.

  "Why?" he asked, his voice filled with suspicion.

  "I don't trust you," Whittaker replied. "I want the young man to bring them to me."

  Jim's eyes narrowed. He knew Whittaker had plans to use Blair as a hostage if given the chance. He had no intentions of letting that happen. "He can't."

  Whittaker fingered the trigger of the gun again, "I do not have time for games." His words were measured and spoken low.

  Jim took a deep breath to calm his anger. "He can't see," he told him equally as low. "If you want them, I'll toss them."

  Whittaker paused as if thinking about it for a moment before agreeing. Jim knew he realized a blind hostage would slow him down as much as the crippled hostage. The man's chances of escape were rapidly shrinking.

  "Alright. But I would advise you do so quickly or I 'will' shoot your friend."

  Jim nodded and prepared to throw the container. His mentally calculated the distance and the

  timing. He didn't know if Simon was close enough to help or not, but he was certain he and Blair were dead the moment Whittaker had the diamonds in hand.

  Taking a deep breath he threw the container with deadly force, aiming directly for Whittaker's head and in the same motion threw his body against Blair, knocking him to the ground.

  Jim felt his partner go down hard at the same instant he heard three distinct and separate shots.

  His leg cried out in agony and for a moment he thought Whittaker's shot had caught him in his injured leg. He remained still, hearing a footstep behind him, unsure what had happened to Whittaker.

  "JIM!" There was a moment of silence that sent Simon's heart in to overdrive. "ELLISON!" The captain's voice was lac
ed with fear. *God, please don't let them have come this far only to lose.*

  "Yeah, Simon. I'm okay."

  Simon closed his eyes as he exhaled a pent-up breath. He continued to keep his gun trained on the unmoving form of the diamond thief as he saw Agent John Thompson advance and check for a pulse on the man. After a brief moment, the FBI agent looked up at him and shook his head.

  Simon slowly lowered his gun and turned his attention back to his detective team. In the shadows of the building he could see deep lines of weariness and pain etched on Jim's face as he slowly pushed himself upright, then gently helped Sandburg to sit up. Both men needed medical attention as soon as possible.

  Simon holstered his gun and knelt to help Jim as he motioned for Thompson's medic.

  Jim slowly righted himself, wincing at the reawakened pain radiating upwards. He'd heard Simon call to him the first time but he had been preoccupied gauging Sandburg's condition. Jim had not had the opportunity to warn his partner of his intentions and being blinded, the blow to knock Sandburg to the floor for safety had caught the anthropologist completely unaware. Jim feared he'd caused more damage to his young friend.

  After reassuring Simon that he was okay, at least not further injured, Jim turned his attention back to Blair.

  "Hey. Chief," he said lifting Sandburg by the shoulders to face him once more. "You okay?" Jim's eyes searched the pale face. "Chief?"

  "Ahh...yeah....yeah. I'm okay." A confused frown crossed the expressive face as he began to brush away unseen litter from the front of his jacket, "Are you done?"

  "Done with what?" Jim asked, becoming concerned.

  "Done with shoving me around. That hurt, man."

  Jim stared at him for a moment, dumbfounded. Whatever he had expected as a response from his partner, it wasn't the tone indignation. He shook his head in wonder and briefly embraced him once again.

  "Jim?" Ellison heard the deep voice speak from behind him. He patted Sandburg's shoulder one last time before turning to Simon.

  "Yeah Simon."

  "We've got a medic here. He needs to check you and Sandburg over."

  Jim nodded agreement as a stranger knelt beside Blair and began his cursory examination.

  * * * *

  The FBI agents had taken possession of the bodies of Whittaker and his people along with the thermos containing the diamonds.

  Jim had been impressed with and surprised by John Thompson. Simon had hurriedly explained a little more in depth about Thompson being different from most of their ususal contacts with the federal agency, but Jim hadn't believed him until the man had stepped forward to speak with the medic regarding his and Blair's conditions.

  Jim had heard honest concern in the voice and after silently monitoring the man's heart beat he knew the concern had been genuine. Simon had been right. The man was different. It would be easy to work with him.

  Simon had introduced them and Thompson had stayed nearby while Jim's leg had been checked and re-braced and Blair's eyes had been bandaged for protection against further damage. Then he had arranged for a helicopter to transport them back to Cascade along with Simon and himself.

  Jim had heard his partner's heart rate increase at the news of the impending helicopter flight but the young man had remained silent. After what they had gone through with the airplane crash, it couldn't have been easy for the anthropologist to bring himself to get back on an aircraft of any type, and the fact that he couldn't see hadn't helped. Jim could tell Blair had been on the verge of refusing to go in the chopper and he still felt a twinge of regret at resorting to manipulation to get him onboard. All it had taken had been a single word from Jim that he needed his partner with him and the younger man had swallowed whatever protests and fears he'd had and climbed inside the helicopter.

  He'd been quiet during the flight. Too quiet. And Jim hadn't needed his Sentinel abilities to hear the thundering of the young heart.

  When the helicopter had lifted off, Sandburg had visibly paled and his hands had gripped at the only surface he could find in his dark world, the seat where he sat. At that instant, Jim felt more guilt than he would have imagined for his deception. Without hesitation he had casually placed his arm across Blair's shoulders and drawn him close. Sandburg had remained tense and quiet the entire trip but his hand had found it's way to the edge of Jim's jacket and the white knuckled grip hadn't lessened until they had reached the hospital where the two of them had been whisked away to a treatment room for care.

