MagRowan(): Thanks for such a positive review! It would never do for the guys to come to unrepairable harm, especially when they are such fun to play with!

Elvenkitty: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I'm almost done with it. I promise!

Anime Soccer Lobos: Well, I hope that you had a chance to catch up during my long absence. :o) Thanks for reviewing!

*****

I apologize for not updating in so long, but RL caught up with me. I did write, but I tend to handwrite (I don't always have a computer available) and then type, so I actually will update quite a bit this time. I just didn't have time to type it all up.

Please review and let me know what you think. Like it, love it, absolutely adore it? Let me know! Please? Desperate writer begging for attention here.

*****

Blair and Jim were up before Eli. After indulging in another long shower, Blair went outside the hotel searching for "breakfast." He found a food stand nearby and bought enough for all three chaperones. Bringing back his spoils, Blair stopped and checked up on the students. Finding everyone still dazed but okay, Blair dropped Eli's food off in his room. Eli had just woken up and very much appreciated the courtesy Blair had shown by bringing him food.

Blair walked to the door of his and Jim's hotel room. Walking in, he heard the water of the shower still going. "Jim, I've got the food. You almost done?"

Jim answered as he shut the water off. "Yeah, I'm getting out now. Just leave me some!"

"Hey, I can have whatever I want. I, the mighty hunter, went out and hunted down our food at great danger to myself and my wallet. Then I had to traverse the treacherous halls of our current residence, filled with hungry teenage monsters." With that, Blair collapsed on the bed, placing the back of his hand to his forehead.

Jim burst out laughing, which was Blair's goal. Jim had still been broading about the rescue and Blair knew he'd never talke about it. So Blair moved on, talking Jim w ith him.

"Hey, do you want to call Simon? It's your turn.

"Nope. Your turn."

"Is not. I called last time."

"He likes you more. You call."

"Are we talking a bout the same guy here? No, you call."

"How about neither of us calls. He never needs to find out."

"He'll know. He always does. Plus, I think I really did have terrorist's in the pool and I'm sure that there's a lot of money in there. I need to replenish my bank account after this little adventure we're on.

"Yeah, I guess we really should. Plus I got shot. That's high enough odds that I might admit that it happened." Jim's voice turned hopeful.

"So, we're agreed? We both call."

"Yeah," Jim sighed and looked at his watch, wincing when it hurt to move. "He should be at work by now."

"How is your arm? Let me look at it." Blair reached for Jim's arm that had drawn his attention when Jim had looked at his watch.

"Hey," Jim pulled away. "It's fine. I cleaned it out this morning. Leave me alone."

"Jim, let me look at it. Tell me where your pain dials are and then I'll leave you alone."

Jim recognized the expression on Blair's face. It was the one he wore whenever Blair was injured and he knew that he didn't stand a chance against it. He sat down by Blair and let him look. "The dials are fine. At normal levels. It just aches a bit; nothing major."

Blair reapplied the bandage, and said, "Now was that so hard? It does look red but it's fine. Just keep an eye on it. It'd be very easy to get an infection here."

"I know, I know. Let's just call Simon."

"Here's the phone. I'll dial." Blair slowly dialed the bull pen's number. It rang twice before Rhonda's perky voice came through.

"Major Crimes, Rhonda speaking. How may I direct your call?"

"Hey Rhonda, it's Jim and Blair. Can you put Simon on the phone?"

Rhonda's squeal of pleasure (though no one that knew Rhonda would call it a squeal to her face) caused Jim to flinch. "How are you guys?"

"Good, good. We're good. Right Jim?"

"Just transfer us to Simon," Jim covered the receiver with his hand. "Calm down, Chief. Do you want to give us up without even trying?"

"Sorry, sorry; it's just. We never get a break and I may joke about it, but sometimes it really bugs me that we can't go a block without having some psycho killer after us."

"Yeah, I know. It'd be nice to be able to go somewhere without something major happening." Jim was interrupted by his captain answering his phone.

"Banks here."

"Hey Simon."

"Blair, Jim. You guys okay? How's the trip going?"

"We're okay now. You might want to get everyone in and put us on the speaker phone."

"Oh? That good, huh?" Simon pressed the speaker phone function and then bellowed for his detectives and secretary to come into his office.

For once everyone was there-H, Rafe, Rhonda, Joel and Megan all quickly filed in. They had been waiting outside the office when they heard Rhonda squeal Jim and Blair's names.

"Jim, Blair; we're all here. What happened this time?" Simon informed his friends of what was happening in his office.

For the next 20 minutes the two wayward members of Major Crimes informed their friends of their trip so far. At the end, Blair asked Rhonda who had what in the pool. She sputtered for a moment and then said, "What pool?"

"Rhonda," Jim's voice rang out, "We know about the pool. Hell, we've joined the pool. So we're curious who won?"

Rhonda spluttered some more, but looked at her clipboard anyway. "Well, Rafe won a bit on the dates. Joel won on location. And finally, we have detectives who used code names who won on injury and activity.

"Code names?" Simon asked.

"Yup, some people do this anonymously. Panther won on injury." Rhonda was interrupted by a "yes" through the speaker phone. Rhonda paused for more commentary but none occurred. She continued, "and Wolf won with great odds on terrorist activity."

