Tell No One Disclaimer: The Sentinel, Blair Sandburg, Jim Ellison, Simon Banks,
and all other characters are property of Paramount and Pet Fly. No copyright
infringement is intended, and no money has exchanged hands.
Tell No One
by Shedoc
Prologue
The morning mist swirled around the buildings, caressing the windows and walls
with gentle familiarity. Despite the dawn struggling on the horizon the
occupants of the buildings had been awake for some time - chanting through the
morning prayers and performing their morning chores.
If not for the sound of the monks at morning matins a casual observer would have
thought they were looking at a miniature farming village, with several houses
dotted together. A few dairy cows were nearby, waiting to be released back to
their pastures after being milked, hens clucked in their enclosure, sheep grazed
in the distance. There was a cat waiting by the kitchen door.
A man with a gun rose from concealment among the vegetable garden and waved. At
the signal several more men with guns emerged, some from the greenhouse, some
from the barn, some apparently from thin air as the mist swirled around them. In
silence they converged on the chapel - a whitewashed building with narrow
windows and a high roof. Once the chapel was surrounded there was a moment of
stillness, as the monks chanted their joyful prayers to God. Then the stillness
was shattered by a second wave and the chapel was stormed.
Jim looked over at the coffee table and scowled. The evidence of the massacre
was still plainly visible - you didn't need Sentinel sight to see that. Blair
emerged from the bathroom and stood by Jim's chair, looking over too. Jim pushed
his empty breakfast plate to one side and propped his head on his chin.
"So, what do you think you should do?" Blair asked solemnly and Jim tipped his
head back to look at his friend. Wet hair, pink glowing skin and a smile that
just wouldn't quit. Jim growled and got up, heading for the chessboard and his
King. Blair followed at a little distance. It wasn't too often that Jim lost as
badly as he did at last nights game of chess, and the detective had insisted
that he would think of a way to save the game - hence leaving it set up when
they went to bed.
"I concede," Jim tipped his King over in the traditional gesture and Blair
nodded, "But tonight I want a rematch."
"You got it," Blair agreed, packing the pieces away, "You really were distracted
last night, Jim. Anything I should know about?"
"Things are just tense at the station. You know that case I was telling you
about? It's just getting to everyone. I couldn't get it out of my head. You know
Chief, I'm glad midterms are finished now. You always seem to make things easier
when a bad case comes up like this. Simon was asking when you'd come in again,"
Jim accepted the chess board from Blair and put it up on the bookshelf nearest
the couch - close enough for them to grab easily when the mood for chess struck
them. This set was Jim's - a gift from his maternal grandfather. Blair's
battered set now sat in the truck for stakeouts.
Blair headed into the kitchen to make his breakfast shake and Jim went back to
his coffee. Blair's face was thoughtful as he puttered around in the kitchen and
Jim watched him closely, knowing he'd said something that had made Blair think
twice and wondering what it was.
"So I guess Simon wants the Shaman in, not Blair," Blair said without turning as
he poured the shake into a glass. Jim froze for a second and thought about it. A
Shaman was traditionally responsible for the health and spiritual well being of
the tribe - and the team at Major Crimes was the tribe Blair had most contact
with. Blair-as-Shaman visited regularly, and as far as Jim knew no one had
noticed.
"I suppose," Jim replied when Blair turned to look at him, "After all, they're
hurting in there. Can you do it? It always takes so much out of you to redirect
the mood like that, and you've been so busy lately."
"I'll be fine," Blair drained the last of his shake and started cleaning up,
"You go on ahead - I want to change and grab some things on the way to the
station. See you at work, ok?"
"Sure," Jim put the mug in the sink and grabbed his jacket, "Don't be too long …
I… I could use a Shaman fix too."
Jim was out the door before the echo died - a little embarrassed at the
admission that Blair hadn't been able to cure his depressed mood last night with
dinner and chess.
"I'm right behind you, Jim," Blair's voice floated down the corridor after him
and Jim felt a little tension release itself - his friend always knew what was
needed, everything would be fine.
