Epilogue:
GRADUATION DAY 11 Weeks laterHe had done it.
Amazing as it still seemed to him as he stood with the remaining 19 other cadets. He had actually done it.
Following this ceremony he would officially become one of Cascades finest, and by the end of day he would be back were he belonged, by Jim's side.
I was totally dazed when Simon announced that we could still be partners. I thought for sure he'd separate us, especially with the unit knowing, I mean its standard operating procedure for Partners to be separated. But he just munched on his unlit cigar and said he didn't want to know of anything that would bring back the pre-Sandburg Ellison and walked away. It seems that the others agreed with him
He knew that Jim was sitting near by with the other presenters, but between being stuck between the jolly green giants and the lip of his cap he couldn't see diddley
Without moving. He resisted the temptation, keeping his eyes forward just as they had all been drilled over and over and over again.
He did however spot the Gang sitting in the audience, looking like he'd never seen them before. Each of them, even Simon was in their dress uniform. He felt his heart want to explode at this ultimate expression of their acceptance of him into their ranks. And there at the end, sitting next to Joel was Naomi. As colourful and vivacious as every. Her smiles today meant so much to him. She had come a long way since her jackboots comment. Not that she would ever conform, but now she saw the faces and hearts behind the badges and uniforms.
Well of these particular pigs anyway.
Its funny that first day I thought that my journey was reaching its destination—I had found a real live Sentinel.
Little did I know that that was just the beginning. I was about to meet my destiny, all wrapped up in one grouchy, anal, hardassed cop.
I mean, I guessed it would be an adventure man. But, WOW, Indy eat your heart out.
And today a new chapter begins…Bring it on man.
"Mr Sandburg please raise your right hand and repeat after me," the police commissioner instructed the clearly nervous man. He watched him take a deep breath, raised his hand and firmly repeated the oath.
"Well done Officer Sandburg," he said as the man finished and he took his hand. He wondered what trouble would be coming his way now that the Ellison-Sandburg liaison was now official. But hell their stats were the best in the State.
His bit was done for today and he moved out of the way to allow the presenter to move forward.
Detective James Ellison was so proud of his partner he felt like he was going to pop. He had had the great honour of doing this twice before. But this time was so very special, this was his Blair. And all he could do was smile as he marched forward.
Blair watched his Sentinel come forward dressed in his Blue dress uniform, cover under his left arm and the biggest grin he had ever seen gracing his handsome face.
He pinned on the silver badge in silence, and then smartly saluted. Jim just looked into those incomparable blue eyes and hoped that Blair could read them, for he just didn't have any words.
Jim returned to his chair without a murmur, but Blair heard ever word his eyes had spoken. With you I don't need the words. I know your heart, lover.
God I can't even speak I am so happy and terrified.
He's really a cop now. Please don't let me fail him; you know how special he really is.
Let me make him happy, cause I do really love him. Amen Jim prayed silently not hearing the rest of the oaths being taken.
The benediction was done, it was over.
It was now a fact.
Officer Blair J Sandburg moved forward through the crowd to find his family. He got about 3 steps into the hall before finding himself engulfed by them all. Smiles and hugs were photographed for eternity until the memory chips were all full.
When things had quietened down slightly Jim noticed two young people standing just outside the circle of friends, trying unsuccessfully to attract Blair's attention. Both were dressed in smart black uniforms he didn't recognise, and their hearts were pounding.
"Blair," Jim called over the din. "You have visitors."
The young woman startled gaze shifted from Blair to Jim, then she smiled shyly and nodded her thanks. They moved forward together into the space that had appeared in the group.
When they reached Blair, Jim heard the heartbeats increase once again. But he sensed no danger, just excitement and apprehension.
Blair grinned happily, totally on a natural high. "Hi there. What can I do for you?"
The grin was returned and green eyes sparkled as the young man spoke.
"Hello my names Jay and this is Zan. We wanted to congratulate you before we flew home. We both graduate on Friday," He informed the group clearly even though his breathing was fast Jim noted. Then he was distracted…
"Well thank you very much," Blair stated sincerely, but his face clearly showed his puzzlement.
"Maybe I should explain?" a familiar voice declared from behind him.
Blair could feel his poor heart start to pound at the soft tones
SHES HERE—SHES HERE—SHE IS REALLY HERE—OH GEEZ
He looked to his beloved and saw him smiling, then took a deep deep breath and turned to see his Star for the first time.
