A/N: Spoilers: TS by BS in Season: 4

Sequel to: Waiting

Summary: Jim and Blair POV's again

Extremely very oh-my-god-it-was-when?- late dues. Muse still totally AWOL ::::head-desk:::.

hope this makes sense..

Listening by Roo

"Let me explain what I've decided …."

Jim hitched himself up straighter in the couch and listened to what Blair had to say. He rubbed his face and yawned, trying to get a bit more alert. Sandburg stopped and waited for Jim to catch up.

"Maybe, we should do this in the morning when you aren't surfing your meds…."

"Oh, no. You tell me straight. Right now. Wouldn't expect anything less." Jim could sense that Blair was buzzed but in a good way. He'd come back when he said he would and Blair had seemed in a good mood when he woke Jim up.

"Obviously I've been thinking about Simon's generous offer…and there's nothing I'd like more than to work with you guys…"

"But…" prompted Jim. Blair rolled his eyes. "What? There's always a but…."

"But...I really need a time out and you definitely need one too. I think we need a little distance on this before making any. ..hasty decisions on something so big."

Jim thought about this. "Okaaay…" he slowly nodded his head in agreement.

"Look, Simon's replacement can sit tight for a while longer. You're on medical leave anyway…and I'm jobless." Blair cleared his throat and continued "Mom is still in town. I need to make sure she and I are okay before she dashes off into the wilderness again." Blair looked at Jim expecting him to interrupt, but he sat patient, pensive and hopeful all at the same time.

"I may not have a teaching job any more and my reputation is shot….." Blair held up a hand to ward off Jim saying anything. "Amazingly, my old professor Eli happens to need help on a small project. Taking notes and travelling a little. Yeah, baby-sitting the old guy, I know. But we get on and it means I can wait for the dust to settle."

"So you are going away? For how long? I'm sure Eli means well, but anything you do to help him won't get published or recognised! Sandburg, don't sell yourself short…"

"I don't have any choice right now. I can't sit here and mope. And you're really grumpy when you're hurting and we'd end up having some stupid argument…"

"No, we wouldn't!"

"Yes. We would. And I don't want that. We've said too many hurtful things already. We both need to get our heads clear."

There was a pause as Jim inwardly digested what Blair had said. Blair waited.

"Okay, what can I do?" Jim stepped up to the plate, even though he was worried about Blair going away.

"Don't worry about me and get better Jim. All this worry and negative emotions are holding back your recovery. You know it, so do something about it! You've come such a long way. Heal up, do your PT and go and sit in the forest and get 'Sentinelized'. Go and re-connect and ground yourself. It's the only way we can see clear to do the next thing and do it right."

"You want me to drop out, tune in and generally do the hippy trail?!" Jim said with a laugh. Could it really be that simple?

"I do. Eli only needs me for a week. It's not the end of the world, even though in some ways- it feels like it is….."

"No, Chief- not the end of the world. A new beginning- if I read you right."

Blair nodded enthusiastically back at him.

"When I get back we can go fishing and hiking and talk some more- away from work and the apartment."

Jim realised then that it didn't matter if whether they worked at the PD as real Police partners or in some other investigative way- the point was that they would work together. It was going to be the same, but different. And as Jim had never been one for the quiet, safe life he decided to grab this new opportunity and see how far it would go.

END