A Free Spirit…
By Enelya
# 8 in the Sacred Ground Series
It had been a long tiring day and the two occupants of the Ford pick up couldn't wait to get home. Blair yawned and laid his head against the window. He looked over at Jim slightly and asked, "Hey Jim, could we order take out tonight? I'm beat and don't feel like doing any dishes."
Jim looked over at Blair and smiled a little. "Sure Chief. I don't see the harm in getting a little take out tonight. What do you feel like? Chinese maybe?" Jim asked as he pulled into the parking spot next to their building.
Blair nodded. "Yeah Jim that sounds good. I'm thinking I'll get some beef with broccoli, an egg roll and some plain fried rice. If that's ok?" Blair asked as he unbuckled and looked over at Jim.
"Sure Chief. I think that sounds good, but I think I'm gonna get some sweet and sour chicken along with what you said." Jim said as he got out and shut the door. Blair followed suit and followed slowly behind Jim inside the building and into the elevator.
"Hey kiddo, I think maybe after dinner tonight we should both turn in early. I know you're tired kiddo and I know I'm beat." Jim said as he put his arm around Blair's shoulders.
Blair leaned against Jim and yawned. "I think that sounds good Jim." When they reached the top, Blair allowed Jim to guide him from the elevator and towards the loft. He sniffed the air and looked up at Jim to see if he smelled what he did and saw his guardian giving him a look. "What?" He asked confused.
"Did you leave a candle or something scented burning?" Jim asked, knowing Blair didn't, but feeling the need to ask.
"Jim come on man, you know I know better than that. You would've smelled it before we left the loft, and before we got down the hall. It smells like someone's burning sage." Blair said taking in a deep breath of the stuff.
The detective frowned as he sniffed the air again and moved so that he was in front of Blair as he began to move cautiously down the hall and pulled his gun out. He looked behind him and saw that Blair was following him. "Blair, stay right there. I'm gonna go check it out first." He told the teen.
"But Jim…" Blair started.
"No buts Junior unless you want this to involve your butt afterwards." Jim stated as he gave Blair a look that said `Do you really want to go down that path tonight Junior?'
Blair sighed softly and shook his head. "No sir." He said quietly and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed showing that he wasn't happy, but wouldn't argue anymore.
A quirked eyebrow at Blair's stance was all Jim did, and then he made his way to the door and opened it cautiously. He stood there stunned when he saw what was going on in his kitchen.
A woman with short, red hair was standing in his kitchen cooking something in a large pot on the stove. She looked up at him and smiled. "Hi I hope you don't mind but I knew Blair would be hungry when he got home." She said in a happy cheerful tone.
Jim looked out into the hallway and motioned for the teen. He watched Blair approach, then sort of slide past him quickly keeping his butt out of range, putting a glint of amusement in Jim's eye. He watched as Blair's face took on a shocked look at the woman and then one of complete joy.
"Ma!" Blair shouted as he rushed quickly to the woman and wrapped his arms around her. "Oh God Mom I've missed you. Where've you been?" He asked as he hugged her tighter, not wanting to let her go.
"Hi baby. I've missed you too. I've been in Tibetan monastery learning how to meditate more fully. It's wonderful. I'll have to show you how to do it. It releases the negative energy within you and just calms your aura." The woman said as she gently pushed Blair away from her and held his face in her hands. "Look at that hair. You look like a hippie from the seventies with all that long hair. Don't you ever cut it, it's beautiful." She said smiling at Blair.
Jim had watched the two curiously. He had thought that when he first met Blair that the teen had said his mother was dead, but he had called this woman Mom and couldn't seem to get enough of her. He cleared his throat to get their attention and was amused to see the embarrassment on Blair's face.
"Oh sorry Jim. I-I forgot to introduce you. I-I just got all excited and…" Blair started but stopped when Jim raised his hand.
"It's alright Chief. How about telling me who this is." Jim said calmly as he walked over to them both.
A smile spread widely on Blair's face. "This is my Mom, Naomi. Naomi this is Jim. I'm just so happy to see you again Mom." Blair said as he wrapped his arms around his mother once more.
