Part 11

Chris didn't have long to dwell on the shock, since Blair hopped out of the chair and met Ellison just as he was opening the door to come back and join them. Chris stood and stepped back as Ellison joined them, Blair fussing over him all the time.

When Ellison was comfortably seated, Blair finally turned to them. "Doctorw Nathan, you can ec'samin Jim now, if you want."

Nathan was rather uncomfortable as he moved around to Ellison's side taking the place Ezranok vacated to go stand by Vin's side. With Ezranok's declaration still ringing in his ears, he was very careful to be gentle as he examined his patient. And Blair was there the entire time, watching over his Sentinel.

Vin looked from Blair and Ellison to Ezranok in wonder. A Guide and a Sentinel? Not only that but a destined pairing? "Ezranok, are you sure?" Vin asked quietly. He noticed that Ellison turned to look at them, indicating he had heard the question.

"Yes, sir," Ezranok said solemnly.

"How?" Chris asked suddenly, turning to the strange child that had come into their care.

Ezranok looked up at Chris in trepidation, uncertain if he could explain it. "I can see it," he told them. "When I look at them I can see what they are, and the bond beginning between them. It has already severed the link between Blair and myself."

Huh? Vin was confused. He had never heard of something like this, even during his time on Vulcan. Thinking fast he said, "Can you show me what you mean by that?" When Ezranok just looked at him blankly, he explained further. "If you think about the link we have, you maybe able to let me see what you are seeing."

Shrugging, Ezranok nodded his head and locked over to where Nathan was working with Blair and Ellison. As he consciously thought about the link with Vin, he stared hard at the image of the Sentinel and Guide as he saw it. He knew it had worked when he heard the man behind him gasp. That small sound broke his concentration and he looked back up at him in expectation.

Vin stared at the two before him in amazement, knowing that Ezranok had been right. They were Sentinel and Guide and they were bound for each other.

"Vin?" Chris said, still using hushed voices while grabbing his shoulder to get his attention. He wasn't sure what was going on here, but he was getting very uncomfortable.

Vin raised shocked eyes to his captain's face. "Ezranok showed me what he was seeing. He's right, Chris, they're bound Sentinel and Guide. The only way to separate them now would be to kill one of them."

At that Ellison's head snapped up and he practically growled as he pulled Blair into his lap to protect him. Nathan backed again in a hurry, Ellison looked just about ready to rip someone's throat out.

"Jim?" Blair asked in confusion. "What wrwong?"

"They're talking about splitting us up, Blair," Ellison snarled.

Vin stepped forward slowly, hands out in the open, unconsciously putting himself between Ellison and Ezranok. "That's not what I meant, Commander. We've been concerned about Blair and Ezranok, because as far as we know they have no family, no home. I was just informing the captain that Blair does now have a home. With you, permanently."

Ellison calmed down greatly, though he still held Blair firmly on his lap. After a few moments, he shook his head as if to clear it. Looking toward Captain Larabee sheepishly, he said, "Sorry, Captain, I'm not sure what's got into me."

"It's all right, Ellison. I believe it's usually called Blessed Protector Syndrome," Chris said wryly. "As I remember it comes part and parcel with the whole Sentinel thing."

"Oh, makes sense I guess. I haven't felt that since my senses were suppressed, so now that their back…" Ellison trailed off when he saw the surprise on their faces. "What?"

"You knew you were a Sentinel? But…" Nathan stammered.

"I've known I was sentinel since I was a child, but my senses disappeared when I was about ten. I've been latent since then," Ellison explained. "The doctor's did everything they could think of to bring them back, but nothing worked. I should have realized what was happening earlier, but I was a little shook up." Ellison shook his head in annoyance.

Blair looked around at the adults, in confusion. "Jim? All good?" He wasn't sure what was going on, but at least no one was angry any more.

Jim smiled down at the adorably worried face. "Yeah, Chief, it's all good."

'All good? Not exactly the way I would describe the situation,' Chris thought, but he let it stand. "I'm going to have to update Travis on this situation," Chris announced as he turned and head out of Sick Bay.