It was worth the wait. For the woman before him was just as he had imagined his sister to be.
He took in her long auburn hair, her beautiful face, her pretty floral dress, but lost himself in her eyes.
"Jim," he whispered in amazement just for his Sentinel. "I have her eyes."
Then he found himself lost in her musky perfume as she hugged him tightly to her. He knew he was crying but really didn't know why. Then he looked up into her tear-filled eyes and knew. His sister was real, not the imaginings of a lonely little boy in a strange place. She was real and she loved him.
"You came you really came," he finally stated as the reality of her arms soaked in.
"Of course I came my little wolf. But not alone," she replied as she wiped away his tears with her hankie.
"Who did you come with?" Blair queried curious about anything to do with his sister. How he loved that word…Sister.
"Well these two reprobates to start with. I hope your ready for this little brother. These are my children. And supposing I don't kill them before Friday they will graduate as officers of Strathclyde police force in Scotland.
Blair found himself unable to reply as his niece and nephew decided to hug the breath out of him.
After many hugs and tears they let him go enough for him to converse.
"Hey Jim I'm an uncle twice over," Blair laughed giddy at the thought of more family for him to know and love.
"Actually its three times over," Zan blurted out only to be nipped by her brother.
"Star?" Jim demanded not looking too happy as he now closely listened and found a faster heartbeat along with her own.
"Before any one else gets on my case I did not know that I was expecting on my last…visit," she announced firmly while she smoothed back her unruly mane of Auburn hair.
"You mean to tell me you were pregnant when you went after Clelland?" Simon Banks squawked now detecting the slight roundness to her tummy.
"Why hello Captain," she smilingly greeted the outraged man. " I really have no idea whatsoever about what you a referring to."
"Now Star…" the captain began getting ready to question this intriguing woman. But found himself halted by the laughter in a new voice.
"Take it from me Captain let it go. You wont get a single straight answer for your trouble. Just a sever migraine. Take it from one who knows."
"Jay!" Naomi exclaimed hugging the tall English man with abandon. "It is so nice to see you."
"You too Ms Sandburg," the uniformed man smiled while trying to extricate himself politely. A fact that Star seemed to find extremely funny.
Jim moved closer to his mate. His need to protect on high because of the unknown people around.
"You doing okay Chief?" He quietly enquired taking in the restrained bounce in his partner. That energy just has to go somewhere.
"Yeah man. It is just a little overwhelming ya know," Blair explained smiling at the love and care in the soft blue eyes of his lover. He then looked back at his highly amused sister who was silently observing Naomi flirt outrageously with this Jay character.
"Star have you any other shocks lined up for me today?" he queried happily
"STAR is it now," jay said with a deep chuckle overhearing the question.
"Don't you dare start on me you English git," Star laughed back at him. "You nearly made us all late."
"Well you wanted us all in uniforms," he fired back. " Well those of us who can get into them…"
"Bloody pain," she muttered turning away from the grinning man knowing she'd lost that round. "I don't know about shocks, but I do have one more surprise. A good one I hope."
"Okay I trust you, what is it?" he asked glad to feel Jim's supporting hand on the small of his back.
"Not a what Blair. A who. The others are here too. But they were unsure whether they would be welcome today. After all it is your day…"
Blair eyes shone as he looked quickly around trying to see the rest of his siblings.
"Of course I want to see them. Where are they?…But before that I want to know your real name," he pleaded knowing how important this was to him.
"My name is Mrs Arizan Marcus, but it is usually shortened to Ari or Mum depending on who is screaming it. But to you my little wolf I will always be Star," she assured him sombrely as she kissed his cheek.
Jim groaned softly seeing the bounce increase and the flame of mischief ignite in those eyes as he dragged Ari to the center of the group of the most important people in his world. Happiness and pure love shone bright from every pore as he announced, "Everyone I would like you to meet officially my big sister Arizan.
Ari this is Simon Banks who I believe you drove nuts, and this is his son Darryl. This is Joel; he's taking some university courses and doing real good. These are my friends Henri and Rafe. I had to get my hair cut cause H had a real fetish about it. And this is our beautiful Australian detective Megan Connor… and this as you already know is my mom."
Jim closed his eyes and waited for the boom.
"She thinks your Jay is HOT."
"Blair Jacob Sandburg," Naomi screeched mortified at her sons words.
While everyone else laughed Ari whispered into Blair's ear knowing that Jim would pick it up.
"He is. But as well as being my Husband and father to my children. He is also my mate. Do you understand?
