Keep the Old (The continuing journey of Make New Friends)

Summary: Blair's adventures as a college student continue. This time it's a research trip to the Nevada desert. (There is also a crossover character from pre-Stargate.)

Warning: A few minor cuss words.

Disclaimer: The Sentinel is property of Pet Fly and Paramount. This story was written for enjoyment purposes only.

Author's Notes: Arianna was my beta years ago and she gave me much needed encouragement and direction. Under her tutelage my early stories made it to the web. Thank you! I've updated again since then.

Keep The Old

Part 1

Stephen Ellison quietly stood in the doorway of Omega Chi's newest member, Blair Sandburg, observing his young friend talking to himself while finishing the final draft of yet another term paper. A small smile tugged at the senior's face as he witnessed a page ripped in disgust from the typewriter, rumpled into a tight ball, and tossed blindly over the kid's shoulder. How it successfully rimmed the wastebasket then tipped inside with what appeared to be many other discarded pages was a miracle.

"Two points!" Stephen shouted as he launched himself into the room.

Startled, Blair quickly swung around on his seat, almost slipping off the vinyl padding, his hand gripping the loose flannel over his chest. "Ell, don't do that to me, man! Geez, give a guy a heart attack."

With a grin that showed not an ounce of sincerity, the older student merely shrugged, "Sorry, kid, didn't mean to scare you."

Blair wasn't falling for it. "Anyone ever tell you, you walk like a cat? I didn't even hear you come in."

Stephen's blue eyes sparkled with mischief and he shook his head 'no' while waving the cordless in the air. "Phone call."

The handset was held high out of his reach but the youth made a grab for it while attempting to shove his friend out of the room so that he could close the door.

It stopped with an abrupt thud, Stephen's foot propped against the bottom. "Uh, uh, uh..."

Both young men grinned, neither about to give in first until Tony's loud voice broke the standoff with a loud boom up the staircase, "Hey, Steve, hurry up and give Burg the phone."

Raising one eyebrow, Blair held out his hand in triumph when the receiver was slapped into the open palm.

"You win this time, Sandburg, only because I have to finish beating T at Nine Ball."

A loud roar of protests followed from below by the participants around the pool table when Stephen rejoined the game.

Blair leaned against the doorframe, letting the noise soothe his soul like a healing balm, before closing the door and settling on the one cleared spot on his bed. "Hello."

"Hey, Blair-man, long time, no see."

Instantly recognizing the male voice, Blair was delighted to hear from his childhood friend. "Jody, is that you? How's it going?"

"Great, just great. Hooked up with my mom last week, who just happened to traveling with your mom, and Naomi told me that you finally picked your major. Anthropology, huh? Can't imagine why I never saw that one coming."

Both friends laughed aloud.

"Yeah, I'm settled in here. Took me a while to find my rhythm, though. How about you? What's new in Nevada?"

"Well, that's the reason I'm calling, bud. I've come across something you have just got to see."

The excitement in his friend's voice had Blair shoving several large texts to the floor before he stretched out to get more comfortable. "What could you possibly have that I would want to leave my cold and wet home for?"

A chuckle filled the line. "Still hating the rain, huh? Remember the time we went up to Tahoe and got caught spying on the McHenry sisters in the middle of a thunderstorm?"

"You know, thanks for bringing that up. I haven't had to think about that particular moment of humiliation in almost a year. Not only did we get caught by Old Man McHenry, but as an added bonus, we both ended up with pneumonia." He shuddered at the memory and listened to Jody's snort on the opposite end. "Naomi was plastering me with those reeking poultices for a week."

"At least your mom didn't sit you down with a Grey's Anatomy book and give you 'the talk' for four hours."

"I take it, you've recovered?"

"Watching Alicia and Tawnee get ready for bed that night was so worth it. And now that I'm at LVU, the mystery of women has become even more of a delight to study."

A warm smile lit up Blair's eyes as he scrunched a pillow behind his head. At the mention of the twin co-eds, he realized it might not have been as bad as he remembered. "Not to change the subject, but what do you have that I need to see?"

