~*~*~*~*~
Jim was downstairs rummaging through the freezer for some ice.
"For a warning shot that was pretty good." he said as he put the ice on his jaw.
It was already swollen, and would most likely bruise.
The unmarked squad car was simple to slip past, considering the officer's head was bobbing up and down, trying not to fall asleep.
"Poor guy", she thought as she sneaked past and headed for the cab waiting down the street.
~*~*~*~*~
That night Jim and Blair split up. Jim took first watch, while Blair slept upstairs.
Sarah peeked into her father's room and smiled. Blair had fallen fast asleep, kicking the blankets off himself.
She slipped into the room, covered Blair back up and slipped out.
~*~*~*~*~
Jim was nodding off as she crept down the stairs and towards the kitchen.
Jim's eyes opened as she slipped into the kitchen. He got up and stood outside the door.
"Do you realize how annoying that is?" said Sarah from inside the kitchen.
"If you must know, I need some water." she emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of water in her hand. "I'm going back to bed now."
Jim nodded as she headed back upstairs to her room.
~*~*~*~*~
She quietly got dressed and headed downstairs.
It was almost 1 am and she needed to be there ASAP.
She had her shoes in one hand and her bag hanging under the black cloak she had on.
She cringed as the door squeaked and Jim tossed on the sofa.
~*~*~*~*~
"Thanks." the cabbie said as she paid him through the driver's side window.
The hood on her cloak got pulled over head as she headed towards alley, then two more alleys, finally ending up at the huge building behind it.
There were people dressed in dark colors were waiting to be let in when she arrived at the front of the line.
~*~*~*~*~
"Didn't think you were going to make it, we've been worried." the bouncer's deep voice and huge arms, moved the people aside so she could get inside.
She smiled as she stepped through the door and pulled off her cloak.
~*~*~*~*~
The club had finally finished remodeling and it looked great.
The owner had taken a few hints from old films with castles and haunted mansions, she loved the first room, which was the break room.
There was a spiral staircase leading to the other rooms, and a huge fountain in the middle, with a bar to the right of her.
The only problem was no windows in this room, no big deal though, she loved it.
~*~*~*~*~
"HEY!" The voice yelled. She headed towards the bar underneath the staircase.
"How are you doing?" The man's voice said from the shadows.
"I'm fine." she said. "Jas, don't you have paperwork to do?"
The older man stepped into the light. His long gray hair had been tied back and his hazel eyes sparkled when he saw her. "I finished it just a few minutes ago. And as the owner and barkeep of this place, I can do what I wish."
He placed a small walkie talkie on the table top and said, "Good to have you back."
She flopped her black cloak and bag on the counter and clipped the talkie to her jeans.
She adjusted her dagger hanging on the right side of her belt. "New dagger?" Jas asked.
"No, just haven't worn it." she responded.
"It looks like a dragon's tooth." he remarked.
"Its huge, its 17 and ½ inches over all, its called Gothic Dagger."
Jas laughed, "That's my girl. By the way, Morgania has been giving us some trouble lately. She broke one of our new guy's nose the other night. He's going to be OK, he wasn't sure if he was going to file charges or not. I've told them to do whatever is in their best interest. She's got 2 strikes, one more and she's gone."
~*~*~*~*~
Around 3 AM she got a call on the talkie. "Morgania's at it again."
She shook her head and moved through the crowds of people towards one of the doors on the far side of the room.
Her hand on the knob she heard a loud scuffle and crashing noises.
The door swung open, she stepped into chaos and over bodies.
~*~*~*~*~
Morgania seemed to drive everyone nuts lately.
Someone must have really pushed her buttons this week.
She approached the crowd that had gathered around Morgania.
"INCOMING!" yelled the tall blond in front of her. She stepped out to the left as a chair flew by her head.
Morgania had on her famous black with bleach blond streaks wig.
"MORGANIA!" Sarah pushed her way through the other watchers.
"What are you doing?" Morgania growled and threw a chair at her.
"I leave for a few days and I come back to this? Morgania calm down and tell me..."
Sarah almost got hit with the table Morgania sent after her.
"Now what?" asked the blond.
"Well, Jas has a tranquilizer gun...." Sarah said ducking the plastic cups.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair was the first to begin to move around in the house around 7 am.
He went to check on Sarah, she wasn't in her room, but the bed was made.
He thundered down the stairs and woke Jim.
"Where's the fire Chief?" he asked rubbing his eyes.
"Nothing, sorry." The kitchen door flew open and in walked Blair.
~*~*~*~*~
"Morning." she said looking up from the paper.
Blair went to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.
"You woke Jim." she said sipping her tea.
Jim walked groggily into the kitchen, grabbed a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter.
"Where'd you go last night?" Jim questioned.
"I couldn't sleep so I started cleaning up in the guest house." she replied.
"Did you get it cleaned up?" he continued.
"Not all of it." she answered.
"You were out there for 6 hours..."
"SO?" her tone became defensive.
"Its a small room, I don't think it would take that long..."
She cut him off. "Yeah and its got a shot gun hole in the wall. If you're going to accuse me of something go right ahead." her tone became more defensive.