Another "yes" came through the speaker, this time by a different voice than the first.

"You two are Panther and Wolf? Simon half stated, half asked. "I don't know that that's part of the rules.after all you two are the people the bets are about."

"Simon, there's nothing that says we can't bet on ourselves. But we'll argue this later-our bill will be huge enough as it is. We're planning on moving South to Masaya tomorrow, then to Granada and finally spend the last week in the Corn Islands." Jim finished speaking and waited for the response from his captain and friend.

"Okay, have fun and DON'T get into trouble," Simon gruffly signed off.

"You know us, Simon," Blair chipped in. "We never get into trouble."

Jim hung up to the sound of Banks choking on his ever present cigar and snorts of laughter from the people in the captain's office. "Sure, Chief, make them doubt our ability to not get into a mess."

"Hey, it's not like they think otherwise!" Blair snorted. "Anyway, I think it's time we met with the rest of the group. We should decide the rest of the trip today. That way we can just relax and experience instead of planning at the last minute."

"Yeah, let's go." Jim made for the door; waiting at the exit for his partner to grab the hotel key.

Blair grabbed it and smiled at Jim. "You know we make a pretty good team, Jim. We may get into trouble, but we always get ourselves out of it as well." With that Blair smiled at Jim and pushed him out the door, while closing it at the same time as they exited.

Jim smiled back and took hold of Blair's shoulder. "Yeah, Chief; we make a great team.

Jim and Blair walked over to Eli's room and knocked. Jim turned on his ears after they had been waiting for several minutes. "Blair, he's still in the shower. Let's round people up and have this meeting in our room. I'll let Eli know the change of location."

"Sounds good." Blair left and started knocking on doors. Several minutes later, everybody, including Eli, had gathered in the room. The first few minutes were spent chatting and reassuring the students that everyone was okay.

"Okay, so has everyone thought about what you'd like to do with the rest of the trip?" Eli inquired. "I think we could do with some non-dangerous sight seeing. We really only have two more cities that we should see; Granada and Masaya. I have suggestions on what we should see, but you guys have the final say in anything we do," Eli finished speaking and sat down.

For a few minutes, the students all spoke together and compared notes and travel guides. Finally Salia spoke up. "Can we keep a private bus for traveling? It's a lot easier than catching one filled with Nicans."

Blair and Eli exchanged glances. "Sure," Blair replied. "We can do that. We won't have to fight with crowds that way and are more on our own schedule that way."

"Cool. Then I think we're decided. We'd like to go to Masaya tomorrow. We want to climb the volcano and there's supposed to be a cool cultural center there as well, with good shopping. Then we'd like to go on to Granada for a day and spend the rest of the trip in the Corn Islands on one of the beaches there. We just want to relax and not get into any trouble. Then, we could go back to Managua and spend a day there before leaving. Is that okay? Will we miss any big sights that way?" Salia's voice showed concern at the thought of missing something important.

"Nope, we'll hit the major places that way," Blair responded. "Is there anyone else who wants to add any destinations? Speak up now or forever hold your peace!" After a short pause, Blair spoke again. "Cool. It's too late to start off today. Why don't you all go exploring. Eli and I will organize our bus and then we'll meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the lobby. Be packed and checked out by then. Either have had breakfast or bring it with you; it's a long way to Masaya from here. Several hours, in fact. See you tomorrow people!"

With that Jim started kicking kids out the door. "You too, Eli. Take a nap. I'll organize the bus for tomorrow." He closed the door behind Eli and turned to Blair. "That goes for you as well. Take a nap and when you wake, I'll have gotten everything organized."

"Okay, but wake me for dinner. I don't want to get my days and nights switched around."

"Sure thing, Chief."

Blair climbed into bed and was soon fast asleep. Before Jim left, he pulled the coverlet up over Blair. The air-conditioning was on and it was chilly in the room. His Guide always got a bit chilled when asleep and the Blessed Protector in Jim would not let him leave without making sure the Guide was comfortable and safe.

Jim went out and was able to find a driver and bus for the next several days and even phoned around and made reservations at the Hotel Regis in Masaya. While not a 5-star hotel, it would be fine for one night. Jim went ahead and researched hotels in Granada as well, but decided to hold off on calling until he talked with Blair.

At this point, Jim decided it was time to wake Blair up. "Wakey, wakey, Chief! Time for eggs and baccy."

Yeah, yeah. I'm up; I'm up." Blair half snarled and stumbled into the bathroom to freshen up. He came out in a much better mood than the one he had when he went in. "Let's go, Jim. Time's a wasting!" Blair grabbed the key and started for the lobby. Jim followed and started telling Blair the details of the arrangements he had made and told him about the Granada plans as well. By the time they finished discussing the plans, the two were back at the hotel and preparing for bed.

The next morning, both men were up early and Blair finished off the hotel reservations for the next night. He also picked up information on places in the Corn Islands to run by his students on the way to Masaya.

At nine a.m. on the dot, Blair and Jim met the group in the lobby. The bus was on time and ready to go. Bags were quickly packed on the bus and students were loaded on. Within minutes, they were at the city limits and headed away from Leon.