Simon repressed a sigh of disappointment when Jim showed up alone. The Captain
of Major Crimes tried to remind himself that midterms were rough for the kid -
taking and giving tests at the same time was enervating - and it stood to reason
that Blair would need a day off to recover, maybe a couple of days. Jim settled
into his desk and logged onto the mainframe, pulling some reports over and
starting to enter them half-heartedly. Rafe and Brown sat at their desks and
bickered with each other over a case - not the usual constructive bickering that
let them try out new ideas, but a bitter angry bickering that only increased
their frustration with the case and each other.
Simon shook his head and headed over to break it up, wondering idly when he
became so dependent on the weird little hippie to help keep his teams morale up.
Blair stepped through the doors, dropped the ever-present backpack next to Jim's
desk, and a pastry from the box he carried onto the desk beside the keyboard. He
breezed over towards Rafe and Brown, scattering pastry as he went and winking at
Simon as he snagged a spare chair and sat between the two men.
"Hey, guys, what's up?" Blair smiled and the mood lightened a little.
Jim watched as Simon retreated back into his office with the pineapple Danish
that Blair had handed him. Rafe was already leaning back, the tense posture
melting away as Brown's voice lightened from a growl to a faint grumble. Blair
let them snipe and complain their way through the case and spouted off enough
anthro speak to crack the mood. Halfway through recounting a witness interview
Browns face lit up and he started bickering with Rafe again - the good bickering
that led to them grabbing their coats and hurrying from the bull pen. By that
time Blair was already chatting to Rhonda over a shared pastry - she was on a
diet and he was watching his cholesterol intake again. He disappeared into
Simon's office for a brief moment and was roared out, grinning from ear to ear
cheekily and getting grins in reply. By the time he sat at Jim's desk the sounds
of the bullpen had changed for the better.
"Hey Jim, sorry I'm late," Blair said easily and snagged the file Jim was
working on, "What are we doing today?"
"The DiMarco case comes up in court in two days. I've got to get this paperwork
finished before I go to court," Jim replied and Blair dropped the file back on
the desk, snagged the next three and scooted over to the spare computer. He
winked at Jim, logged on with Jim's id and started typing. People stopped by the
desk to talk to him - Blair had a smile and a joke for everyone. He typed
without pause, cracking comments to Jim about bad handwriting, poor spelling and
grammatical rules - Jim would razz back as he plugged away at his own terminal.
Rafe and Brown came back with an arrest and plans to take everyone to dinner at
Denny's Bar and Grill that night. Jim took Blair out to lunch happily - his own
depression totally cured by the banter Blair had initiated all morning.
The afternoon flew by and Simon came out at five to hunt everyone into the
elevator good-naturedly - collaring Brown and Rafe before they could pretend to
forget their wallets and not show up. The bar was busy, but it didn't matter -
by now they were operating on a mild high as Blair kept the jokes and teasing
up. They parted ways at ten and Jim drove back to the loft happily. He beat
Blair home and turned down the covers in his Shamans room, boiling water for a
soothing tea blend and turning the heat up a little so his Shaman would be warm.
Blair staggered in exhausted, accepted the tea in a daze and sipped it sitting
on the edge of his bed while Jim undid his shoes and pulled them off. Jim took
the shoes and coat out of the room while Blair changed and came back for the now
empty mug. Blair was already asleep.
Jim straightened the lax body, covered it with blankets and left the door
slightly ajar.
"You did good, Shaman," Jim said quietly, and went to see about some dinner.
Chess could wait for another night.
Simon frowned at the report in front of him and looked up at his visitor.
"And you say that they kidnapped one of them and just … disappeared?" he asked
and the tall thin man nodded, hitching a shoulder in reply. His uniform was
crisp and clean, yet showing signs of wear. He didn't seem at all intimidated by
the scowl he was receiving or the unfamiliar surroundings.