Jim could hear the rapid beating of Blair's heart, and the small contented sighs and the soft whisper Blair murmured to his mother. "I missed you so much Mom, I love you. I love you." A wave of sorrow rolled through Jim as he realized that his little pup might not be with him much longer. He forced a smile to his face as he said, "Well Chief it looks like we don't have to order out tonight. Your Mom seems to have cooked something up." Jim tried to lift the lid of the pot, but his hand was smacked with the spoon.
"You stay out of there. It's not ready." Naomi said as she smiled at Jim.
"Hey, just trying to see what was cooking." He said as he shook his hand at the slight sting and tried to glare menacingly at Blair who was trying hard to hide his laughter.
The curly headed youth had his hands over his mouth to keep the laughter from spilling out, but his dancing blue eyes gave him away along with a muffled snort every few minutes or so.
"Keep it up Junior and I might find another use for that spoon." Jim said as he grinned at the youth.
Blair's mouth dropped open completely devoid of any humor at all. "You wouldn't." Blair stated still aghast at the words.
"You wanna test that theory Chief?" Jim said as he tried to hide the humor in his voice.
Naomi hadn't said anything during their exchange, but looked up at Jim's words and tilted her head a bit like a curious dog. She turned to look at her son, as if whatever his reaction was, she would take her cue from it.
Blair's eyes widened slightly, then he grinned a bit and shook his head. "No, I don't think I will." He said and peered over his mother's shoulder as she had gone back to cooking and lifted the lid a bit. "Smells good Mom. What is it?"
"You should know sweetie." Naomi said and grinned.
Blair's face split into a big grin. "Alright. I was hoping you were making that. You're making something else with it right?"
Jim was quirking his eyebrow at the confusing conversation. "You mean you know what she's making?" He asked his young charge.
"Yeah, she's making my favorite thing to eat. Hey Mom, what else are you making? I know you're not just making that." Blair asked turning back towards his mother not mentioning what she was making.
A large sigh came from Jim as he finally gave up and walked over to the couch to sit down. He frowned when he saw that the furniture had been switched around. "Hey Chief, come here."
Blair looked up from another pot, put the lid down and walked over to Jim. "Yeah Jim what is it?" He paused for a minute then looked where Jim was looking and said softly, "You know maybe we could…." He paused when he saw the look Jim was giving him and continued. "I'll put it back when Mom leaves Jim, I promise."
Jim nodded, went over to the couch, sat down and flipped the television on. He sighed heavily still not happy with the furniture rearrangement, but figured he could deal with it while Blair's mother was here.
Once dinner was done, Blair began to clean up the dishes, when his mother stopped him.
"Baby, what are you doing? Just leave them, they can be done later darling. Come over here and sit with me on the couch." Naomi beckoned as she sat on the other couch.
Jim watched from his chair a moment then, flicked the television on and began to watch the Jags game.
Blair licked his lips as he looked at Jim, then looked at his mother, and then looked back at Jim. He swallowed, then turned and went to clear the table. He began to whisper softly knowing Jim would hear him. "Jim, man please I promise I'll do them tomorrow, please let me off tonight." He pleaded softly.
Jim didn't act like he had heard the youngster's plea, but a moment later he looked up and said, "Hey Chief, why don't you come and sit down and watch the game with me. I'll take care of those in a bit."
Blair looked up startled having believed that Jim had no intention of letting him off the hook. He set the plates down on the table and walked over to where Jim sat and plopped down next to him, forgetting about his mother for the moment.
"Sweetie come sit over here. Leave Jim to his game. You and I can talk and catch up while he watches that." Naomi said as she smiled and patted the spot next to her, oblivious to the fact that Blair was watching the game as well.
"Next commercial Mom." Blair said as he leaned forward a little more intent on the game than his mother at the moment.
Naomi arched an eyebrow at her son. "Since when do you like sports sweetheart? I thought you told me they were boring."
"Mom I never said they were boring. I just said that at the time I had no interest in them." Blair told her as he kept his eyes glued to the television.
"You had no interest then, but they interest you now? Is that because he has you watch with him?" Naomi asked her voice filled with a bit of anger and hurt.
Blair finally drew his eyes away from the television and stared at his mother. "Ma, Jim asked if I wanted to watch it with him one night. I did and it's fun. Jim and I enjoy watching the game at night when it's on. We have fun together." Blair said trying to figure his mother out at the moment.
Jim had heard the tones in Naomi's voice and instinctively moved closer to Blair as he now looked at Naomi as well. His arm went around Blair as he continued to glare at the woman who was trying to make their evening ritual seem like all his idea and none of her
son's.