"Well, I was thinking about that old book the other day, the one you used to always carry around in your bag about tribal watchmen."

"Yeah," Blair sat up, his forgotten pillow falling to the floor.

"My professor of archeology, Dr. Pritchard, took us to this new site that's being excavated over by Lake Meade. It appears to be an old burial ground of some sort, although there are no markings of any specific tribe. We've carbon dated a bone fragment from some skeletal remains and it's come up at least fifteen hundred years old. I'm not sure, but I think this site might belong to one of your watchman guys."

"Holy, crap, Jo, what else did you find? What makes you thing it's a Sentinel? How many bodies are there?" Jumping off the bed, Blair began pacing his room. "We've got to come up with a way for me to see this site!" "

"Geez, Blair, take a breath, dude. See, here's where you come in. I told Doc Pritchard about my brainy anthro friend who'd love to come down here and give us a hand as he knows all about the watchman myth and stuff."

The pacing stopped. "But, LVU already has an anthro department."

"This is the sweet part, Blair. Pritchard hates the head of our anthro department and would rather the guy didn't get involved in our little project."

"No way?" Disbelief filled the line.

Laughter returned. "What do you say, Blair, you and me, together again?"

"You are the best, man! Are you working the site now, because I've got classes? There's just no way I can leave with finals next week."

Jody was quiet a moment. "You have a semester break after finals, right?"

"Yeah, but that's running into Christmas."

"Like you and your mom are going to be getting together for the holidays," Jody snorted. "She told me she was on her way to Miami to protest in some Cuban rally."

Blair remained quiet as he sorted out his possibilities. "Can I bring a few friends?"

"How many is a few?"

"Just some of the guys from the house. One's in the anthro program with me," he quickly added.

"Hey, if your friends want to come along and help work the site, I'll clear it with Pritchard. Just remember, we're not there to party."

Silence filled the line and Jody suddenly wondered if he'd been hung up on. "Blair?"

"Don't worry, Jo, I don't party," his old friend replied quietly.

"You okay, bud?"

Blair cleared his throat. "Yeah, just a lot to think about. Can I call you back tomorrow after I talk to some of the guys?"

"Sure, I'll be waiting to hear from you. This is going to be great, Blair. You and me together again. I'll be just like old times."

"Yeah, great."

Silence filled the line again.

"Blair?"

"Sorry Jo, just thinking."

"Blair, we've been friends ever since your skinny butt got bumped up into my fourth grade class with Mrs. Blinko. You know you can tell me anything, right? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. There's just a lot going on right now and I'm still processing college in general. Getting away for a few weeks would be great."

"Excellent. Bring your new buddies, 'cause I've got a few stories to share."

"Then again, Jo…"

His friend's laughter filled the line one last time as they said their goodbyes.

oOo

Later that evening, Blair shared the news of his impending trip with the rest of the housemates, and several piped in that they would love to join him after Christmas. Next thing he knew, Craig, a geology major, appeared with a topographical map of the Lake Meade area. The young men all gathered around trying to figure out where this mysterious burial ground might be located. It wasn't until the group had finally broken up and returned to their studies, that Blair noticed the absence of Stephen. His new friend had been there, encouraging him in the beginning of the discussion and now was nowhere to be seen.

"Blair?" Mrs. Applegate tapped him softly on the arm to get his attention.

"Mrs. A?"

"It's a beautiful night. Why don't you go out for some fresh air?"

He frowned, looking out the window at the fluffy white flakes falling from the sky and shivered. "I don't know. It looks kinda cold out."

The older lady smiled and shrugged, her hands suddenly holding out his coat.

Not quite sure what the housemother was up to, he slipped on his parka and grudgingly accepted the scarf she wrapped around his neck. Once to the front door, he was stopped when she again placed her small hand on his arm.

