January, 2000

Blair Sandburg pulled into a parking space near the journalism building at Rainer University and jogged toward the building. He was late meeting his brother, Sam, for lunch. They were planning a surprise party for their father's 50th birthday in three weeks.

He went into the building and went down to Sam's office. There was a note with his name on it taped to the door. He pulled it down and read it.

"Blair, I had to go down to the admin building to help one of my students take care of a registration problem. I'll meet you at the student center when I'm done and we can go to lunch. Sam."

Blair put the note in his back pocket and headed toward the student center. He paused when he started past the fountain. He had been past the fountain since his drowning, but for some reason he felt drawn there today. He turned from the fountain and ran into a student. "Oh man, I'm so sorry," he said as he helped her pick her books up. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's okay," she said as she looked at him. "I wasn't really looking where I was going either."

They stood up and Blair extended his hand. "I'm Blair Sandburg."

"Karen Davis," she said as she smiled at him. "I don't think I've seen you on campus before."

"It's been a while," he sighed. "I'm actually here to meet my brother."

"Oh, is he a student?" she asked as she shifted the books in her arms.

"Here, let me take some of these," he said as he grabbed the books. "No, Sam's sort of a visiting professor. He signed on to teach photojournalism this year, but after the semester's over, he may go back to being freelance. What about you? What are you studying?"

"History," she said as she looked at the books he was holding. "Actually, I'm working on my doctorate. And I teach a couple of classes."

"Ah, the life of a TA," he said as he gave her a grin. "I remember it well."

"You were a grad student here?"

"Yeah, until I joined the police department," he said then he changed the subject. "Where were you heading when I so rudely dumped your books on the ground?"

"The library."

"I'll walk you there.

"You don't have to," she said as she reached for the books.

He held them away from her. "I want to."

"What about your brother?" she asked as they started toward the library.

"He's in a meeting," Blair said as they headed up the stairs. "I'll catch up with him. Don't worry."

They entered the library and headed toward a table. He had just set her books on the table when a student approached them. "Mr. Sandburg, are you coming back to the University?" she asked.

"No, Kelly, I'm afraid not," he said as he glanced at Karen. "The Chancellor wouldn't hire me back even if I asked."

"But you were the best professor in the Anthropology department," the girl argued. "And I don't care what you said at that press conference. You would have never have tried to turn in a fraudulent dissertation."

"Well, thank you, Kelly," he said as he suddenly felt nervous. "But things worked out the way they did for a reason."

"Yeah," she said as she looked at Karen. "He really was a great professor, Ms. Davis. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"Bye Kelly," Karen said as she smiled a little.

Blair looked at Karen for a minute and sighed. "I guess you want an explanation."

"Not if you don't want to talk about it," she said as they sat down.

"Not much to tell," he said as he closed his eyes for a minute. When he opened them and said, "About two years ago, a publisher got a hold of something I was working on. He thought it was my dissertation. I had to hold a press conference to discredit it. I was fired not long after that."

"Why does Kelly think you lied at the press conference?" Karen asked as he shifted in his seat.

"I don't know," he said as he looked away from her for a minute. When he looked back, Karen knew her suspicions were true.

"You didn't tell the truth at the press conference," she concluded. "I don't know why you lied, but you did. What was your dissertation about?"

Blair smiled a little. "Maybe I'll tell you one day."

He pulled a card out of his wallet. "That has just about every number I can be reached at. I really do have to go meet my brother, but I'd like to talk to you again."

"I'd like that too," she said as he got up. "It was nice to meet you Blair."

"You too,' he said as he smiled at her and headed out of the library.

He went to the student center and saw Sam waiting for him. "Where have you been?" Sam asked.

"Sorry," Blair said as he held his hands up. "Ran into somebody, literally. Anyway, let's go to lunch so we can start planning Dad's party."

That night Blair thought about Karen Davis. He thought there was something familiar about her, like he had known her for a long time. But he couldn't figure out why. He didn't hear the phone ring until he heard Jim say, "Ellison. Yeah, he's right here. Chief, it's for you."

