The Packet

Sunday, August 8th 1999

The packet had arrived a week ago. Jim had done his best to prepare Blair for it, but there were a lot of changes coming and he couldn't explain them all. As expected, it had caused yet another period of reflection and re-evaluation for the former anthropologist.

It was hard watching Sandburg go through all of this. The University had been his life since he was 16 and suddenly all he'd worked for had been torn away from him. And now—now he was preparing for 720 hours of training that promised nothing but hard work and sweat to prepare him for a thankless job that could very well get him killed.

It had amazed him at how well Sandburg had taken it all, but then he'd also seen what it had cost him. The hardest part had been when he'd seen the ready smile fade from his friend's face.

Starting over was hard. He'd done it enough times that he knew what to expect but Sandburg? He wasn't sure he'd have taken things as graciously if it had been him and he'd admitted it to Blair.

It was the one thing he could give his friend before he headed out: the truth. Some people saw him as the stronger member of the team, but there was strength and then there was strength and Blair Sandburg had more than proved his metal.

Tonight, on the way home, Jim had had the first pang of doubt. He realized that this was the last night he'd spend with Sandburg until the training was over.

Sure, he'd be home some weekends, but Jim remembered how worn out the Academy had left him, and he didn't really think Blair would be up for much even if he did come home on the weekends.

Last week Blair had turned over his 'dis' to Simon, asking him to act as Jim's guide if necessary. Simon had joked half heartedly about it being the Holy Grail, but for Sandburg it was.

He put his hand on the door, unsure what he'd find tonight. Yesterday when he'd gotten home, he'd been surprised to find Sandburg standing in front of the mirror, completely zoned out on his own image.

"Shaved and shorn," Sandburg had lamented.

It had been the biggest and most traumatic change to date. The dissertation was something he'd worked on—it had been part of his life but his hair—that had been a part of him, probably for as long as he could remember.

One more step on the journey that would take him away from Cascade.

Jim took a deep breath and opened the door. Other than a duffel bag near the door, there was no sign of his roommate.

"Chief?" he called as he juggled his keys and the bag of carryout from the Thai place down the street.

"Sandburg?" He tensed when he didn't hear anything and then he saw Blair sitting at the table going through is paperwork.

"Oh, hey Jim," he said, then nodded to the copy of 'Recruit Rules and Regulations' he'd been reviewing. "Just… making sure everything's in order."

Jim nodded, setting the food on the kitchen counter before grabbing a beer from the fridge. "You'll do fine Sandburg."

Blair nodded. "If I can stick to the program and play their game."

That made Jim smile. Trust Sandburg to see through it all and realize that it was, like much of his education a game, but he could also tell that Blair was beginning to doubt he could play their game.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Blair shook his head pointing to the document in front of him. "Forty-one pages. Forty-One pages of rules, regulations and requirements… and I thought you were bad."

He snorted. "It's not that bad..."

"Really?" Blair asked in disbelief as he leafed through the rules and pointed to section 5A.180 Dormitory Rules.

"Jim… not only do I have to shine my shoes and belt, but I have to do it in a designated area… they have a designated area for polishing…"

"Sandburg, if anyone can adapt and blend it… it's you."

When Blair looked at him, he had to swallow hard. He'd never seen Sandburg look that miserable. "Alright Chief," he said taking the book and closing it. "I know you. You've read this thing cover to cover three times by now… tonight we relax and eat Thai food."

It had been a good decision. Talk had been relaxed, but tomorrow loomed over them, and they had to accept it.

That night Jim had almost fallen asleep when he heard Blair ask quietly, "Jim what's a hospital corner?"

So many changes were coming… for both of them.