"Listen all I'm saying is that you were out there longer then I'd like. Don't make a habit of it..." Jim paused.
"Spit it out. You're dying to say something, so say it, Yank." she snapped.
Jim got that "You're a suspect look" in his eyes.
"I know that look. Get out." she said firmly.
"No." Jim replied.
Blair swallowed hard.
"I will not have you accuse me of any sort of crime."
Jim stood there silently, which angered her even more. She glared at him, he glared back.
"Its not like you couldn't do it, you have a great deal of knowledge concerning guns and other weapons. You hire ex-mercenaries to fenced the products and they cut you in. But dear old dad and five other agents found out and you and your partners had to kill them."
That did it, she couldn't stand it any longer. *WHACK* She slapped him.
"Jim?! Sarah?!" Blair was taken aback about what he just saw.
Ellison shook it off, "Get the hell out of my house." She screamed, then turning to Blair.
"That means both of you."
~*~*~*~*~
Five minutes later Jim was in the truck waiting for Blair.
"Sarah..." She raised her hand stopping him in mid sentence.
She handed him a piece of Jade carved in a shape of a wolf head on a black cord and on each side was a small piece of amethyst,
"This is for your own good. I've taken on the protection role now. You're part of my wolf pack, my brother. A wolf protects her own and if anything happened to you.....Trust me."
~*~*~*~*~
Blair was upset and there was nothing Jim could say to comfort him or get Blair to speak to him.
He couldn't remember being Blair this upset during a case.
"At least consider the possibility." said Jim. "She has means, motive and opportunity."
"No, I can't accept that she is capable of doing this. Jim her father and grandfather were mercenaries. She's grown up around weapons." Chief said as he typed at his laptop.
"Sure she's got a major chip on her shoulder, but who wouldn't in her case?"
He joined Jim on the balcony, "Jim this girl is like a sister to me. I taught her how to meditate. I can't explain it, but I know she didn't do it."
Jim turned to Blair, "I know you want to believe....."
~*~*~*~*~
She was just fine alone, she hope that they would pull the car off her house.
Let them come to her, just so it would be done with and if she had to die to save more lives so be it.
~*~*~*~*~
She got past the car each night since throwing out Jim and Blair.
Tonight was Saturday, and Saturday night was always rowdy for some reason, so she packed her cell phone and her police scanner.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair snapped out of mediation with a start, his pulse was racing, and he was shaking.
"Whoa." He shook his head trying to shake an uneasy feeling.
Jim was down at the station doing something, so he was alone in the loft.
~*~*~*~*~
Jim finished up a few things downtown and decided to check on Sarah, she was so defensive, suspicious of people.
He pulled next to the car outside the house and found no one inside.
So he pulled into the driveway and saw a car ahead of him.
~*~*~*~*~
Down at the club Sarah had a big problem, about 7 feet, 275 pounds worth.
"Phoenix, be careful. Do what you have too, but please no more broken tables or windows. I'm calling for the other watchers." advised Jas before she headed over to the problem.
"Where is she?" the man said.
"Page, what is your problem?" asked a tall blond woman.
"Her!" Page pointed at Sarah. "Phoenix Wolf."
Sarah put her hands on her hips and said nothing.
"You suspended Morgania."
She headed towards the back door, Page and 3 other watchers followed.
~*~*~*~*~
Outside she said, "Your girl broke a few rules, not to mention a nose of a new watcher. She knew the consequences. As for you, you need to calm down."
Page turned red with anger, as the other watchers gathered around her.
"I'm giving you a time out, 15 minutes outside, or until you turn back to a normal color."
Page turned even more red, this time he threw a punch at her.
"Grab his flask." she told the others. "If you weren't drunk, that punch would have connected and I'd be on the ground. Next time I call the cops."
They left Page outside. "He takes his RP too seriously." said the blond.
"Then you haven't met Morgania..." she trailed off.
~*~*~*~*~
Jim had his gun drawn when he went inside and found a man standing over the police officer who was watching the house.
"Hold it right there Mister." The man had short gray hair and wore dark green, almost black sun glasses.
"Detective Ellison, my name is Detective Kevin Griffin, 101st Precinct." Kermit reached into his coat for his badge and showed it to him.
"What are you doing here Detective Griffin?" asked Jim.
"Same reason you are, our gal Sarah, and call me Kermit."
~*~*~*~*~
Blair had a sudden urge to leave the loft early that morning.
No matter what he did, he ended up with his hand on the door.
Finally he gave in, left Jim a note and headed out. Outside he thought he saw a wolf, so he followed it.
After a few minutes he headed towards an old warehouse in the rundown area of town.
The bouncer was holding open the door and let Blair in.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair found Jas at the bar and ordered some water.
"You shouldn't be here." Jas said to him.
"What?" Jas snapped the towel at Blair and said, "Go home. She doesn't want you here."
Puzzled Sandburg asked, "Who?"
"Phoenix Wolf." he replied as he turned his attention to someone else.
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey baby." a woman's voice and hands surprised Blair.
He twisted around to see a petite redhead with blue eyes and hands that wouldn't stay off him.