Vin watched him leave, half wishing he could go with him, but he knew he was still needed here. Ezranok moved up beside him, and he unconsciously reached out to pull him close to his side.

Nathan very carefully finished his exam and announced that Ellison looked to be in practically perfect health, or would be as soon as he and Blair had time to work on his control. Considering for moment, he said, "Vin, are the guest quarters next door to you still open?"

"Yeah, they are. Why?" Vin answered uncertainly. Just what did Nathan have in mind? They had filled just about every nook and cranny of the ship with refugees, but that room had been left open because of the connecting door to Vin's quarters.

"I'm thinking that would be a good place to put Ellison and Blair. They'd be fairly close if there are any problems, and the connecting door would save time if there were any. Yet you could each have privacy," Nathan pointed out.

"Alright," Vin agreed slowly, then added, "as long as Ezranok can stay with me while Blair's with Ellison. I don't think it would be a good idea to leave him here in Sick Bay." Vin knew that the fall out from the severed link was coming, and he wanted the boy close when it hit.

"That should be fine, Vin," Nathan acquiesced. "What do you think, Commander?"

"Sounds good. But since I'm not on the clock, so to speak, could you just call me Jim or Ellison? I never was one for formality," he replied. To back up his statement, he stood carrying Blair, who was starting to doze off after all the excitement.

"Sure, Jim," Vin said as he turned to lead the way out of Sick Bay.

It only took them a few minutes to reach their quarters. Vin led the way inside and showed Ellison where everything was. He was surprised at first that Blair perked up when they entered the new room, demanding to be put down so he could check everything out. The surprise lasted only as long as it took to figure out that Blair was making sure that everything was okay for his Sentinel.

On Blair's orders, the bed linens were stripped off and replaced with softer materials, the air temperature was adjusted and the scent of the freshener was changed. The soaps and cleansers provided were removed to be replaced later by gentler products, and Blair insisted that Jim's uniform be washed at least twice before it was delivered, so that the new cloth stiffness would be softened first.

Watching the little whirlwind that was so determined that Jim would be comfortable in his temporary quarters, Vin decided that the man was in good hands. Catching Ellison's eye, Vin grinned and was gratified when he received a similar smile in return.

Finally winding down after everything was settled to his satisfaction, Blair crawled up in Ellison's lap where he was sitting at the table with Vin and Ezranok.

"All good?" Jim asked his little Guide, mimicking what Blair had asked him earlier.

Blair nodded tiredly. "All good, no hurt Jim now."

For the first of many times, Jim gathered the little boy close and hugged him. Vin was faintly surprised to see a tear gathered at the corner of Ellison's eye then realized he shouldn't be. Ellison had been abandoned on a planet on the backside of nowhere, then when he was rescued, he had been sent off in a painful and confusing round of sensory spikes. Now this little boy, little more than a baby, was exhausting himself for the sole purpose of his comfort.

Smiling, Vin tapped Ezranok on the shoulder and nodded at the door and they left quietly.

Once they were out in the hall, Vin took a long look at the silent boy that stood by his side. There were faint lines of stress and pain around Ezranok's eyes and he could feel the rising tide of sorrow within the boy. It was never easy for a Vulcan to endure a broken bond, but he knew it was going to be worse for Ezranok. The only person he had had to depend on for the last several months was Blair, and now that link had been overridden by Blair's bond with his Sentinel.

Pulling gently, Vin led Ezranok into his own quarters.

His quarters were not typical in any way. He loved the Ancient West and had taken great pains to collect authentic antiques and compatible reproductions. It was soothing to Vin, an oasis of the past in a very hectic present.

Ezranok didn't seem to notice; he just followed where ever Vin led him.

Vin escorted the boy to the table, and sat down. After a few moments of stillness, Vin picked the now trembling boy up and sat him on his lap. Pulling the boy close he guided his head down on his shoulder and held him. It only took a couple of minutes for the trembling to escalate into full-fledged shaking.

"It's all right, Ez. I've got you…" Vin murmured into the grieving boy's ear. He knew when the shock dissipated, he would have to deal with Ezranok's guilt at his reaction, but for now he just had to get him through this.