Blair looked over to his smiling Sentinel and softly said, "We understand perfectly."
Jim knew that his lover was still awake, but was just too comfortable in the dark silence to say anything until he had to.
The peace lasted another 5 blissful minutes.
"Jim you awake?"
"Go to sleep," Jim commanded even though he knew it was futile.
"I cant man…my brain is still fired. What a day."
Jim grinned in the darkness before reaching for the small bedside light. When his guide's brain was on the go it was pretty pointless even trying to sleep. Even when Blair had lived downstairs it had woken him.
"Okay chief, Im listening. What?"
"What do you really think about HER? I mean I know you sat and talked for ages, so what you think?"
Jim chuckled in disbelief, "This is what has that chaotic little brain of your whizzing at this time?"
Blair shifted round pulling the blankets with him before he spoke.
!Yeah…well other stuff too…but yeah. Your opinion is important to me," he said finally settling on his tummy supported by his elbows.
Jim took in how important this really was to Blair as he reclaimed some of the blanket.
"You have nothing to worry about babe. We talked about a lot of things that would bore you silly. But most of the time she wanted to talk about you, your life, our life. And I think she is intelligent, very beautiful, annoying, tough, loyal and most of all she loves you."
"What did she want to know about us?" Blair asked wondering if now the danger was past Ari had changed her mind about Blair and Jim being together.
"Basically she just wanted to make sure that I knew how very special you are. And what she'd do to me if I hurt you. She has some command of the English language believe me."
"But I'm not special, YOU are the Sentinel," Blair declared laughing at the thought that he was anything but ordinary.
But Jim wasn't having that. He pulled the smaller man up onto his chest and soundly kissed him before continuing.
"You, Blair Jacob Sandburg are one of the worlds most special treasures. And I am just the lucky bastard that gets to love you." And he kissed him again, throwing all the love in his heart into it.
"Now that we have settled that little problem," Jim said a good while later, " What else is bugging you?
Blair smiled into Jims broad chest were he now had his head pillowed.
"Its not bugging me, exactly…its just…No its silly. Lets go to sleep."
"Blair this silly has me awake at 0230. Now tell," Jim firmly advised with a little fake snarl for motivation.
Blair lifted his head and looked at his partner and wondered what hed say.
"Well it the others…I just don't feel the connection I feel with Ari. Don't get me wrong I liked them man…but I love Ari. Does that sound as bad as I think it does?"
Jim wondered about the right thing to say. It had been a moving but rather stilted reunion of siblings. It was obvious they all wanted to know each other better, to become a family but everyone was hesitant about being hurt or stepping on each other's toes.
"Chief the bond you and Ari have is obviously a strong one. The others you will just have to get to know slowly the old fashioned way. Give it five years and you'll be screaming at each other fine."
"What about Jay? I liked him."
"Me too," Jim replied thinking about the soft-spoken man. "We have quite a bit in common. He said that he thought Ari was complete now. When I asked him what he meant, he just smiled over at the two of you dancing. But I think I get it."
"Explain it to me?" Blair requested head back on Jim's warm chest.
"You were the missing piece in her life, and now she knows you are safe she is totally happy.
"Good." Was Blair's only reply.
Jims thoughts returned to the ex-British Special Ops man. As he had told Blair they had a lot in common not all of it nice. Being military Jim thought that Jay might have had a problem with their relationship, so decided to ask directly. He smiled as he remembered the mans reply.
"Jim my very smart wife has always said that true love in all its many forms is beautiful.
And the world needs masses of beauty to repair what we have done to it and ourselves."
Jim looked down at his love and found him sound asleep. As Jim carefully reached to switch off the light Blair muttered, "Love you," then softly snored.
The Sentinel smiled as he settled back down to sleep.
" I love you too Chief. I always will."
He closed his eyes on a good day with a contented sigh.
The Black jaguar looked up from his sleeping mate, his senses disturbed by a soft noise.
Into the clearing strode a white she-wolf, but the Jaguar sensed no danger from this intruder and watched silently.
She glanced at the Jaguar then focused her attention on the slumber Grey wolf, she cocked her head as if listening to each breath.
When she was ready she nodded to the still alert Jaguar and vanished on her way.
The feline listened for a while, and then relaxed.
He nuzzled his mate's ear then settled himself around him once more to sleep.
THE END?
Thank you to everyone who reviewed this tale sorry it took so long to complete.
Be safe
Love and thanks
OwlX