"That's right Captain. We called the Feds in and they've had a look around and
left us a Johnny-on-the-spot to report back if we get a ransom demand. But the
head honcho over there asked me to contact your departmental observer right away
- and to be honest I could use some real help with this one. My people just
aren't up to anti-terrorism and neither am I," his voice was clear and firm and
his moustache quivered while he spoke. Simon nodded and looked out into the
bullpen just as Jim and Blair came in.
"Here he is. You're in luck - they wouldn't normally be available, but Ellison's
been in court the last two days," Simon got up and walked to his door, beckoning
his detective and observer in with his customary bellow. Jim entered first, as
usual and Simon watched him pause for a brief instant to assess the visitor as a
possible threat to his Guide. The Sentinel always came out to play when
something unexpected intruded on daily life and Simon had become deft at
spotting the subtle change in behavior. Then Jim nodded politely and folded
moved aside, letting Blair have his own space. As usual they were dressed in
polar opposites - Jim in slacks shirt and sport coat, Blair in jeans and layers
of flannel.
"Sheriff Baker this is Detective Jim Ellison, and Major Crimes Observer Blair
Sandburg," Simon introduced them and Jim stepped forward to shake the Sheriff's
hand while Blair blinked at his official title before grinning and shaking hands
too.
"Pleased to meet you," Blair said easily, "Where are you from, Sheriff?"
"Wilstown," Baker replied, "Just a couple of hours away on the interstate. You
know it?"
Simon bristled - was the guy trying to test his peoples honesty here? Blair
didn't notice Simon, but Jim shot him a sharp glance and paid a little more
attention to the man in front of them.
"I've driven through it a few times on my way to St. Sebastians," Blair nodded,
"Do you know any of the brothers there?"
"Yes he does," Simon interrupted and handed Jim the Sheriff's file. Jim began
flipping through it as Baker answered Simons challenge.
"It seems that the brothers are in a bit of trouble, Mr. Sandburg. Two days ago
they were surrounded by unidentified armed men during their morning prayers and
attacked. No one was killed but one of them was abducted. The Abbot asked me to
contact you about it," Baker stated calmly, "What precisely is your connection
to the Monastery?"
"My father lives there," Blair sounded horrified, "My God - was Father Jeremy
hurt?"
"Wait a minute - Jeremy's your father?" Jim blurted in shock and Simon closed
his mouth with a snap. Blair tracked his eyes to Jim's face and shook his head
absently. His face was pale with the beginning of shock.
"No, Marcus," he corrected, "C'mon Jim, you must have noticed the last time we
were there - we do have a slight resemblance."
Jim sat as if his legs had given way and Blair patted his Sentinel's shoulder
absently. Simon frowned and came to sit down as well. Blair's hand on Jim's
shoulder was trembling noticeably.
"This is the Marcus that…" he made a vague gesture and Jim nodded. Brother
Marcus had once been a mobster - had even ordered several deaths. Jim and Blair
had gone to St. Sebastians for a retreat - Blair had wanted to recharge Jim's
batteries and thought the Monastery would do the trick. The plan had worked
until an assassin started killing the monks in an effort to preserve his cover
and get to Marcus. They'd been caught in the middle. Simon and the team had
teased Jim unmercifully for weeks afterwards and Blair had been very quiet on
the subject. He'd never taken Jim back to the Monastery, though he'd gone
himself. Jim hadn't been willing to push them into talking about Blair's visits.
The Monastery had been a nice place for a brief time - Jim was waiting for the
right moment to bring up a return visit.
"Father Jeremy was concussed," Baker looked at the three of them as if they'd
gone mad and chose to focus on the obviously shocked observer, "Brother Marcus
was abducted - you say he's your father?"
"He wasn't always a monk," Blair said quickly, "And my mom … well never mind.
Uh, Jim … I have to get down there - I have to try and help find him. You won't
mind, will you? I'll be careful and call to tell you what's going on…"
"The hell you will," Jim growled, "I'm going too - you'll need help tracking
down whoever did this. Simon, can you give me a few days?"
"I can do better than that. Sheriff Baker came up to request support in this
case and you two are it. Go find out what happened and let me know," Simon
replied quickly, looking in concern at Blair as he tried not to hyperventilate.