"Sheila," said she.
He stumbled over his words, "Hi, hi...Blair..."
"Mine." said a stern voice from behind Blair. Sheila hissed at the person behind Blair, and then licked her vampire teeth.
A hand rested on Blair's shoulder, "He's been marked Sheila."
She looked him up and down then replied, "I see nothing."
Sheila hissed as Sarah appeared next to Blair, "Look harder." She pulled the black cord from under his shirt, revealing the jade.
"You win, Phoenix, this time."
"I could have handled it." he said.
"I know. I just love annoying Sheila." Her eyes met his for a second, before her eyes began scanning the room.
"What are you doing here anyway?"
She rolled her eyes, "I'm working. You wouldn't believe the info you can get here."
He laughed a little, "You enjoy this stuff?"
A smile crept onto her face, "Yeah, yeah I do. Role playing, New Age things, and its all your fault."
Blair rested his elbow on the counter top, "Oh really? Hmmm, maybe we should go to Club Doom then."
Jas spoke up, "Phoenix they found a DB at your house, you'd better split."
He handed her stuff over, "And be careful."
~*~*~*~*~
They headed towards the ally, Blair peeked over his shoulder and saw two men following them.
He said nothing as they headed into the second ally, they were too far from the club to return.
Two more men appeared in front of them. "Grab 'em." came the order from one of the men.
Both their arms were held behind them as Stone and Callaway came into the light.
"Well, what do we have here?" snickered Stone as he grabbed her by the throat.
"Hey!" Blair yelled at Stone.
"And you," he pointed to Blair, "are more problems than we can afford."
~*~*~*~*~
Callaway took out his gun and pointed it at Blair.
"I'm not," Sarah said as she stomped on her captor's foot, "going to," the man got an elbow in the stomach,
"take this anymore!" she yelled as she did a baseball like swing to the man's face.
Then the man and his friend both took off.
Daniel had the gun in Blair's face and Stone had his gun on her.
"You first." said Callaway to Blair as he fired.
Sarah pushed Blair out the way and he went crashing into the garbage container.
"SARAH!" Blair panicked.
She took two steps back and fell to her knees.
Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as Stone and Callaway laughed, then everything went black.
~*~*~*~*~
"Freeze!" yelled Jim from behind them.
Stone whipped around and started firing at Jim.
Ellison returned fire, hitting him square in the chest.
Callaway pointed and was about to fire at Blair and Sarah when a shot grazed his right arm.
"The man said freeze Callaway." said Kermit appearing from the other end of the alley.
Daniel looked around and saw Stone dead, he fired at Kermit. Kermit fired one more time and shot a hole through Daniel's hand.
"She's been shot." spoke up Blair after Callaway had been cuffed to the garbage container.
"It didn't go all the way through." Kermit pointed out.
Blair was applying pressure to the wound, "Its very close to her heart...."
~*~*~*~*~
"They've removed the bullet," Blair shifted in his chair. "its gonna take some time, but you're going to be OK."
He rubbed his eyes and then pulled something out from his pocket. It was a small piece of metal hanging from a black cord.
"This is yours." He felt his eyes filled up with tears, so he wiped them away. He set on the table next to her, and "Hard to believe this thing almost killed ya."
He sat back in his chair and fell asleep.
~*~*~*~*~
Kermit quietly opened the door late Sunday and came in.
"You need to get some rest, listen I'll stay here...." Kermit sat down as Blair left the room.
"What were you thinking?" he asked her.
"Obviously, I wasn't." she said as she looked at Kermit.
"That's right. I'm glad you call me though, how do you feel?"
She stared at him, "Like I've been shot."
He shook his head, "You're gonna be fine."
She looked around the room, "Where's Blair?"
Kermit responded, "Told him to go get some rest."
"Is Callaway in custody?" she asked. "Kermit, the truth."
He shook his head, "He took off, killed two police officers in the process. Ellison and I couldn't get there fast enough."
~*~*~*~*~
Kermit stayed with her until Monday afternoon, when Blair came back.
"Any news?" asked an anxious Sarah.
Blair shook his head and set her duffel bag on the bed, "Nothing."
"Damn. Well I've got a few errands to run, I'll be back tonight with some normal food. Don't go anywhere." joked Kermit before he left.
Sarah smiled as she shifted in bed.
"You don't have to stay with me." she said to Blair. "Blair, I'll be fine alone for a few hours, if you've got something to do, go."
"Are, are you sure?"
She shook her head "Yes."
Blair responded, "I'll see you tonight then."
~*~*~*~*~
That evening in the lobby Blair was sipping some water when he thought he saw Callaway wearing a white lab coat emerge out of one of the broom closets.
Curiosity sparked, Blair followed him as the man fiddled with the door to a lab. He went in and didn't come out.
"Hey Chief."
Sandburg jumped. "Jeez Jim you almost gave me a heart attack." came the reply.
"Sorry. What are you doing?" Jim asked looking up and down the hall.
"I thought I saw Callaway go in there." He pointed to the lab.
"Go back to the room and stay there." Jim pulled out his gun and went to investigate.