  Now, several hours later Simon had left to help the FBI tie up a few loose ends and Jim was resting comfortably in Cascade General Hospital, waiting for his partner to join him.

  They both had been suffering from dehydration and were being fed fluids through I.V.'s and the doctor had wanted more complete tests on Sandburg because of the head injury. To Jim's relief, the doctor had confirmed the blindness was temporary, caused by swelling of the tissue surrounding his optic nerve.

  Jim silently thanked again whatever powers it was that watched over his partner. The blows he had taken to the head could easily have resulted in much worse damage than the temporary blindness and concussion he'd sustained.

  His own injury would be taken care of soon. The doctor had scheduled him for surgery to repair ligament damage to his knee.

  Jim couldn't help but smile to himself as he recalled the nearly inaudible sigh of relief he had heard from Sandburg from across the treatment room when the doctor had mentioned the surgery to his knee could be done with a local anaesthetic. He knew his partner had been worried about what effects the drugs would have on the sentinel's system. Their past experiences with any type of drugs, over-the-counter or prescription, had been less than stellar and they had yet to find the time, or on Jim's part, the inclination, to set aside the time needed to conduct the tests. He didn't even want to think about the Golden drug he had accidently gotten into his eyes. Jim shivered at the memories of him being blinded and Blair being reduced to life-support.

  He leaned back in the bed with a sigh and felt the exhaustion and weariness creep up on him. The nurse said they should be finished with Sandburg in another half hour. Maybe he could catch a nap until they brought his partner in.

  He settled deeper into the pillows and reminded himself to thank Simon for arranging for the two of them to be in the same room. He hated hospitals almost as much as Blair did. It would be comforting to know Sandburg was nearby. Jim smiled as he relaxed further. Besides, this way the hospital staff wouldn't be spending half their time trying to keep up with the wayward anthropologist searching for his partner. Jim suspected his captain had that in mind when he'd made the arrangement. He grinned and let himself drift.

  * * * *

  Blair gripped the arms of the wheelchair as the nurse pushed him down the corridor. He had lost track of where Jim had gone during the tests the doctor insisted on preforming. He had heard his partner's reassurances that everything was okay and he wouldn't be far away but Blair knew Jim had needed his own injuries taken care of.

  He felt a blush creep up his cheeks as he remembered the comfort he had gotten from Jim's arm across his shoulders in the helicopter. He had berated himself for needing the feeling of security but still couldn't deny the comfort the act had brought, not to mention the fact that he didn't think he would have been able to go through with the flight had his friend not been there. He would rather have ridden back in a car or Jim's truck. Hell, they'd already walked almost halfway back to Cascade, he wouldn't have minded walking the rest of the way. But Jim couldn't have walked and the sentinel's injury was worrying Blair more than the blindness he was experiencing.

  Despite the FBI medic's approval of his treatment of the injury, he was concerned that he hadn't taken proper care of Jim's knee when he'd first been hurt. Suppose he'd done something to antagonize the injury and make it worse. Suppose he'd caused irreparable damage to the leg and Jim lost his job because he wasn't able to perform at the same level of physical efficiency as before. Suppose....


  Blair cut himself off from that line of thought. No. Jim would be okay, the doctor said so. He had also confirmed they'd be able to do the surgery with a local instead of a general anaesthetic and with the advances in surgery of this type and a few weeks of physical therapy, Jim would be back at his job to full capacity in no time.

  Blair breathed a sigh of relief as he heard voices pass him. He'd lost track of the length of time he'd been gone from the ER. He and Jim had been taken into the same treatment room when they had first arrived, but the medical staff had taken him for more of their tests and he'd been in more than one room. He wished he knew where Jim had gone and what was going on with his partner, but no one seemed able to tell him anything. He'd asked repeatedly, and each time he had been told someone would try to find out for him. He knew they were only placating him and his patience was beginning to wear thin. He was tired, sore, cranky, his head still hurt and he was more than a little bit scared. It was unnerving to be without his sight.

  He knew he was fortunate the blindness was temporary and he was thankful. The doctor had explained what was causing it and that it would disappear in a few days but Blair still found his confidence lagging. His admiration and respect for the permanently blind had skyrocketed. It was just dawning on him how much he took his sight for granted on a daily basis. He vowed to be more aware and more thankful in the future.

  The nurse slowed the wheelchair and Blair could hear her pushing open a door. They must have arrived at his room. He wondered once again what had happened to Jim. He wanted desperately to check on his partner but as of yet, the nurses had been unable to tell him what room his friend was in.

  "Mr. Sandburg," the nurse whispered near his ear. He jumped, startled and a little angry at her thoughtlessness. He hadn't felt her leaning closer. "It looks like your roommate is sleeping. We need to be quiet."

  Blair nodded glumly, without speaking. Great. Not only could he not find Jim but now they were putting him in a room with a sleeping stranger. He hoped Simon or one of the guys would be by soon. He could enlist their help in locating Jim.

  Within minutes, the nurse had him situated in the bed. He couldn't see her but he heard her movements and suspected she was injecting a hypodermic into the I.V.attached to his arm. He had heard the doctor's orders for a pain reliever. As she made her final check, she instructed him to rest and let the medication he'd been given take affect.