Jim accepted gratefully and looked over at Baker.
"We'll grab our gear and meet you at the Monastery - it should take us about
four hours. Can we do that?" Jim asked and the Sheriff nodded. He seemed to
sense that the Cascade cops needed a moment alone with their observer because he
took his leave very quickly and headed on out. The minute the door closed behind
him Simon jumped up and guided Blair to a seat while Jim poured a coffee and
moved to Blair's side. He put an arm around the trembling shoulders and held the
cup to the others lips.
"Don't try to talk, Chief, just sip this for me. That's the way," Jim coached as
Blair sipped his eyes unfocussed, "Just take it easy here. You're working
yourself into a panic attack - you need to find your center and focus for me ok?
You're no good to us with your head in a bag, so just calm down. Sip some more
for me buddy … good, that's good … slow breaths Chief, that's it … there you go
…sip it again … that's it."
After ten minutes Blair was back. Though still tense, the danger of the panic
attack was past, and Simon rubbed his shoulder gently, trying to soothe him.
He never wanted to witness a full-blown panic attack - just the few symptoms
he'd seen here were scary enough. Simon began to understand why Jim was so
protective of his partner.
"You doing better, Sandburg?" Simon asked gruffly and received a shaky smile in
reply.
"Yeah," Blair breathed, "Talk about being an idiot. Sorry Jim, that was a stupid
thing to do."
"I understand Chief. You were worried," Jim squeezed the shoulders his arm was
wrapped around, "Can you tell me…"
Blair stood up and put the coffee mug on the desk before walking to stand with
his back to Simon's door. He smiled again - still a shaky imitation of the usual
billion-watt grin, but better than nothing.
"Mom was working as a librarian - sort of like an apprenticeship I guess. She
met Brother Marcus at a function held at the library - you know one of those
feel good things that they hold for the upper class. They got along real well
and I was the result of that. When she found out she went to tell him and
overheard some things that made her suspicious. She packed up town and left. I
guess he gave up looking after a while - I was born in sixty nine and all his
trouble started in the early seventies," Blair said it quickly and calmly, "Jim
I always said I didn't know my father and I don't - he's more like a sperm
donor, you know? But he saw me one day at Rainer and we got to talking. We
figured it out for ourselves and I confronted Naomi on it - he never told me
about his former life, just that he was trying to atone for the past mistakes. I
respected that. Jim, when you started talking about mobsters that time - I guess
I should have said something then, but I wasn't sure and how the hell do you
accuse your father of something like that anyway?"
"Breathe dammit," Jim held up his hands, "It's ok, Chief - I'm not mad at you so
just take it easy."
Blair sighed a deep breath out and Jim kept on talking.
"You're right - I'd never expect you to accuse your own father of doing
something that bad, even if you weren't that close. He doesn't know how lucky he
is to have you," Jim said gently, "And if you remember we thought it was Jeremy
for a while. So calm down again. Lets go get our stuff and get to St. Sebastians."
"Gods, do you think it was a mob related thing? Like last time?" Blair blurted
and Jim sighed, going over and pulling Blair into a hug. He rocked them a little
and said nothing, waiting until Blair calmed down again. Jim outlined the plan
again and this time Blair managed a nod.
"Be careful guys and keep me informed," Simon spoke up and Jim nodded as he
released Blair.
"You got it Captain," Jim agreed and steered Blair out.
Blair slept on the way to the loft and woke only enough to pack a few clothes in
his duffel before collapsing back into sleep for the drive to Wilstown. The
panic attack on top of the stress of school and his stint as Shaman to Major
Crimes had drained the last of his energy reserves and Jim was glad to watch
over his sleep. The drive on the interstate wasn't taxing and it left Jim plenty
of time to ponder his newest clue to the puzzle that was Blair Sandburg.
Jim came to no conclusions on that drive - other than to grimly promise himself
that they'd find Brother Marcus no matter what condition he was in, and to catch
the men responsible.