~*~*~*~*~
A few minutes later Blair walked back into the room. Sarah was looking out the window.
"You're up!" he seemed surprised.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I think I spotted Callaway." he reported.
"Kermit, still armed I assume?" she stated.
"I think I know what you're planning....."
~*~*~*~*~
"Lose the piece." growled Callaway from behind him.
"Lose it or I open fire on the people." Jim dropped his gun and felt one in the small of his back.
"No funny stuff or I start shooting. Let's go see Sarah."
~*~*~*~*~
"They're here." said Sarah from the bed. The door swung open and in walked them both.
"Sit." he commanded Jim. Jim sat down as the door slammed shut.
"Come out of the bathroom." he hollered. Kermit came out and stood next to the bed.
"How are ya?" said a voice from behind Daniel.
"What the?"
*POW* Blair came out swinging, knocked him flat on his back. Blair began shaking, then rubbing his hand
~*~*~*~*~
"When do you think she'll get there?" an anxious Blair asked as he hit a few keys on the computer.
"She's fine Chief." said Jim.
"Yeah I know, but she's going to Australia via DC?" asked a puzzled Blair. "I just don't know about her traveling."
"Chief, its been almost two months since it happened. She'll be fine." said Jim.
"Look she said she'd let know when she go there right? So quite worrying."
~*~*~*~*~
Sarah punched away at her lap top when she felt someone standing over her.
"Excuse me? Are you Sarah Matthews?" asked the voice.
She looked up and saw a dark haired lady Marine looking at her.
"Yes." The Marine sat down across the table from her and said, "My name is Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. Mic asked me to come down and see how you were doing."
They shook hands, and the Colonel said "Mic sounds excited to see you..."
~*~*~*~*~
Three weeks later Blair was waiting by the gate for Sarah. The people filed off the plane and he didn't see her.
After what seemed like ages of waiting she finally got off the plane.
"You're late."
"And a hello to you as well." she teased.
"You made it." He grabbed one of her bags.
"Yeah, got all those postcards you sent, I just got the video letter yesterday." They headed towards luggage pick up.
"How are you?" he asked as the luggage was unloaded.
~*~*~*~*~
"I feel pretty good. A little pain here and there, but OK." Blair looked at her, trying to ask something.
"Go ahead and ask." she said smiling as they got to the car.
"Who's Michael?"
She kept smiling. "Australian Naval officer soon to be a damn good lawyer."
Blair's head whipped around as he closed the car door. "No way."
She laughed, "Yes way. You'd like him." as they got into the car.
"Really? When do I get to meet him?" asked Blair.
"You'll get to meet both of them, as soon as the bruises on each of them heal." she replied as they drove off.
"Mic and Michael got into a little scuff at the gym, because I stayed out too late with Michael."
"You're kidding?" he chuckled.
"No, I'm not. Michael took me out to a night club where we stayed until the early hours of the morning. We managed to sneak back on base, but Mic hit the ceiling when he found out.
He and Michael went 10 rounds in the gym. Believe me, Mic's still mad."
"You'd better take a different exit." she finished.
"Why?" "Because, there's an accident about 5 miles ahead."
Blair's eyes widened, "How did you know? Is your sight back?"
Sarah just smiled.
~*~*~*~*~
"Got a date Chief?" asked Jim from the balcony a few nights later.
"Yeap." came the reply from Blair's room. Someone knocked on the door.
Just as Jim opened the door, he said, "Hey how's Sarah's training coming?"
~*~*~*~*~
"Just fine." Sarah stood on the other side the door wearing a black cloak fastened by a silver wolf head brooch.
"Hey, come in."
Blair stood in doorway of his room and listened.
"Umm, listen I want to apologize again for what I said at your house. It was totally uncalled for."
She smiled, "You're forgiven."
Jim clasped his hands together and asked, "Where are you two going tonight?"
"Club Doom." spoke up Blair.
"Are you sure she won't "stick out like a sore thumb?" I mean she's..."
Blair interrupted him, "I wouldn't finish that sentence Jim."
Smiling he said, "OK kids, go have a good time, but not too much."
"Be in by 3!" she heard him say as she closed the door.
"Not a chance mate." she said smiling.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair stumbled out of his room around noon Sunday.
"What time did you get in?" asked Jim.
"Huh? Oh about 4 am." responded a groggy Blair.
~*~*~*~*~
Sarah woke up, startled. The room was dark and, in the shadows she saw something, a man or something else.
It disappeared, but suddenly she got very cold.
"Hello hon." Callaway's voice sent a chill through her body. "Good night."
She felt cold hands wrap around her neck and squeeze.....
"NO!" Sarah jolted awake and glanced at the clock, noon.
She was still shaking when she got out of bed, and headed downstairs.
Stabbing pain griped her chest where the bullet was.
~*~*~*~*~
She shook it off and sat down for mediation.
Callaway was tricky, Kermit told her, he holds a grudge against you
until you and your family are 10 feet under.
Sarah somehow knew he'd come after her again, and she'd have handle it on her own.
"Its gonna end with one of us dead. That's a fact."
