Sentinel belongs to other creative people. Originally this story was beta read by Stephanie. I'm not sure if she is still in the fandom. Thanks again to Stephanie who took the time to beta the original story. This is an updated version.

This story is an alternate universe as Blair is a socioeconomic anthropologist attached to the police department as Jim's unpaid partner. He teaches part time and writes books on police and civilian interactions.

GRATEFUL HERO-INDEPENDENCE DAY

Then I heard the voice

Of the Lord saying,

"And who shall go for us?"

And I said, "Here I am.

Send me."-Isaiah 6vs8

(Found on Home page of Army Rangers)

Chapter One—June 30th

"I'm sorry, Jim." Regret and some guilt were on the ebony face of Captain Simon Banks. From behind his gold rimmed glasses he studied the tall silent man standing ramrod straight in front of him. Not only his stance but also his short military style haircut screamed his attachment to his military past.

Icy was the glare from Jim's light blue eyes. "Sir," Detective James Ellison responded coldly. "I always work on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. Is it so much to ask that I have the Fourth of July off?"

Simon's spine stiffened. He pulled himself up straighter. He was a few inches taller than his best detective. Using his height to his advantage Simon also pulled out his rank. "Unfortunately, Detective Ellison," Simon measured out his words. Any personal feelings had to be shelved. He was the Captain of the Cascade Police Department's Major Crimes. "Detective Anthony Wilson never got the opportunity to ask that drunk driver if he could pass at being slammed into that cement embankment. I need you on the job."

Jim sucked in a sharp gasp of surprise. His icy exterior crumbled. He dropped his eyes. Detective Anthony 'Tony' Wilson had been twenty-eight and extremely well liked. Tony had made it a point to get to know everyone at the PD. Even the uniformed officers that had arrived at the crash scene had known him. When the paramedics had pulled Wilson's broken body out of his smashed car, Sergeant Cantrell a twenty-five year veteran had cried.

Jim was conscious of the heavyweight of the black band on the badge in his inside shirt pocket. "I'm sorry, sir. Of course I'll come in."

Simon inhaled a lung full of air before he could trust himself to speak. "I've split Detective Wilson's caseload between you and Detectives Rafe and Brown."

Jim raised his eyes again. He nodded. "I'll get on them, sir." He seemed to hesitate as though waiting to be dismissed.

"Thanks, Jim." Simon said softly, "If you want to take an extra long lunch on the 4th to visit the Memorial that would be fine. Although if you hadn't blown off your invitation to speak at the opening of the Freedom Memorial you'd be off no matter how shorthanded this department is."

Jim nodded. "Thank you, Simon." He turned to the door. "I don't give speeches, sir." Through the glass door Jim spotted his subdued partner coming into the Major Crimes bullpen. The socioeconomic anthropologist had his curly long hair tamed back into a sever ponytail. Instead of the street grunge look Blair was neatly dressed in dress slacks, white shirt, and a dark sports jacket. He even sported a conservative tie. A black band encircled his right arm. Jim exhaled softly. Tony had been a friend to Blair.

"Simon," Jim rubbed his high forehead. "I know that Sandburg isn't a cop." There were still some in the department that felt that adding an anthropologist as a partner to a detective was a waste.

"Sandburg is as much a part of Major Crimes as anyone else." Simon was looking out at the bullpen. He'd nipped a few problems in the bud for the young man. "He has the right to stand with the rest of the detectives at Tony's funeral."

"Thanks, Simon." Jim stepped out into the bullpen.

"Chief," Jim quietly joined Blair who was sorting papers from his and Jim's caseload.

Blair raised sad eyes. "Tony was a good guy." There was a break in his voice. "This sucks."

"I know, Chief," Jim laid a gentle hand on Blair's shoulder. His fingers were automatically massaging the younger man's shoulder. "You'll be walking with the rest of the detectives from Major Crimes."

Surprise widened in Blair's bright blue eyes. "Is it okay with Simon?" The city council's order to add an anthropologist to the police department in an unpaid position had caused some resentment. The idea that he might be a spy of some sort had almost put Blair on the same level with Internal Affairs. He'd suffered two flat tires and a couple of accidental 'bumps' in the stairwell until Jim had had a 'talk' with a couple of officers.

The ghost of a sad smile passed quickly over Jim's face. "Simon suggested that you stand with the rest of Major Crimes. You are part of Major Crimes even if you have an unpaid position." Jim lifted his suit jacket from the back of his chair. "Wilson's wife, Diana asked that I be a pallbearer." His face was somber. "She's left with two little girls and a baby on the way. I'd like to take a tire iron to the son of bitch who killed Wilson." A muscle jerked in Jim's check as he gritted his teeth.

Inspector Megan Connor stepped into the bullpen. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She nodded greetings to both men. "Sandy, Ellison," grief was in her voice.

"Megan, if you fill a basin with ice cubes and water you can immerse your face to bring down the swelling in your eyes." Blair allowed himself to be gathered into a hug.

"Now how would you know that?" Megan gifted him with the semblance of a smile when she released him from her hug.

"Uh," Blair blushed. "I uh dated an actress a couple of times," he admitted.

"You and table legs, Chief," for a moment they were all smiles.

"Ellison," Brown had a black suit on instead of his usual Hawaiian shirt and casual trousers. "We'd better get going."

In silence all of Major Crimes somberly filed out of the bullpen. Captain Simon Banks in his dress uniform quietly led them towards the elevators.

TBC