Blair woke up as Jim switched off the engine in front of the Abbey and he looked
around fuzzily for a moment before taking a deep breath and scrubbing one hand
over his face. He looked over at Jim and smiled contritely.
"You should have woken me Jim - I would have helped you with the driving," he
apologized and Jim patted his arm before opening the door.
"It's ok Chief - the drive was easy and I'm not too tired," Jim got out and
looked across the hood as the door opened and Father Jeremy stepped out. His
head sported a square white bandage and his cheek on the right of his face was
purple. He smiled lopsidedly when he saw them and walked over slowly.
"Father Jeremy!" Blair exclaimed and hauled his bag out of the truck, shutting
the door and hurrying over with a hand out. Jeremy took the hand and pulled
Blair in for a gentle hug before stepping back to shake Jim's hand.
"How are you Father?" Jim asked in concern and Jeremy sighed.
"I'll mend soon," he dismissed his injuries, "A lot faster than the windows for
our chapel - those men stormed in through them and destroyed Brother Marcus
pride and joy."
"Not the Madonna," Blair sighed in sympathy, "It took him years to make that."
"Yes, the Madonna is gone," Jeremy was leading them inside and down the passages
to the cell they'd stayed in before, "We were lucky no one was kneeling before
her - they'd have been cut to ribbons by the glass. Here you are - Jim, I've
given you the same cell as before."
"Thanks, Father," Jim glanced at the unchanged room and smiled at the Abbot, "If
you don't mind, Blair and I should look around a little - reacquaint ourselves
and look at the chapel."
"Of course, Brother Jim. It is why I asked for you to come … About your gun -
all I ask is that you keep it concealed and safe. Obviously I cannot object to
your protection this time," Jeremy smiled a little sadly, "We had come to think
of ourselves as safe from the violence of the outside world. This … violation …
has proven us to be sadly wrong."
"I'm sorry, Father," Jim said impulsively and Jeremy smiled a little more
genuinely at him.
"You cannot apologize for another's actions, Brother Jim. But I thank you for
it," Jeremy turned and walked away slowly. Blair came to stand close by Jim,
needing to connect with his Sentinel for a moment. Jim put a hand on Blair's
shoulder and sighed.
"C'mon Chief, I want a look at the chapel and the woods near here - before the
Sheriff arrives."
The chapel had been swept up and tidied, but the gaping windows spoke eloquently
of the invasion and abduction of Brother Marcus. Jim swept the place from top to
bottom, but being open to the elements had wiped all useful traces from the
interior and the Sheriff and monks had been diligent in removing any traces from
the exterior.
"So, there's no fragments of yaks wool to lead us the right way?" Blair
disguised his disappointment with the weak joke and Jim rewarded him with a
faint chuckle.
"Sorry, Chief - they forgot to drop their itenary too," he went along with it
and Blair slapped his elbow lightly in reply. Sheriff Baker pulled up in his
official car and got out, hurrying over to the two men from Cascade.
"You made good time gentlemen," he said in greeting and looked over at the
chapel, "You went in?"
"Yeah - thought we should at least see the scene of the crime," Blair sighed and
looked around the peaceful compound again. Jim frowned over at the woods he
wanted to search, but turned instead to listen to the Sheriff as he
reconstructed the scene as the monks had described it.
"Where's your FBI agent?" Jim asked when the Sheriff finished and got a derisive
snort.
"In his hotel room watching cable and ordering room service. He's not really
convinced we'll hear from the kidnappers and to be honest Brother Marcus…" the
Sheriff trailed off in deference to Blair - suddenly remembering that the
observer was the missing mans son.
"He's probably dead," Blair said steadily, "They have no reason to keep him
alive."
"And every reason to want him dead," the Sheriff nodded, "I don't understand why
he wasn't relocated - after all the man was a protected witness."
"This was his calling, not his disguise," Blair said simply, "He didn't want to
leave his family."