Jim was downstairs rummaging through the freezer for some ice.
"For a warning shot that was pretty good." he said as he put the ice on his jaw.
It was already swollen, and would most likely bruise.
The unmarked squad car was simple to slip past, considering the officer's head was bobbing up and down, trying not to fall asleep.
"Poor guy", she thought as she sneaked past and headed for the cab waiting down the street.
~*~*~*~*~
That night Jim and Blair split up. Jim took first watch, while Blair slept upstairs.
Sarah peeked into her father's room and smiled. Blair had fallen fast asleep, kicking the blankets off himself.
She slipped into the room, covered Blair back up and slipped out.
~*~*~*~*~
Jim was nodding off as she crept down the stairs and towards the kitchen.
Jim's eyes opened as she slipped into the kitchen. He got up and stood outside the door.
"Do you realize how annoying that is?" said Sarah from inside the kitchen.
"If you must know, I need some water." she emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of water in her hand. "I'm going back to bed now."
Jim nodded as she headed back upstairs to her room.
~*~*~*~*~
She quietly got dressed and headed downstairs.
It was almost 1 am and she needed to be there ASAP.
She had her shoes in one hand and her bag hanging under the black cloak she had on.
She cringed as the door squeaked and Jim tossed on the sofa.
~*~*~*~*~
"Thanks." the cabbie said as she paid him through the driver's side window.
The hood on her cloak got pulled over head as she headed towards alley, then two more alleys, finally ending up at the huge building behind it.
There were people dressed in dark colors were waiting to be let in when she arrived at the front of the line.
~*~*~*~*~
"Didn't think you were going to make it, we've been worried." the bouncer's deep voice and huge arms, moved the people aside so she could get inside.
She smiled as she stepped through the door and pulled off her cloak.
~*~*~*~*~
The club had finally finished remodeling and it looked great.
The owner had taken a few hints from old films with castles and haunted mansions, she loved the first room, which was the break room.
There was a spiral staircase leading to the other rooms, and a huge fountain in the middle, with a bar to the right of her.
The only problem was no windows in this room, no big deal though, she loved it.
~*~*~*~*~
"HEY!" The voice yelled. She headed towards the bar underneath the staircase.
"How are you doing?" The man's voice said from the shadows.
"I'm fine." she said. "Jas, don't you have paperwork to do?"
The older man stepped into the light. His long gray hair had been tied back and his hazel eyes sparkled when he saw her. "I finished it just a few minutes ago. And as the owner and barkeep of this place, I can do what I wish."
He placed a small walkie talkie on the table top and said, "Good to have you back."
She flopped her black cloak and bag on the counter and clipped the talkie to her jeans.
She adjusted her dagger hanging on the right side of her belt. "New dagger?" Jas asked.
"No, just haven't worn it." she responded.
"It looks like a dragon's tooth." he remarked.
"Its huge, its 17 and ½ inches over all, its called Gothic Dagger."
Jas laughed, "That's my girl. By the way, Morgania has been giving us some trouble lately. She broke one of our new guy's nose the other night. He's going to be OK, he wasn't sure if he was going to file charges or not. I've told them to do whatever is in their best interest. She's got 2 strikes, one more and she's gone."
~*~*~*~*~
Around 3 AM she got a call on the talkie. "Morgania's at it again."
She shook her head and moved through the crowds of people towards one of the doors on the far side of the room.
Her hand on the knob she heard a loud scuffle and crashing noises.
The door swung open, she stepped into chaos and over bodies.
~*~*~*~*~
Morgania seemed to drive everyone nuts lately.
Someone must have really pushed her buttons this week.
She approached the crowd that had gathered around Morgania.
"INCOMING!" yelled the tall blond in front of her. She stepped out to the left as a chair flew by her head.
Morgania had on her famous black with bleach blond streaks wig.
"MORGANIA!" Sarah pushed her way through the other watchers.
"What are you doing?" Morgania growled and threw a chair at her.
"I leave for a few days and I come back to this? Morgania calm down and tell me..."
Sarah almost got hit with the table Morgania sent after her.
"Now what?" asked the blond.
"Well, Jas has a tranquilizer gun...." Sarah said ducking the plastic cups.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair was the first to begin to move around in the house around 7 am.
He went to check on Sarah, she wasn't in her room, but the bed was made.
He thundered down the stairs and woke Jim.
"Where's the fire Chief?" he asked rubbing his eyes.
"Nothing, sorry." The kitchen door flew open and in walked Blair.
~*~*~*~*~
"Morning." she said looking up from the paper.
Blair went to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.
"You woke Jim." she said sipping her tea.
Jim walked groggily into the kitchen, grabbed a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter.
"Where'd you go last night?" Jim questioned.
"I couldn't sleep so I started cleaning up in the guest house." she replied.
"Did you get it cleaned up?" he continued.
"Not all of it." she answered.
"You were out there for 6 hours..."
"SO?" her tone became defensive.
"Its a small room, I don't think it would take that long..."
She cut him off. "Yeah and its got a shot gun hole in the wall. If you're going to accuse me of something go right ahead." her tone became more defensive.