"Back door, dear." A second jacket was placed in his gloved hands, she then gestured out the door,"Oh, Blair, would you please give this to Stephen if you should see him?"

oOo

Outside was a peaceful wonderland and Blair paused to take in the stillness before trying to figure out where his friend had disappeared off to. The soft falling snow cascaded lazily through the air, creating a white blanket over the ground, only disturbed by one set of footprints. Since tracking was definitely not one of one of his fortes, he sent a silent thank you upwards and began to follow the trail.

The subtle reflection of the city lights cast a warm glow on the starless night and Blair spotted a figure leaning against a tree at the edge of the property. Not wanting to intrude, he quietly cleared his throat.

Stephen's breath of warm air slowly clouded the frigid night in a resigned sigh. "Do you think it snows in Peru, Blair?"

Blair looked to the sky, the nearby mountains lost behind the weather. Large flakes clung to his lashes. "Up in the higher elevations, probably."

"I wonder if Jim can see the snow."

"I don't know, Stephen. I think its summer in that part of the world, right now."

"He's alive. I know it as if I could feel him standing next to me instead of you."

Both men remained silent, studying the night.

"Then he'll come back."

Shining blue eyes filled with uncertainty turned and met Blair's steady gaze. "When?"

Holding out the coat, the teen shook his head, "I don't know."

Stephen smiled his thanks as he pulled the down filled garment on. "I only came out for a moment. Didn't think it'd be this cold."

Both men once again stood quietly, watching the snowfall. A break in the clouds allowed the moon's silver light to spill over and affirm the moment.

"Blair?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Not quite sure for what, he glanced to Stephen. "For what?"

"For sharing your trip. During break Dad's going to be in Europe and Sally's visiting her family. It'd be kind of quiet over the holidays."

Blair grinned and tugged on the older student's arm. "Hey, we need a business major on this site. What if we find out the guy's rich and suddenly has relatives popping out of the desert?"

Stephen shook his head in disbelief and then finally had to chuckle, "For someone so smart, you're an idiot."

With an arm across the shoulder, Blair steered Stephen back towards the warmth of the house. "I try, man."

oOoOo

The flight to Las Vegas was more than comfortable, courtesy of first class tickets via William Ellison. Stephen's dad had been delighted to discover that his youngest son wasn't going to be alone, left to dwell over his missing brother. It'd been unfortunate that a business meeting called him away to Europe, so whatever he could do to make Stephen happy and occupied, was well worth any price.

And if the guys happened to take advantage of his generosity, they were careful not to go overboard. A quick trip to the rental car counter to pick up the keys for their vehicle, they were just in time to catch the first load off the luggage carousel. Exiting the terminal, they both stopped and stared at the shining, fully loaded, fire engine red, Cherokee Sport waiting for them.

"Nice," they breathed simultaneously.

"Stephen, did I mention that you're dad can adopt me?"

"The old man did out do himself this time, didn't he?"

As Stephen merged into the bustling traffic, Blair shook his head. "Ell, I can't wait to see what your dad has in store for us to stay at. "

oOo

Las Vegas turned out to be a city under construction and Stephen got lost twice while trying to follow Sally's neatly printed directions. The two newcomers gawked at the large casinos that lay in rubble after being demolished so that bigger and better delights could be built. And, even though it was the holidays, thousands of people filled the strip, taking their chance with Lady Luck or just enjoying the sights.

"What do you think, Blair, want to move back?"

"You know, there might not be any snow or much rain, but I just can't get comfortable with all of this," he motioned out the window, "going on around me."

"How long did you and your mom live here? It had to have been for a while if you hooked up with Jody."

"Actually we stayed a couple years while I was in grade school and then we came back again while I was finishing my junior year. Jody and I would swap summers when our moms moved around so that we could still hang out together in-between. What about you, ever been here before?"

Stephen's faraway smile slipped. "Yeah, this past summer for my twenty-first birthday, Jim and I flew down for the weekend and experienced the night life."

"Wasn't he in the army? How'd he get away?"

"He was on leave." Looking out the window, Stephen paused, "That was the last time I saw him."

Blair grimaced inwardly, watching his new friend, "I'm sorry, Steve. You know, if being here is going to be hard on you, you don't have to stay. I can find Jody and hang out with him."

