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"Hey Chief?" Jim called as he entered the loft.



"Yeah Jim? What's up?" Blair asked, not looking up from his papers.



Jim sat down across from him and Blair glanced up, his attention shifting to the worry he could read on his Sentinel's face. "What's wrong?"



"Over the next few days we'll need to be more careful than normal about my senses."



Blair studied Jim's face for a moment, "Okay, man. You might as well, tell me what's wrong now, otherwise I'll keep bugging you till I get it."



"You've heard some negative things about the Taelons right?"



"Yeah man, I've read all about the alleged genetic experiments that the Taelons have been doing. I don't know if it's true but if it is then I'd say that they do love fiddling with genes." Jim looked at him worriedly and Blair knew he had hit upon one of the problems. "Look man, we'll be fine. I'll be there if anything were to happen - no sweat."



"Yeah well, I also received this today." He handed Sandburg a sheet of paper."



"Hey! They're inviting you to become a companion protector? Now that is cool!"



"But why now?"



"Maybe because you're one of the best cops around?"



"One of?" Jim asked.



Sandburg rolled his eyes, "You know what I mean, man."



"I did some research of my own on companion protectors."



"So what did you find, Jim?"



"Out of the over one hundred people invited to become protectors, none refused."



"So? It's like the opportunity of a lifetime."



"Well, you would think at least one or two would have done so. Not everyone is so ambitious. And another thing, I noticed that a number of close friends and relatives often experienced unfortunate tragedies shortly after people became protectors. Some were institutionalized, some are missing, but most were killed in freak accidents."



"That's awfully coincidental." Blair said, thoughtfully, "So you believe that people were forced into the service of the Taelons and that the Taelons killed family and friends? What about the police reports?"



"First of all, some covert ops units use the very same tactics. Second, humans create new weapons everyday, more and more undetectable. Third, the Taelons are aliens that we really don't know THAT much about. And I don't think I trust them. Besides, I can't take the job because they can't know about my senses."



"Oh come on Jim. This is hardly covert."



"Lots of the protectors were police or FBI. None of their former partners fared too well." Jim's pointed glance at Blair made his point clear. "I couldn't risk anything like that happening." he added, his voice worried and uneasy.



***********************



Renee caught up with Joshua as he hurried away from Belman's office.



"Joshua!"



"Leave me alone Renee."



She stopped him, "Exactly what the hell is so important about this conference?" She paused and when he said nothing she added, "Explain it to me. I want to understand."



"You actually think you can?"



"That's what this is about isn't it? Proving yourself. Proving that you're back to normal?"



"Do you know how tiresome it gets having people be so patronizing? Telling me they understand? Pretending they care? All I want is for them to treat me like something other than an object of pity."



He refused to look at Renee. She circled around to face him and saw the pain etched on his face. She placed a comforting hand on his arm, "Joshua, you were kidnapped and tortured. That's not something that will just go away. I know you're feeling vulnerable right now. I'm not saying that I know what you went through or that I know exactly how you feel. But it is okay to give yourself some time."



"How much time do I need? No, Renee, what I need is to get back to work. I need to do this. I have to."



"Okay. But you don't have to do this alone. Let me go with you - let me help."



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