Jim bit back a comment about family, knowing his Guide was in no condition for a
verbal sparring match right now - at least not about Marcus' devotion to his
vows. A monk Jim had never met came and asked the Sheriff inside to speak to
Father Jeremy and Jim snagged Blair's jacket unobtrusively. When the Sheriff was
out of earshot Jim looked down at his friend.
"C'mon Sandburg - I want to take a look at the grounds and the woods," he said
and Blair nodded. Jim let go of his jacket and Blair tucked himself into his
usual position, behind Jim's right shoulder, a step back and to the side. Blair
took this place whenever they were working in the field - it let him see around
Jim, but also put him in a position his Sentinel could defend if they needed it.
He was also in easy touching distance - necessary to ground Jim when the
Sentinel was deploying his senses fully.
They were silent until they got to the woods and then Jim asked the question
he'd been dreading for the last few hours.
"Chief, do you know of any reason for Brother Marcus to be taken like this?"
Blair was silent for a moment before sighing and shaking his head.
"Not really," he confessed, "If I had to guess it would be about the money. I
think Brother Marcus had some money tucked away - you know ill-gotten gains. I
know that the last time they were trying to kill him, but I guess that was
because they thought they had found all his money. Last time I was here he
mentioned something about a trust he had set up for … he called them his
'misfortunates'. I kind of inferred he'd set up some kind of compensation for
the survivors of his victims."
"Did he say how big a trust?" Jim asked curiously as they walked through the
woods. Blair frowned, chewing his lip and sweeping the area with his eyes as he
thought.
"Not really … I just didn't press the issue, Jim. It wasn't a comfortable
subject for either of us. Sorry," he sighed and Jim stopped, turning to make eye
contact.
"Don't apologize for that Blair," Jim said firmly, "Hell, I barely speak to my
dad - at least you were trying. And there was no way you could predict this
would happen. I just had to ask. I'm guessing the money must be a lot for them
to go to this trouble, but it doesn't matter in the scheme of things. Let's just
find him, ok?"
"Gotcha," Blair grinned, wondering if Jim knew how good Blair felt to have
someone care that much about him, "So where were we?"
Jim smiled at the brilliant glow in his friend's eyes and turned back the way
they had been going.
"I've got a faint trail here - a lot of people passed by recently in a hurry
with a burden, but its not a regular traffic area," Jim replied, "I want to see
where it goes."
"Lead on McDuff," Blair gestured and fell in behind Jim again as they started
walking.
The trails led deeper into the woods and finally up into the foothills. Jim had
to admire their fitness - Brother Marcus was not a small or light man, and
they'd obviously carried him most of the way. Jim forced the pace and heard
Blair keep up behind him. The Sentinel had totally lost track of time and space
by the time they found the cabin.
Jim dropped down into shelter behind a clump of bushes and Blair dropped down
too, breathing hard and trying to be quieter.
"What?" Blair gasped out when coherent speech was possible and Jim frowned down
at him.
"They're in the cabin down there - I count eight strong heartbeats and one
that's too fast," Jim replied softly, and watched Blair peer in the right
general direction, "Chief? What's wrong with your eyes?"
Blair huffed out a soft laugh and turned to Jim, his whole face amused, sweaty
and a little grimy.
"It's dark, Jim. The moon's up already. You've been towing me along for the past
two hours - ever since the sun went down. Your eyes have compensated
automatically while you were in full hunting mode," Blair replied with a grin
and shook his head, "I'd have stopped you, but your senses were working
perfectly and I wanted to find Brother Marcus tonight. Close your mouth."
Jim closed his mouth and focused on the world at large for a moment. His Guide
was right - by normal standards it was quite dark and more than a little chilly.
What seemed to be a single hurricane lamp and the light from the wood fire that
was heating the main area lighted the cabin. Blair put his hands on Jim's arm
and leaned over.
"I want you to tell me where everyone is in there," he commanded, "Open up your
hearing for me, and piggyback your smell to distinguish their scents."