That earned him a cuff to the loose curls. "Hah, you're not getting rid of me that easy. I want to be here. Besides, who's going to keep you two out of trouble?"

Ducking out of reach when a second swat was aimed his way, Blair grinned, "Hey, don't mess the hair, man. And who said anything about getting into trouble?"

Pulling over to the curb, Stephen nodded towards a tan young man with a bunch of brightly colored balloons; he was wearing an LVU sweatshirt and leaning against a blue common mailbox. "I take it that's Jody?"

Blair was out of the Jeep before Stephen had even come to a complete stop and happily grabbed his childhood friend. "What's with the balloons?"

The newcomer looked thoughtful for a moment, his brown eyes filled with mischief. "Are you suggesting I should have worn my tranny outfit instead?"

"Oh, man, don't even go there. I saw that outfit. Even a real transvestite wouldn't be caught dead looking like you did."

Stephen raised a brow to Blair while mouthing 'transvestite'.

"It was for Halloween our senior year. Don't worry, the principal made Jody go home and change." Rolling his eyes, Blair waved between his friends, "Stephen Ellison, I'd like to introduce Jody Fennick. Jody, Stephen."

Introductions completed, they all pitched in to load Jody's gear in to the back of the Jeep. When the newest member of the group made a move to climb in with the balloons, Stephen cleared his throat and shot a 'not gonna happen' look to Blair.

"Hey, Jo, how about you lose the balloons?"

A fake pout crossed the mischievous face, "Ah, man, Blair, they're friends of mine."

"Jo?"

"What?"

"Women watching right behind you on the sidewalk. I bet they'd take the balloons."

"You guys never would have found me without these, but, then again, chicks love colorful things." Heading for the young women, he bowed and presented the bunch, "For you, lovely ladies." The receptive bright smiles and one phone number had the guys talking for at least fifteen minutes once back underway.

oOo

The two 'old' friends talked non-stop and Stephen just listened while navigating through the busy city streets to the slower paced suburbs. Apparently Jody's mom had joined Naomi for the holidays after she found out about the 'boys' plans to work the dig. Now with all parental restraints gone, they were ready for some fun. Stopping outside a gated community that bordered the desert and a country club golf course, Stephen had to show his ID before allowed to enter.

"Enjoy your stay, Mr. Ellison," the guard said as he pushed the release button and stood back to watch the gates swing inward.

Blair and Jody both stopped talking at the same time as they made their way through the community filled with houses that looked as though they belonged to movie stars.

When Stephen brought the Jeep to stop on the paved stone driveway of an exquisite white brick mansion, the teens stumbled out to stare in admiration.

A matching stone pathway weaved through a garden of lush green vegetation decorated with stunning reddish orange flowers to the front door. An ornate fountain bubbled quietly in the center of the garden, and when the boys looked in the water, small fish could be seen swimming lazily in the cool shadows.

"Last one inside carries the luggage," Stephen challenged as he bolted up the steps to the front door. Quickly inserting the key, he burst through the door first, only to stop in his tracks and then be knocked over by the other two rushing in behind him.

"Oh, wow," Jody breathed, walking carefully through the massive room built around a huge stone fireplace.

White oak bookcases lined one wall while the other was covered with paintings of the surrounding mountains. Artifacts and antiques decorated the room in such a manner that although clearly expensive, they did not appear gaudy but rather well thought out to their placement.

Blair watched Stephen walk quietly through the room. "Have you been here before?"

"No, this is corporate owned."

Jody poked his head out from behind the refrigerator door, popping the top open on a Pepsi, "Do you think there's a pool?"

"Oh, yeah," Blair nodded. From his position beside the large French doors overlooking the back yard he had a clear view of the available activities outside. "Check this out."