The actions and the looks of the man sitting next to her son had Naomi's maternal instinct rearing its head. She narrowed her eyes at Jim. "Get your hands off my son. He doesn't belong to you." She ground out in almost a growl as she stood.
"I have the papers stating that I am Blair's legal guardian until I adopt him, or he's of legal age." Jim barked back as he stood as well, forgetting about Blair.
Blair heaved a loud sigh when the adults began arguing. Neither seemed to notice this sigh though and continued to argue about him. Blair got up, moved away from both of them and went to his room shutting the door loudly behind him so it would get their attention, but not break the glass.
The slammed door got Naomi and Jim's attention. "What the…?" Jim asked at the same time Naomi yelled, "This is all your fault!"
"My fault? How is this my fault? If you had just let the boy alone while we were watching the game, none of this would've happened." Jim growled.
"You are not turning this around on me. If you hadn't taken him away from his home in the first place none of this would've happened." Naomi barked back.
"What! He's sixteen years old and trying to handle things he wasn't ready for yet!" Jim yelled, and turned away for a moment huffing loudly.
Blair was leaning his head against his door with a tear rolling down his cheek. He couldn't take it. He didn't want the two people he cared about arguing over him. An idea came to him and he closed his eyes and thought about it for several minutes making sure it was
something he really should do. The adults were still arguing and Blair nodded himself. 'Jim's gonna have my butt for this, but I can't take the arguing anymore.' Blair thought to himself. He turned on the white noise generator and stood there taking deep breaths trying to force himself to go through with his plan. He listened at the door and could still hear his mom and Jim arguing. He opened his balcony door, stepped outside and shut the door quietly behind him. He went down the stairs as quickly and quietly as he could. Once he was on the ground, he headed down the street to the coffee house.
Meanwhile, Naomi and Jim were still arguing. Naomi poked Jim in the chest with her finger. "Now you listen here, I've always taken care of my baby. I have never had any trouble out of him. You must be doing something wrong if you've had trouble with him."
"I must be doing something wrong? He's sixteen! He shouldn't have all the responsibilities you left him when you left him alone!" Jim shouted. He froze then, and cocked his head. "Something's wrong," Jim said as he moved away from Naomi and headed towards Blair's room. He opened the door and looked in. When he saw the room was empty and the white noise generator sitting out, he growled. "I'm gonna to wear his butt out and then he's grounded till he's thirty," Jim said out loud to himself.
"You're doing what to my baby?" Naomi asked from behind Jim.
"I'm gonna find him and bring his disobedient butt back home. You can come if you want, but do not interfere," Jim said as he turned around and faced Naomi.
"Interfere? Why would I interfere? What are you going to do to my baby?" Naomi asked again.
Jim ignored her, headed towards the front door, grabbed his keys from the basket and left the apartment. He could hear Naomi following him.
Blair had been disappointed when he showed up at the coffee house and Dan wasn't there. He sat at the bar drinking a hot tea and wondering how much longer it would take till Jim burst through the door. Twenty minutes later, Blair heard the door open and a shiver went up his spine. A second later a large hand descended upon his shoulder. Blair turned and stared into the angry eyes of his guardian. He saw his mother standing by the door smiling at him, but giving worried looks at Jim.
"Let's go Junior. You are in deep trouble," Jim said quietly.
"I'll only go under one condition. You and Mom quit arguing. I'm not gonna listen to it any longer," Blair said as he tried to shake off Jim's hand.
Jim leaned closer and whispered into Blair's ear. "If I were you Chief, I wouldn't be arguing. Don't make me embarrass you in front of your mother and the others in here. I don't want to, but I will if you don't come on."
"You wouldn't," Blair said quietly in disbelief.
"Like I asked earlier Junior, you wanna test that theory?" Jim asked.
Blair shook his head, not wanting to test Jim, but he didn't want to appear to give in too easily either. He stayed in his seat though and asked, "Do I at least get my condition met? No more arguing from you and Mom?"
"Fine no arguing, now come on," Jim ordered.
"Don't you order him around like that! You stay there if you want sweetie," Naomi said as she marched over to the two.
"Butt out Naomi. Blair, move it," Jim growled.
"NO! I'm not going anywhere. When you two decide to stop arguing, then I'll move," Blair told him.