Jim sent his senses out obediently and mapped out the cabin - even using the
echoes from the voices to place furniture and walls. The first time he'd heard
about the Bat Echo Trick he'd thought Blair was having him on, but as time went
by the suggestion had played in Jims subconscious, leading to his conscious use
of sound echoes to map a place he couldn't see into. Blair had been unobtrusive
in his support, gradually demanding more of the burgeoning skill to develop it.
This stood them in good stead now.
"Five men. They're sitting at a table near the fire playing poker. They've been
giving Marcus drugs to make him talk, but he hasn't cracked yet. He's up in the
loft - it's unheated and it will lower his resistance tomorrow. The cabin has
two rooms - the main one where they are and sleeping quarters. No modern
conveniences. There's no one on watch."
"Can we get to Marcus without them knowing? Use your sight too now," Blair
changed his grip, putting one hand on the back of Jim's neck. Jim let the
contact of Blair's flesh anchor him even further and scanned what he could see
of the cabin.
"There's a way - you'll have to be careful," Jim nodded, and stood up quietly,
"C'mon."
Blair wondered why - when he was the one who was afraid of heights - he always
ended up in trees. Switchman - tree. Peru - a lot of trees. Did Jim end up in a
tree? No, of course not. Blair told his gibbering brain to shut up and
concentrate or they'd fall out of the tree and was relieved when it listened to
him.
Jim was nearby, directing Blair with hand signals to the loose shingles he'd
seen in the loft roof. The plan was to move them and climb in, collect Marcus
and climb out. Blair was glad his bar mitzvah present had been a pocketknife and
not a copy of the Torah. If Marcus were tied up his copy of the Torah wouldn't
be much use … Concentrate dammit!
The shingles moved easily and noiselessly - though Jim was making little shh
movements down there. Blair made a face - he knew the Sentinel could see him
clearly - and carefully lowered himself into the loft. Luck was with them -
Marcus lay nearby, shivering hard and wrists bound behind his back.
Blair cut the rope and then moved carefully to rouse the drugged man. Marcus
seemed confused - naturally - but more than willing to accept the need for
silence and slow movement. Jim appeared at the hole in the roof - right on time
- and together they pulled Marcus out and helped him down the tree. Blair put
the shingles back in place and pocketed the frayed rope gleefully - let them
figure that out!
Jim was already heading away from the cabin. They'd both agreed to get away
first, then head for civilization - following a predictable route would just get
them caught. With a bit of luck the Sheriff would be able to get reinforcements
to the cabin in time. There was no way to predict when Marcus absence would be
discovered by the men in the cabin, but both Jim and Blair were determined to
get as much of a head start as they could.
Marcus made an unwieldy companion, but Jim was reluctant to carry the monk -
walking would keep him warm and work the drugs out of his system quicker. Blair
supported his side stoically; murmuring reassurance and encouragement as they
half stumbled half ran along the ridge. Marcus clutched his jacket in a fierce
grip and appeared to be praying. The two voices made it difficult for Jim to
extend his hearing, and he had to silence them once or twice as he listened back
to the cabin. After two hours Jim noticed some rocky ground ahead and hitched
his nearly unconscious burden a little closer.
"Chief," Jim gasped after an hour, "We're gonna have to stop - Marcus is at the
end of his rope and we could both do with a rest."
"Yeah," was all Blair could manage to gasp. Jim marveled at the resilience of
the smaller man.
"Head for the rocks - no tracks to leave and possibly some shelter," Jim urged
and Blair huffed at him.
"Jim - blind as a bat here," Blair reminded him with a caustic edge to his
voice. The Guide was too tired to marvel at his Sentinels ability to see in
almost pitch darkness without conscious effort. Jim huffed an apologetic breath
and led the way. Well into the rocky outcropping Jim found a fairly deep
overhang and got all three men under it - with Marcus supported in the middle to
give him the benefit of their body warmth.
"Get some sleep, Chief. I'll keep an ear open too," Jim urged and leaned his
head back, closing his eyes. He was dozing in seconds.
Dawn saw them better. Marcus was coherent, though still weak and Blair was able
to see where they were going. Jim got them moving fairly quickly - promising
coffee and eggs when they got to safety. Blair grinned and told Jim he'd run if
Jim would promise to have bacon and toast available as well.