By the time the three young men finished exploring the house and its grounds, and unloading their gear, they were ready for a cool dip in the pool. Followed by a late dinner in the city, they finally were able to relax in the main room in front of the fire with a hockey game.

oOo

"…so then Blair's standing there, dripping wet, and old man McHenry's pointing a shotgun at him. I thought you were going to wet your pants, man! Then again, we were so wet, maybe you did!" Jody doubled over in laughter, regaling Stephen with another of the teen's adventures.

"I did not wet my pants!"

Stephen's eyes were wet from tears. He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed so hard. "What did I tell you about trouble?"

Holding hands up in mock resignation, Blair shrugged, "I refuse to say anything for fear of incriminating myself. If you're done with the stories, Jo, pass me some more pizza."

Stephen snagged a pepperoni covered piece when the box went by, "You know I never imagined you could get pizza delivered on Christmas Eve."

Jody grinned as he popped yet another soda open beside Blair's head. "Steve, buddy, this is Vegas." Waggling his eyebrows, he continued, "We could get anything we wanted delivered here, twenty-four/seven." Knocking Blair's feet off the couch, he grabbed the last piece of pizza and sat down on the empty cushion. "Hey, you guys didn't tell me when the rest of your friends are coming."

"Turns out Tony's the only other guy able to come and he's going to be here on the 28th and plans on staying until the 9th of January. That gives us two weeks to work the site."

"That's okay, Blair. Most of the students on the team went home for the holidays and won't be back until the start of next semester. That's why Dr. Pritchard gave me full access to the site over break. He was pretty impressed with the letter you sent explaining about your search for anything pertaining to Sentinels."

Stephen watched color spread across Blair's face. Yeah, this was just the thing the kid needed to forget about what happened in Cascade. "You know, guys, we've done nothing but lay around since we got here yesterday. What do you say we head over to Lake Meade and take a look around?"

"Cool."

"Sounds great."

Jody stood up and went to stare out the window at the surrounding desert, before grinning at Blair and Stephen. "Hey, did I tell you there's a mobile work station at the site with a generator? We could stay, if you guys aren't afraid of being out in the desert overnight." A decorative pillow flew through the air, hitting him solidly on the side of the head. Before he could fire it back Stephen was at his side and plucked it free from behind him.

Blair tried to look innocent. "Jo, we've spent so much time out there while growing up, what would I be afraid of?"

"Well, you are a northern city-slicker. I didn't know if you could still handle the great outdoors."

Next thing Stephen knew, Blair and Jody were wrestling on the floor. Deciding that it was time for him to take charge of the situation, he reached down and caught both young men by the scruff of their necks, separating the laughing friends. "Any chance we're going today, guys?"

oOo

Almost three hours later, they found themselves along the northwestern shoreline of Lake Meade. An awe inspiring view lay before them of the desert painted in hues of orange and purple, reflected in the water's calm surface.

"It's hard to believe its Christmas Eve," Jody quietly commented.

Blair couldn't resist a smirk, "Yeah, and if we spot a pregnant lady on a donkey, or a multitude of angles, or-"

"I think I saw some sheep earlier," a quiet masculine voice spoke up from behind the three.

The startled friends spun around to find a man not much older than them standing with his arms folded over his chest, a pair of sunglasses sitting precariously low on the edge of his nose.

"Daniel! Hey, what are you doing out here all by yourself?" Not waiting for a reply, Jody introduced Stephen and Blair to Doctor Daniel Jackson. "Dan's working with Doc Pritchard on the decipher to some petroglyphs we found up top."

Stephen shook the shaggy-haired man's outstretched hand. "Doctor, huh?"

Daniel shrugged. "Archeology and I'm finishing my dissertation in linguistics."

Jody gestured between the friends, "I hope you don't mind, but we came to stay the night at the portable and do a little poking around tomorrow."

A brief flash of relief crossed the archeologist's face and he tucked his hands in his pockets. "Um, no, actually I'd enjoy the company."

"Excellent! Blair let's get a bonfire going before it's too dark."

"Uh, Jo, I was kind of hoping you might show me where you found the skeleton."

"Dude, it'll wait 'til tomorrow. Come on," Jody urged impatiently, giving Blair's coat a firm tug.