"Listen all I'm saying is that you were out there longer then I'd like. Don't make a habit of it..." Jim paused.
"Spit it out. You're dying to say something, so say it, Yank." she snapped.
Jim got that "You're a suspect look" in his eyes.
"I know that look. Get out." she said firmly.
"No." Jim replied.
Blair swallowed hard.
"I will not have you accuse me of any sort of crime."
Jim stood there silently, which angered her even more. She glared at him, he glared back.
"Its not like you couldn't do it, you have a great deal of knowledge concerning guns and other weapons. You hire ex-mercenaries to fenced the products and they cut you in. But dear old dad and five other agents found out and you and your partners had to kill them."
That did it, she couldn't stand it any longer. *WHACK* She slapped him.
"Jim?! Sarah?!" Blair was taken aback about what he just saw.
Ellison shook it off, "Get the hell out of my house." She screamed, then turning to Blair.
"That means both of you."
~*~*~*~*~
Five minutes later Jim was in the truck waiting for Blair.
"Sarah..." She raised her hand stopping him in mid sentence.
She handed him a piece of Jade carved in a shape of a wolf head on a black cord and on each side was a small piece of amethyst,
"This is for your own good. I've taken on the protection role now. You're part of my wolf pack, my brother. A wolf protects her own and if anything happened to you.....Trust me."
~*~*~*~*~
Blair was upset and there was nothing Jim could say to comfort him or get Blair to speak to him.
He couldn't remember being Blair this upset during a case.
"At least consider the possibility." said Jim. "She has means, motive and opportunity."
"No, I can't accept that she is capable of doing this. Jim her father and grandfather were mercenaries. She's grown up around weapons." Chief said as he typed at his laptop.
"Sure she's got a major chip on her shoulder, but who wouldn't in her case?"
He joined Jim on the balcony, "Jim this girl is like a sister to me. I taught her how to meditate. I can't explain it, but I know she didn't do it."
Jim turned to Blair, "I know you want to believe....."
~*~*~*~*~
She was just fine alone, she hope that they would pull the car off her house.
Let them come to her, just so it would be done with and if she had to die to save more lives so be it.
~*~*~*~*~
She got past the car each night since throwing out Jim and Blair.
Tonight was Saturday, and Saturday night was always rowdy for some reason, so she packed her cell phone and her police scanner.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair snapped out of mediation with a start, his pulse was racing, and he was shaking.
"Whoa." He shook his head trying to shake an uneasy feeling.
Jim was down at the station doing something, so he was alone in the loft.
~*~*~*~*~
Jim finished up a few things downtown and decided to check on Sarah, she was so defensive, suspicious of people.
He pulled next to the car outside the house and found no one inside.
So he pulled into the driveway and saw a car ahead of him.
~*~*~*~*~
Down at the club Sarah had a big problem, about 7 feet, 275 pounds worth.
"Phoenix, be careful. Do what you have too, but please no more broken tables or windows. I'm calling for the other watchers." advised Jas before she headed over to the problem.
"Where is she?" the man said.
"Page, what is your problem?" asked a tall blond woman.
"Her!" Page pointed at Sarah. "Phoenix Wolf."
Sarah put her hands on her hips and said nothing.
"You suspended Morgania."
She headed towards the back door, Page and 3 other watchers followed.
~*~*~*~*~
Outside she said, "Your girl broke a few rules, not to mention a nose of a new watcher. She knew the consequences. As for you, you need to calm down."
Page turned red with anger, as the other watchers gathered around her.
"I'm giving you a time out, 15 minutes outside, or until you turn back to a normal color."
Page turned even more red, this time he threw a punch at her.
"Grab his flask." she told the others. "If you weren't drunk, that punch would have connected and I'd be on the ground. Next time I call the cops."
They left Page outside. "He takes his RP too seriously." said the blond.
"Then you haven't met Morgania..." she trailed off.
~*~*~*~*~
Jim had his gun drawn when he went inside and found a man standing over the police officer who was watching the house.
"Hold it right there Mister." The man had short gray hair and wore dark green, almost black sun glasses.
"Detective Ellison, my name is Detective Kevin Griffin, 101st Precinct." Kermit reached into his coat for his badge and showed it to him.
"What are you doing here Detective Griffin?" asked Jim.
"Same reason you are, our gal Sarah, and call me Kermit."
~*~*~*~*~
Blair had a sudden urge to leave the loft early that morning.
No matter what he did, he ended up with his hand on the door.
Finally he gave in, left Jim a note and headed out. Outside he thought he saw a wolf, so he followed it.
After a few minutes he headed towards an old warehouse in the rundown area of town.
The bouncer was holding open the door and let Blair in.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair found Jas at the bar and ordered some water.
"You shouldn't be here." Jas said to him.
"What?" Jas snapped the towel at Blair and said, "Go home. She doesn't want you here."
Puzzled Sandburg asked, "Who?"
"Phoenix Wolf." he replied as he turned his attention to someone else.
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey baby." a woman's voice and hands surprised Blair.
He twisted around to see a petite redhead with blue eyes and hands that wouldn't stay off him.