Blair took the phone. "Hello?"

"Blair, it's Karen Davis," she said as she tried not to sound nervous.

He smiled as soon as he heard her voice. "Hey Karen. What's up?"

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to get together and talk some more."

"Yeah, that would be great. How about tomorrow? Say for lunch? I can pick you up at the University."

"That would be great," she said as she smiled on her end. "My last morning class gets out at twelve."

"How about I pick you up at 12:30 then?" he suggested.

"That would be great. Do you want to meet at the fountain?"

Blair closed his eyes for a minute. After the reaction he had at the fountain today, he wasn't wild about going back any time soon. But he didn't know how to explain it to her. "Yeah, that would be fine."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to it," he said as they hung up. He got up and put the phone up and went to the kitchen for a beer.

"Who was that?" Jim asked as he watched his friend.

"Her name is Karen Davis," Blair said as he turned and looked at his roommate. "I met her today when I went to go have lunch with Sam. We're meeting tomorrow for lunch."

"Ah, the old Sandburg table leg," Jim grinned.

"It's not like that," Blair protested. "There's something about this girl. Something I can't explain and it involves more than just sex."

"Okay, Chief, I believe you," Jim said as he took note of the serious look on Blair's face. "So where are you meeting her tomorrow."

"The fountain," Blair said as he looked down at his beer.

"Why the fountain?" Jim asked as he pushed back images of Blair floating face down in the water.

"Because that's where we met today," Blair sighed.

"What were you doing at the fountain today?"

"I wish I knew," Blair said as he sat down on the couch. "I was going to the student center to meet Sam and the next thing I knew I was standing in front of the damn thing. I finally turned away from it and ran into Karen."

"Is she a student?" Jim asked as he sat down in front of his friend.

"A grad student. I'd say she's the same age as Sam. I didn't have a lot of time to talk to her today so I can't give you a lot of details."

"You don't have to Chief," Jim said as he looked Blair in the eye. "I was just worried when I found out you were at the fountain today."

"Jim, I'm not going to have a flashback every time I pass that fountain," Blair argued. "I went by it many times after… after what happened."

"But you still have nightmares," Jim stated as Blair got up and started to pace. 'Right after what happened with Murdoc, you had nightmares."

"They were probably about what happened with Murdoc," Blair said as he stopped in front of the balcony doors.

"If that was the case, then why did you say 'Alex, please don't do this?'" Jim asked as he looked up at Blair.

"You know, there are times when it's a pain in the ass living with you," Blair said as he continued to look out at the city.

Jim sighed. "I know it was an invasion of your privacy, Blair. But I heard you starting to toss and turn and I got worried. I came down and woke you up but I let you think I hadn't heard what you said."

"I should have known better," Blair said as he turned around. "Okay, I have been dreaming about the fountain a lot lately. I don't know why. Maybe it's because of Murdoc, I don't know. But they're just dreams, Jim. I'll get over them eventually. I did last time. Now, we have an early shift tomorrow. I'm going to bed."

Jim watched as Blair went into his room and shut the door. He knew something had triggered Blair's nightmares about Alex Barnes. He also knew that they had never really talked about what had happened. He decided to keep a closer eye on his guide for the next few days.

The next day, Blair finished printing off the report on the case he and Jim had just wrapped up when he got up and grabbed his jacket. "I've got my phone if you need me for anything. If not, I'll see you in about an hour or so."

"You sure you don't want to call her and have her meet you somewhere else?" Jim asked.

"Positive," Blair said as he gave his friend a look. "Don't call unless it's an emergency."

"Yeah, yeah," Jim said as Blair left. He waited until he was sure that Blair was out of ear shot, then he picked up the phone. "Yeah, this is Detective Ellison, Cascade PD. I'm calling to check on the status of a patient in the security wing. Alex Barnes. Yes, I'll hold. Damn, are you sure? How long ago? Thank you Doctor."

He got up and headed for Simon's office. "Captain, we have a problem," he said as he went in.