Chapter

"Okay lets pick up some fresh produce while we're here. And remember we can't use cards only cash." Jim instructed as they walked away from the phone booth.

They had only just made their call in time. They had driven to the phone booth about 30mins away after finally getting out of bed.

And therein lay the problem.

Neither of them had wanted to leave their warm, rumpled, comfortable love-nest. But in the end Jim had pulled his partner out of the bed and into the shower. Which had proved to be a stupid idea, because all he wanted to do was take him back to bed and ravish that beautiful male body.

But in the end duty had won out and they made it in time to call Rafe.

In Jim's eyes his lover looked absolutely adorable. And from the number

Of looks he was getting from the small towns female population they agreed.

He was wearing one of Jim's Jag hats, a big thick woollen midnight blue sweater over his compulsory flannel and white t-shirt. But what had really held Jims gaze were the black well washed jeans that hugged Blair's male form. They made him want to go home now, and take him straight back to bed.

"Blair how come you don't wear those jeans to work anymore?" Jim enquired huskily, more out of a wish to tease his lover than any real curiosity.

Blair didn't disappoint him, his face went scarlet.

But Jim also picked up the increased heartbeat and harsh breathing.

"Blair what's wrong?"

"Nothing…its silly," Blair muttered really not wanting to talk about this.

"Chief come on, we said no secrets," Jim cajoled.

"Well the one time I wore them when you weren't there. I think you were in court…I sorta got…some rather intimate offers." Blair reluctantly responded knowing his lover wasn't going to let this go.

"Well some women are quite forward," Jim laughed as Blair blushed even harder.

"Itwasnotawoman," Blair whispered all together.

It took the Sentinel a minute to decipher the hardly audible word and his smile faded. "Not a woman…male police officer!"

Blair really didn't want to answer. He recognised that tone. Jim's territorial impetrative had just kicked in on full strength.

But he knew he had no choice.

"Yeah…but they have all transferred out of the precinct now…Honest," he swore as his partner threw him a sceptical look.

"Okay I overreacted," Jim admitted after walking for a while in tense silence. "I guess I just don't know, yet… how to handle the…enormity of my feelings for you Chief. This is all so new… and a bit…"

"The word your looking for is scary," Blair supplied with a relieved grin. "I understand that…believe me. But you cant change the past only the future. And for reference in case it comes up, I want you to know this…

I will quite happily inflict serious bodily harm on any moronic thief who tries to take what's mine. Believe me when I say this Ellison. NO ONE is ever going to love you more than me. So stop looking," he concluded emphatically.

Ellison didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He had never really believed that he could, never mind would feel this way about ANYONE. And definitely never with a small bouncy man.

His relationships with Lila, Victoria or even his ex-wife Caroline hadn't come close to the joyous intensity he felt with Blair.

He had so wanted to be loved that he now realised that he had persuaded himself that he was IN love. But how could they really love him in return when none of them really knew James Ellison.

He had kept so much hidden, so ashamed of who he was, what he'd seen and done.

Until Blair.

"Blair," he whispered stopping his partner with a gentle hand. " I am yours, never doubt that. Even when I act like a total jerk. I want…need to be with you always. Do you understand?"

Blair scooted closer and threw a chummy arm around his friend.

"You are going nowhere with out me man."

Jim stared into the intense blue of Blair's eyes and suddenly everything made sense. He desperately wanted to kiss those luscious lips, but didn't think it would go down to well around here. So he slipped an arm round Sandburg's shoulders and with a nod they continued their lazy walk to the store.

She watched them intently from the roof of the hardware store, even as she puzzled out her own actions. She knew she really shouldn't be here, but the urge to check on him had been overwhelming.

She watched as he blushed and wondered just what Ellison had said to illicit that response.

Ellison had done well; she had lost them for a while until a phone call alerted her of their presence in this area. She had very strange friends in very odd places.

She moved her long right leg as she felt the cold from the roof penetrated the wool of her trousers and crept into her very bones. It was time to go, she blew him a kiss as she crawled back from the edge.

Ellison will take care of him, no matter what. And that's what I come to verify before I deal with that bas..rd. Banks and his team are doing well pulling all the pieces together. But it may not be enough. I have tobe prepared for that eventuality. I wont let him have any of them. She mentally swore her attractive face now an emotionless ice sculpture

She turned for a last look; so glad he'd found his mate.

"Be safe my little one," she whispered sadly as she strode to the roof door and disappeared.

Ellison froze.

What was that damn smell?

Why was it so familiar?

Think it through.

"Jim you okay?" Blair demanded, then fell silent as he realised his Sentinel had picked up something.

"It was the discs, that's were I remember it from," Jim suddenly declared triumphantly.

"Jim please make a little more sense here,"

"It was this very faint scent on the wind. It…"

Be safe my little one.

Jim's sensitive hearing picked up the faint words but the sharp breeze masked the location it came from. But he knew that voice…She was here.

"Jim what do you hear?" Blair enquired seeing the slight tilt of his friend's head.

Jim looked down into those deep eyes and knew he couldn't stall. This meant too much to Blair.

"She's here."

It took a second for the meaning to hit Blair's cortex.

"WHAT? WHERE IS SHE?" he cried looking about him, trying to find something…anything.

Jim felt helpless in the face of his lover's emotions.

"I'm so sorry Blair, but I don't know. She is very good at this. I only caught a slight whiff of her scent and a phrase then it was gone."

Blair felt his eyes fill up once more.

"I don't know why this is so important to me. She's a stranger…but I have this…need to see her…to hold her. I want to meet the others at some point. But I don't feel this…connection with them," he tried to explain something to his partner that he really didn't understand himself.

"What was it she said anyway?"

"Be safe my little one," Jim quoted softly.

"That's it?"

"Yip, that's it. Come on there's the grocery store. Lets get our supplies and Get home," Jim said hoping to calm the tense man beside him

Before something else happens…dials down Ellison. Sister or not she got damn close. He added thoughtfully to himself.