"Sheila," said she.
He stumbled over his words, "Hi, hi...Blair..."
"Mine." said a stern voice from behind Blair. Sheila hissed at the person behind Blair, and then licked her vampire teeth.
A hand rested on Blair's shoulder, "He's been marked Sheila."
She looked him up and down then replied, "I see nothing."
Sheila hissed as Sarah appeared next to Blair, "Look harder." She pulled the black cord from under his shirt, revealing the jade.
"You win, Phoenix, this time."
"I could have handled it." he said.
"I know. I just love annoying Sheila." Her eyes met his for a second, before her eyes began scanning the room.
"What are you doing here anyway?"
She rolled her eyes, "I'm working. You wouldn't believe the info you can get here."
He laughed a little, "You enjoy this stuff?"
A smile crept onto her face, "Yeah, yeah I do. Role playing, New Age things, and its all your fault."
Blair rested his elbow on the counter top, "Oh really? Hmmm, maybe we should go to Club Doom then."
Jas spoke up, "Phoenix they found a DB at your house, you'd better split."
He handed her stuff over, "And be careful."
~*~*~*~*~
They headed towards the ally, Blair peeked over his shoulder and saw two men following them.
He said nothing as they headed into the second ally, they were too far from the club to return.
Two more men appeared in front of them. "Grab 'em." came the order from one of the men.
Both their arms were held behind them as Stone and Callaway came into the light.
"Well, what do we have here?" snickered Stone as he grabbed her by the throat.
"Hey!" Blair yelled at Stone.
"And you," he pointed to Blair, "are more problems than we can afford."
~*~*~*~*~
Callaway took out his gun and pointed it at Blair.
"I'm not," Sarah said as she stomped on her captor's foot, "going to," the man got an elbow in the stomach,
"take this anymore!" she yelled as she did a baseball like swing to the man's face.
Then the man and his friend both took off.
Daniel had the gun in Blair's face and Stone had his gun on her.
"You first." said Callaway to Blair as he fired.
Sarah pushed Blair out the way and he went crashing into the garbage container.
"SARAH!" Blair panicked.
She took two steps back and fell to her knees.
Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as Stone and Callaway laughed, then everything went black.
~*~*~*~*~
"Freeze!" yelled Jim from behind them.
Stone whipped around and started firing at Jim.
Ellison returned fire, hitting him square in the chest.
Callaway pointed and was about to fire at Blair and Sarah when a shot grazed his right arm.
"The man said freeze Callaway." said Kermit appearing from the other end of the alley.
Daniel looked around and saw Stone dead, he fired at Kermit. Kermit fired one more time and shot a hole through Daniel's hand.
"She's been shot." spoke up Blair after Callaway had been cuffed to the garbage container.
"It didn't go all the way through." Kermit pointed out.
Blair was applying pressure to the wound, "Its very close to her heart...."
~*~*~*~*~
"They've removed the bullet," Blair shifted in his chair. "its gonna take some time, but you're going to be OK."
He rubbed his eyes and then pulled something out from his pocket. It was a small piece of metal hanging from a black cord.
"This is yours." He felt his eyes filled up with tears, so he wiped them away. He set on the table next to her, and "Hard to believe this thing almost killed ya."
He sat back in his chair and fell asleep.
~*~*~*~*~
Kermit quietly opened the door late Sunday and came in.
"You need to get some rest, listen I'll stay here...." Kermit sat down as Blair left the room.
"What were you thinking?" he asked her.
"Obviously, I wasn't." she said as she looked at Kermit.
"That's right. I'm glad you call me though, how do you feel?"
She stared at him, "Like I've been shot."
He shook his head, "You're gonna be fine."
She looked around the room, "Where's Blair?"
Kermit responded, "Told him to go get some rest."
"Is Callaway in custody?" she asked. "Kermit, the truth."
He shook his head, "He took off, killed two police officers in the process. Ellison and I couldn't get there fast enough."
~*~*~*~*~
Kermit stayed with her until Monday afternoon, when Blair came back.
"Any news?" asked an anxious Sarah.
Blair shook his head and set her duffel bag on the bed, "Nothing."
"Damn. Well I've got a few errands to run, I'll be back tonight with some normal food. Don't go anywhere." joked Kermit before he left.
Sarah smiled as she shifted in bed.
"You don't have to stay with me." she said to Blair. "Blair, I'll be fine alone for a few hours, if you've got something to do, go."
"Are, are you sure?"
She shook her head "Yes."
Blair responded, "I'll see you tonight then."
~*~*~*~*~
That evening in the lobby Blair was sipping some water when he thought he saw Callaway wearing a white lab coat emerge out of one of the broom closets.
Curiosity sparked, Blair followed him as the man fiddled with the door to a lab. He went in and didn't come out.
"Hey Chief."
Sandburg jumped. "Jeez Jim you almost gave me a heart attack." came the reply.
"Sorry. What are you doing?" Jim asked looking up and down the hall.
"I thought I saw Callaway go in there." He pointed to the lab.
"Go back to the room and stay there." Jim pulled out his gun and went to investigate.