Everyone in the coffee house stopped what they were doing at the shout and turned towards the bar. The four young teens that Dan normally sat with looked at each other as the adults started to argue, when Blair shouted, Michael and Robert got up and walked over.
"Blair is something going on? Do you need some help?" Robert asked.
Jim looked at the boys and answered, "No he doesn't."
"We weren't talking to you sir, we were asking Blair," Michael said.
Blair looked at Michael and Robert and then at Jim. "I'm okay guys, thanks," Blair said as he nodded.
The young men nodded and walked away. Jim watched them walk back, then turned his attention back on Blair. "Last chance Chief. You come along of your own accord or this isn't going to be pleasant for any of us," Jim said as he leaned forward so only Blair would hear him.
"Alright Jim, I'm coming," Blair said as he got up.
Jim grabbed Blair by the arm and walked him out of the coffee house. He opened the passenger door of his truck, pulled Blair into a brief hug and released him. "Inside. We'll talk at home," Jim said calmly. Blair climbed in with Naomi right behind him.
The ride home was quiet as was the ride up to the loft. Once inside, Jim pointed at the couch. "Sit," he ordered Blair. When Naomi opened her mouth, Jim pointed at her and said, "Quiet. You can talk in a minute." He looked back at Blair and said, "Alright Junior, let's hear why you snuck out."
"I didn't sneak out. I left," Blair said.
"Really? If you weren't sneaking out, then why did you turn on the white noise generator?" Jim asked.
Blair ducked his head and said, "Oh I forgot about that. Look You guys started arguing over me and I was sitting right here. Didn't either of you care what I had to say about it?"
"Of course we care baby. It's not my fault he was being pigheaded and unwilling to listen to me," Naomi stated.
"Me? Now wait a minute you…" Jim started but was cut off.
"See there you two go again. I figured if I left you two would have to stop arguing to come find me. Am I gonna have to go farther and find someplace better to hide so that you two will stop? I mean it. Quit fighting, please," Blair said as he stood and started pacing the room.
Jim stood up and halted Blair's pacing. "Hey, hey kiddo stop. Look I'm sorry and I'm sure your mom is sorry, too. We will try not to fight for the rest of your Mom's visit alright?" Jim asked as he held Blair by his arms.
Blair nodded. "I guess that's all I can ask is that you try," he said and then sighed.
Naomi got up and Jim let her turn Blair towards her. "We will try baby," she said and then hugged him. "Alright now why don't we go catch up sweetheart and Jim can join us if he wants," Naomi said and smiled figuring the matter was over and done with.
"Not yet Naomi. Blair and I have something to discuss in his room first," Jim said as he laid a hand on Blair's shoulder.
Blair groaned softly. "Hey Jim, uhm could I talk to you a minute?" he asked.
"Alright," Jim said and let Blair lead him to his room.
Blair shut the door, then stood against it and looked at Jim. "Jim, couldn't we please wait until Mom leaves? Please. If you think she's throwing a fit over me now, she will really throw a fit if you spank me," Blair said whispering the one word so only Jim could hear him.
"Come here Chief. Look, I would really like to wait, but kiddo, it'd just make it harder on the both of us when she left. No, I think it'd be best if we got this over with now. You wait here and I will try to get here to go out somewhere, but if I can't this is still going to
happen," Jim explained as he sat on the bed and had Blair sit next to him.
Blair sighed and nodded. "Ok Jim," he said.
Jim patted Blair on the shoulder, got up and left the room. He looked over at Naomi, who was still sitting on the couch, and said, "Hey, we're gonna be discussing a few more things, do you wanna go to the store and get some things for breakfast in the morning? I have some stuff, but not enough for the three of us. I got some money right here," Jim said hoping to get here out of the house for half an hour.
"Oh I don't eat much. Just half a grapefruit is fine for me, but if you need me to get a few extra things for you and Blair I don't mind," Naomi said as she looked towards Blair's door. "Are you sure Blair has to stay? He could go with me," Naomi said.
"No, I need him to stay here with me. Here I'll jot down a quick list," Jim said as he walked over to the kitchen and grabbed an envelope and a pen out of the drawer. He made a rather long list knowing they didn't need half the things on there. "There that ought
to do it. Here's the money and the list," Jim said as he handed Naomi both things.