They supported Marcus between them again and walked as quickly as possible. By
now the men in the cabin were bound to have missed their prisoner. To distract
Marcus from the painful necessity of moving Blair asked why the monk had been
kidnapped.
"Money," Marcus sighed, "I had some stashed in a fund. In the case of my death
it would be given to the survivors of my victims. I guess the cartel wants it
back."
"You were right Chief," Jim nodded and Blair sighed. He was uncomfortable with
the two sides to Brother Marcus. It was hard to associate a mobster with the
gentle monk.
"Blair - I cannot thank you enough," Marcus began but was shushed. Blair
concentrated on where they were going, looking only straight ahead as he spoke.
"Its ok - Father Jeremy asked for us to come and we were glad to do it - right
Jim?"
"Son…" Marcus said sadly and Blair tensed a little, "You are my son Blair. I
know you said you weren't looking for a father and I'm proud to be your friend…"
"Stop it, ok? This is what friends do. Remember how I told you I went to Peru
with Jim and Simon and Daryl? Well we didn't all go together. That sight seeing
stuff I told you about was afterwards, when Daryl and Simon were safe. They'd
been taken too, and I jumped out of a plane to follow Jim when he went looking
for them. That's what I'd do for a friend, Brother Marcus - that's what I'm
doing now," Blair said it sharply, and Jim took advantage of the little silence
that followed to cast his senses out. Forest sounds greeted him, then a crackle
of a radio.
"Stop a moment," Jim said sharply and Blair peered around Marcus to monitor his
Sentinel, raising a quieting hand when the monk started to ask what was wrong.
Jim listened intently, zooming in on the sound and then focusing on the words
coming over the radio. He grinned in relief and met Blairs worried eyes.
"Ranger station a mile that way," Jim gestured, "Lets go."
"Thank God," Marcus breathed and Jim added a silent amen to that.
The Ranger was more than happy to let them use his radio. Jim organized for the
Ranger to take them into town.
They dropped Marcus at the hospital under guard and took the Sheriff, all his
deputies and the suddenly enthusiastic FBI agent as well as his stubborn Guide
back into the woods to locate and capture Marcus attackers.
It was almost anticlimactic; Jim mused as he walked down the hall of the
Monastery towards the courtyard that led to the chapel.
The hired kidnappers had been easy to find - only one of them was a woodsman.
They'd been taken with almost no gunplay at all and no injuries to either group.
Marcus was back in the Monastery, working a few hours a day on repairing his
windows.
Blair spent that time with him, mostly in silence.
Simon had agreed to leave time for Jim, and the last week had been spent working
in the greenhouse with Father Jeremy. The Sentinels thumbs were surprisingly
green and there were no pesticides or toxins for Jim to worry about in the
hydroponics.
Dawn greeted Jim as he stepped out into the cold crisp morning and he smiled at
the sound of the morning prayers being chanted. The sound caressed his ears,
soothing and joyful at the same time. Today was his last day of leave, and Jim
knew he'd come back - Father Jeremy had made it clear he was welcome at any
time.
Blair was waiting by the chapel as he did every morning. The lapsed catholic and
multi-religious man didn't join the monks' morning prayers - they were welcome
too, but neither felt the calling and so they celebrated each morning as the
Shaman decreed.
They walked towards the chapel's garden and faced each other. Jim mirrored the
shaman's stance and took a deep cleansing breath. Gently at first and then with
more energy they began to move fluidly through the tai chi form that Blair was
slowly teaching Jim. The monks' prayers caressed them as they almost floated
through the form.
Jim let himself be lost in the moment, knowing that his friends in Major Crimes
would never truly understand how it was that Jim 'hard case' Ellison came to be
practicing tai chi at dawn in the garden chapel of a Christian Monastery with a
Jewish Shaman and feel good about it. It was just something that he could tell
no one.
End
Author's note: this isn't my idea - thank you to the person who suggested it to
me. I hope you enjoyed it. Feedback welcome.