~*~*~*~*~
A few minutes later Blair walked back into the room. Sarah was looking out the window.
"You're up!" he seemed surprised.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I think I spotted Callaway." he reported.
"Kermit, still armed I assume?" she stated.
"I think I know what you're planning....."
~*~*~*~*~
"Lose the piece." growled Callaway from behind him.
"Lose it or I open fire on the people." Jim dropped his gun and felt one in the small of his back.
"No funny stuff or I start shooting. Let's go see Sarah."
~*~*~*~*~
"They're here." said Sarah from the bed. The door swung open and in walked them both.
"Sit." he commanded Jim. Jim sat down as the door slammed shut.
"Come out of the bathroom." he hollered. Kermit came out and stood next to the bed.
"How are ya?" said a voice from behind Daniel.
"What the?"
*POW* Blair came out swinging, knocked him flat on his back. Blair began shaking, then rubbing his hand
~*~*~*~*~
"When do you think she'll get there?" an anxious Blair asked as he hit a few keys on the computer.
"She's fine Chief." said Jim.
"Yeah I know, but she's going to Australia via DC?" asked a puzzled Blair. "I just don't know about her traveling."
"Chief, its been almost two months since it happened. She'll be fine." said Jim.
"Look she said she'd let know when she go there right? So quite worrying."
~*~*~*~*~
Sarah punched away at her lap top when she felt someone standing over her.
"Excuse me? Are you Sarah Matthews?" asked the voice.
She looked up and saw a dark haired lady Marine looking at her.
"Yes." The Marine sat down across the table from her and said, "My name is Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. Mic asked me to come down and see how you were doing."
They shook hands, and the Colonel said "Mic sounds excited to see you..."
~*~*~*~*~
Three weeks later Blair was waiting by the gate for Sarah. The people filed off the plane and he didn't see her.
After what seemed like ages of waiting she finally got off the plane.
"You're late."
"And a hello to you as well." she teased.
"You made it." He grabbed one of her bags.
"Yeah, got all those postcards you sent, I just got the video letter yesterday." They headed towards luggage pick up.
"How are you?" he asked as the luggage was unloaded.
~*~*~*~*~
"I feel pretty good. A little pain here and there, but OK." Blair looked at her, trying to ask something.
"Go ahead and ask." she said smiling as they got to the car.
"Who's Michael?"
She kept smiling. "Australian Naval officer soon to be a damn good lawyer."
Blair's head whipped around as he closed the car door. "No way."
She laughed, "Yes way. You'd like him." as they got into the car.
"Really? When do I get to meet him?" asked Blair.
"You'll get to meet both of them, as soon as the bruises on each of them heal." she replied as they drove off.
"Mic and Michael got into a little scuff at the gym, because I stayed out too late with Michael."
"You're kidding?" he chuckled.
"No, I'm not. Michael took me out to a night club where we stayed until the early hours of the morning. We managed to sneak back on base, but Mic hit the ceiling when he found out.
He and Michael went 10 rounds in the gym. Believe me, Mic's still mad."
"You'd better take a different exit." she finished.
"Why?" "Because, there's an accident about 5 miles ahead."
Blair's eyes widened, "How did you know? Is your sight back?"
Sarah just smiled.
~*~*~*~*~
"Got a date Chief?" asked Jim from the balcony a few nights later.
"Yeap." came the reply from Blair's room. Someone knocked on the door.
Just as Jim opened the door, he said, "Hey how's Sarah's training coming?"
~*~*~*~*~
"Just fine." Sarah stood on the other side the door wearing a black cloak fastened by a silver wolf head brooch.
"Hey, come in."
Blair stood in doorway of his room and listened.
"Umm, listen I want to apologize again for what I said at your house. It was totally uncalled for."
She smiled, "You're forgiven."
Jim clasped his hands together and asked, "Where are you two going tonight?"
"Club Doom." spoke up Blair.
"Are you sure she won't "stick out like a sore thumb?" I mean she's..."
Blair interrupted him, "I wouldn't finish that sentence Jim."
Smiling he said, "OK kids, go have a good time, but not too much."
"Be in by 3!" she heard him say as she closed the door.
"Not a chance mate." she said smiling.
~*~*~*~*~
Blair stumbled out of his room around noon Sunday.
"What time did you get in?" asked Jim.
"Huh? Oh about 4 am." responded a groggy Blair.
~*~*~*~*~
Sarah woke up, startled. The room was dark and, in the shadows she saw something, a man or something else.
It disappeared, but suddenly she got very cold.
"Hello hon." Callaway's voice sent a chill through her body. "Good night."
She felt cold hands wrap around her neck and squeeze.....
"NO!" Sarah jolted awake and glanced at the clock, noon.
She was still shaking when she got out of bed, and headed downstairs.
Stabbing pain griped her chest where the bullet was.
~*~*~*~*~
She shook it off and sat down for mediation.
Callaway was tricky, Kermit told her, he holds a grudge against you
until you and your family are 10 feet under.
Sarah somehow knew he'd come after her again, and she'd have handle it on her own.
"Its gonna end with one of us dead. That's a fact."