"I can show him," Daniel interjected. "It's right near where I was working, and I need to go back and grab my gear anyways."

Blair turned his best pleading eyes towards his two friends.

"Oh, for Pete's sake," Stephen grumbled. "Jody, let's go unload the Jeep and get the fire started." Turning to Blair, he did his best not to smile at the triumphant grin aimed his way. "Don't get lost, kid."

"I won't, Dad," Blair tossed back over his shoulder, already following the archeologist across the rocks. He didn't miss hearing Stephen mumble, "And, stay out of trouble."

oOo

Blair made the half-mile trek across the desert rock in silence, absorbing every word Doctor Jackson told him about the history of the area. How Ice Age hunters had tracked now extinct mammoths, horses and camels thousands of years ago. How the Paiutes, Mohave, and Pueblo peoples each survived in totally separate communities, maintaining distinct lifestyles.

The Pueblo's distant cousins, the Anasazi, interested the young archeologist the most. The mystery of the village abandonment around 1150 A.D. intrigued him enough to leave his current studies in the east to join Dr. Pritchard's team.

Climbing over a few large rocks, they stopped beside an area marked off with string.

"I believe this is what you came to see," Daniel said, pointing to a section of the site under excavation.

Blair cautiously stepped over the string and kneeled for a closer look in the rapidly fading light. Almost reverently, he ran his hand over the ground that could possibly be holding the remains of an ancient watchman. Tightness in his chest reminded him that he needed to breathe.

The doctor's soft voice broke the moment. "I know how you feel."

Blair looked up, noticing that Daniel had removed his glasses and was staring at him. "What?"

Shifting on his feet, the young scientist appeared totally at ease in his surroundings. "I said I know how you feel, to find a piece of your puzzle."

Blair looked back to the ground, carefully scooping up some loose dirt and sifting it between his fingers. "I'd only ever read about them in books. Can't tell you how many times I've heard people tell me that I'm looking for a ghost."

Daniel nodded; he too understood going on a journey others couldn't understand. "I'm going to get my gear, Blair. I'll be right back."

Closing his eyes, Blair listened to the retreating footsteps until they were gone. Surrounded by warmth of the setting sun and a gentle breeze from the mountains, he let his mind relax and absorb his surroundings.

"This is not your Sentinel, young one," a rich voice spoke from out of nowhere. "Soon, yours will need you, but for now you must find your own path."

Blair's eyes popped open as his heart hammered in his chest. Rising quickly to his feet, he searched for the speaker. Spying Daniel walking towards him, he took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "Did you hear that?"

Daniel looked around not quite sure what he was supposed to have heard. "What?"

"Someone talking."

"Nooooo. What did they say?"

"I thought," Blair started, and then suddenly feeling very awkward, stopped. "Guess not." Shaking his head at his own wishful imagination, he stepped away from the site and followed Daniel back down the trail to the others.

oOo

Christmas Eve passed without incident. The group sat around the fire sharing stories, singing carols off-key with made up verses, and cooking marshmallows. The cold night air prompted Blair and Jody to retrieve their sleeping bags and use them as wraps to keep warm. Eventually, the combined factors of the trip and camaraderie lulled the young men to sleep under the stars.

Stephen and Daniel remained awake, watching the passing constellations in the clear night sky. Neither ready to submit to lonely dreams, they talked for hours until they ran out of things to say. Finally, when the fire began to die and the men could no longer keep their eyes open, they roused the two younger members and headed to the trailer.

Stephen was the first to rise the following morning and started a pot of coffee. No matter how old he got, he always awoke early on Christmas in giddy anticipation of what delights the day would bring. This year would be different with no tree and trimmings, no gifts piled underneath, and no family to share the day with. Looking at the three sleeping figures, he realized that his new friends had become his gifts this year. Silently removing three packages from his duffel, he placed one by each person; grateful that he had gotten Blair two, so that now he even had one to give to the newest member of their group. Smiling, he sat back and enjoyed a rich cup of coffee as he waited for the others to get up.