"This is a quick list of a few things? Alright, I'll try to hurry," Naomi said as she headed towards the door.
"No need to hurry take your time," Jim said.
Naomi left finally and Jim thought about what Blair had done for a moment. He sighed and headed upstairs. He came back down a moment later with his brush in his back pocket. He went into Blair's room and found Blair still sitting on his bed. "Alright Chief, she's gone, let's get this done before she gets back," Jim said as he put the brush on Blair's nightstand and sat on the bed next to Blair.
"Are you using the brush?" Blair asked without looking up.
"Yeah Chief I am. Do you know why?" Jim asked as he rubbed Blair's back.
Blair nodded and looked up, his eyes bright with tears. "Because I left the loft without leaving a note or telling you. Something could've happened to me and you would've never known, especially if I was taken," Blair said.
"That's right kiddo. Alright stand up and jeans down," Jim told him.
Blair sighed and stood up. He went to unbutton his jeans and hesitated. "Jim do I really have to?" he asked.
"You know you do Chief. Especially when I'm using the brush. Come on kiddo, you don't want your mom walking in on it do you?" Jim asked.
"No way," Blair said. He unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them to the floor and then laid over Jim's lap.
Jim stroked Blair's back a moment, and then tugged his boxers down. He landed the first swat and heard the small gasp from the teen. He began to land swat after painful swat to Blair's backside.
Blair began to squirm as his backside began to quickly heat up. He buried his face into his arm and began to cry as more and more swats were applied. Just when he was about to reach back to stop Jim for a moment, Jim stopped. Blair began to choke down his sobs knowing Jim was reaching for the brush, but wanted to calm himself a little. He was shocked when Jim's hand lightly touched his backside and stayed there. Blair slowly lifted his head and turned it to look over his shoulder. He immediately buried his head in his arms when he saw his mother standing in his doorway mouth gaping open as she stared at was going on.
"What are you doing to my baby?" Naomi asked.
"Naomi, get out. We'll be out in a minute," Jim stated quietly.
"No, you leave him alone and let him up," Naomi ordered.
Jim nodded and raised both hands. "You can go if you want, Darwin," he said.
Blair shook his head. "I can't Jim, just get it over with please," Blair said as he lifted his head a bit so his mother could hear him as well.
"Baby you can't mean that. He's… he's," Naomi started.
"I do mean it. I know what he's doing, just please leave Mom," Blair said with his face still turned away from his mother.
Naomi stood there stunned a few more minutes, then backed out of the room and shut the door. She went across the room to the couch, sat down and buried her face in her hands.
"Blair, are you ok?" Jim questioned when the were alone.
Blair laid his head back on his arms and nodded. "I'm fine Jim, just… just get it over with please," Blair pleaded.
Jim nodded, stroked Blair's back a few minutes and then picked up the brush from the nightstand. He laid it against Blair's backside to let him know what was coming. He lifted it, and then landed a hard swat to the rosy backside in front of him.
Naomi's head shot up when she heard the loud sob come from Blair's room. She was up and at Blair's door in a minute. She didn't open the door nor go in. She stood there and listened to each swat and each heart-wrenching sob from her child.
Blair sobbed into his arms as the brush landed again. It took him a few minutes to realize that the brush wasn't landing on his backside anymore. He began to try to control his sobbing.
"Shh, it's alright Chief. It's over with and you're forgiven. Breathe Junior," Jim said as he ran his hand across Blair's back. He stood them both up after a minute helping Blair to get his pants and boxers back in place and then held the boy in his arms rubbing his hand up and down Blair's back.
The door to Blair's room opened and Naomi walked in. "I don't understand you," Naomi started her voice thick with tears. "You beat him and somehow convinced him to let you do it. You brainwashed him into thinking it was ok, because he wanted you to finish whatever that means and now you stand there holding him and comforting him like you care," Naomi said her voice more angry than when she began.
Blair wanted to tell his mother that she was wrong about everything that she had said, but he couldn't form the words while he was still trying to calm down. "Mom," he said his voice thick and raspy. He tried to get more out, but he was suddenly jerked from Jim's warm and comforting embrace. Blair found himself held tightly against his mother's chest. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him and he couldn't make out what she was saying at all. He began to push away from his mother till she finally released him.
"Naomi…" Jim started but stopped when Blair held up a hand. He nodded and said, "I'll be out here when you're done."