The newest member to the group was the next to become conscious, reaching blindly about in search of his glasses. Slipping them on, he was surprised to see a wrapped package beside his pillow. Stephen merely shrugged as Daniel shot the man a questioning glance. Gratefully accepting an offered cup of coffee, he grinned as he pulled his secret stash of chocolate-covered donuts from a cupboard, and shared his treat.

Jody and Blair eventually stirred when Stephen banged a spoon against a pot, tired of waiting for them to wake up on their own. Good-natured grumbling about old people waking the young up at the crack of dawn didn't get far when the senior threatened to dump the pot of coffee down the sink.

Finally filled with enough caffeine and sugar to keep even the quietest person active, the robust group sat around the table shaking their packages. Each guessing wild ideas of what lay beneath the neatly wrapped paper.

Jody, not able to hold back from tearing into his present any longer, was the first to shred the wrapping and hold up a deluxe set of small handheld excavating tools. Passing his gift over to Blair and Daniel for inspection, the three scientists marveled together at the precision of each piece.

With urging from the others, Daniel shyly opened his unexpected gift and discovered a beautifully tooled leather journal. The inscription inside, which Stephen had actually written for Blair now somehow felt right for the new friend, read: 'May life's journeys take you as far as your dreams can reach.' Looking up to meet the gift giver's eyes, Daniel was speechless and could only nod his thanks.

The youngest member held his gaily-wrapped box, still trying to figure out what Stephen could possibly have gotten him.

"Sandburg, just open it," Jody egged on, ready to go and try out his gift.

Pulling off the paper and tossing the box onto the floor, Blair held up an exquisitely- made backpack. Running his hand over the soft worked leather, his fingers traced the imprint of a howling wolf on the front flap. "Stephen, this is beautiful. Thank you," he murmured.

"You're welcome, Blair. Look inside the front pocket; Dad put something in there for you."

Removing an envelope addressed to Mr. Blair Sandburg, he opened a single page on the Rainier letterhead. Meeting Stephen's gaze in shock, he shook his head, "It's too much."

Jody reached over and grabbed the letter, "Nice, Blair, a full undergrad scholarship."

Stephen smiled, "It was Dad's idea."

"Okay, now I know he can adopt me!" Blair burst out as he hugged his friend. Feeling Stephen back away, he grabbed his arm, "Wait, I've got something for you, too." He took a package wrapped in paper and twine from his duffel, "Merry Christmas, roomie."

Inside was a polished wooden box with a framed photo of Stephen and Jim underneath the glass lid. Opening the cover, he discovered a matchbox truck, a US Army Ranger shoulder patch, and a worn baseball, all memorabilia that was either his or Jim's. He didn't know what to say. Looking up, he found the others quietly watching him. It was the flicker of doubt that passed over Blair's features, before being quickly hidden, that prompted him to speak. "I really miss him, and if he is gone, I guess all I have are special memories left." Running his hands over the glass lid and staring into the smiling blue eyes of his missing sibling, he smiled back at Blair. "The box is beautiful. Thank you."

oOo

For the next three days, they worked tirelessly over the site. Stephen's enthusiasm waned when little of interest was discovered sifting through dirt. Eventually he began to run errands just for something to do. When he disappeared for more than an hour on the third afternoon, the others became concerned and began a search, only to find him happily fishing along the lakeshore with a makeshift pole created from items out of their supplies.

It was decided, then, that he would head back into the city for fresh supplies and pick up Tony at the airport. Depending on what the newest member of the group wanted to do that evening, they would come back to the dig the following morning.

Blair and Jody decided to take a break from the dig and go exploring. Offering Daniel the opportunity to join them for a few hours to search some old mines, they both were inwardly pleased when he declined, insisting that he wanted to continue what he was working on. Making plans with the archeologist to regroup after dinner, they grabbed their packs and headed out as soon as the dust from Stephen's departing Jeep settled.

TBC...

A/N: The boys exciting adventure will be completed in Part 2. It should be posted by the end of the week max once updates are finished. ;D