Blair nodded and watched Jim leave his room. He went to speak but his mother cut him off.
"Blair sweetie are you alright? What did he do to you? Well I know what he was doing when I walked in, but what else has he done? Never mind it doesn't matter. I'm leaving in a couple of days and you'll be coming with me. He won't hurt you anymore baby," Naomi said as she pulled Blair to her again and wrapped her arms around him.
Every time Blair went to speak, Naomi had cut him off with another question. He finally just let her talk till she was done. When she talked about leaving, Blair pushed away. "Mom, I'm not leaving. I like living here with Jim. I don't want to leave," Blair told her.
"What? Oh baby what has he done to you. If you were thinking rationally you would agree with me," Naomi said as she held his face in her hands.
Blair gently pulled his mother's hands away from his face. "Mom sit down." Blair watched her sit and then shook his head when she patted the spot next to her. "Nooo. No thank you. I'll stand," he said and chuckled a little.
"This is what I don't understand. How can you joke about it?" Naomi asked.
"If you'll just listen, I'll explain things to you. Ok now I know that what you walked in on was a little stressful for you, but I'm fine," Blair said and then shook his head at his mother's look. "Yeah sitting is not an option at the moment, but by tomorrow it'll be tolerable. Besides, Jim'll probably put a pillow on my chair again."
"Again? You mean this isn't the first time he's done this?" Naomi asked.
"No, and it most likely won't be the last. Look Mom when I first came to live here Jim told me the rules and the consequences if I broke those rules. Mom, I was sent to a foster home before Jim took me in. I won't tell you what they did to me, because it is a lot worse than anything Jim has ever done. The worse thing Jim has ever done to me Mom is whacked my butt with that…mmmph hairbrush," Blair said growling when he talked about the hairbrush.
Jim couldn't help listening in. Blair hadn't told him he couldn't and when Blair got to the part about the hairbrush, Jim had to keep himself from laughing out loud.
"Baby, what did they do to you?" Naomi asked.
Blair shook his head. "No Mom, that's one place I'm not going right now. Another time, but not now. Now what I did tonight, it's against one of Jim's rules. I left the house without letting anyone know where I was going. That's why you walked in on what you walked in on. I also put myself in danger, which means…" Blair tried to finish but was cut off by his mother.
"The hairbrush?" Naomi asked.
"Yeah. I know you don't like the whole corporal punishment thing, but Jim knows how far to take it and when to stop. He makes it so I can't sit down for a bit, but he's never left a bruise on me. He loves me Mom and that's why he takes care of me afterwards. So lay off of him alright? No more fighting," Blair said as he finally walked over to his mother.
"Alright baby. I'll try," Naomi told him as she stood and gathered him in her arms.
"Thanks Mom. That's all I ask," Blair told her as he laid his head on her shoulder.
The next morning Jim was the first one up. He had given Naomi his room and slept on the couch. He put his robe on and went to start breakfast. A few minutes later, the door to Blair's room opened and the teen came trudging out. He groaned, threw a hand up as a wave to Jim and then trudged down the hall to the bathroom. Jim chuckled at the sight of a barely awake Blair.
When Blair walked back towards the kitchen, he veered off into his room, then came out a moment later with his robe on. He flopped down in a chair at the table, and suddenly jumped up, hissed in pain and rubbed at his backside.
Jim was next to Blair instantly. "Forgot about last night didn't ya Chief?" Jim asked as he drew Blair into his arms and chuckled softly.
"Yeah," Blair said laying his head on Jim's shoulder and rubbed at his backside with one hand.
Jim chuckled again, patted Blair on the back and said, "I must not have made a good enough impression. Maybe I need to give a repeat of it this morning."
Blair jerked away from Jim wide-eyed. "Oh you did. Believe me. No repeats necessary," Blair told him as he backed away chuckling nervously.
Jim laughed loudly, pulled Blair back over to him and ruffled his hair. "I didn't think so. Go get a pillow kid, breakfast is almost done," Jim told him.
Naomi stood at the top of the stairs and watched as the two interacted. She knew Blair was happy here, but as she watched them, she felt something niggling inside her head whispering negative thoughts. Blair didn't need her. He didn't depend on her anymore. He
didn't love her. She walked down the stairs and smiled as Blair looked up at her with a grin. It would be easier to get Blair to come with her if he didn't like living with Jim.
