Catnip Confessions

He really should have expected this.

Jim had always acted funny around Felicity's catnip mouse. He'd thought the Sentinel just didn't like the smell.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

But, to get this metaphorical train back on its metaphorical track… The mouse had been clawed to ribbons, not helped by the fact that its covering was faux silk, easily torn apart by sharp claws. Blair had decided to make his own catnip 'mouse' out of an old handkerchief. All he needed to do was buy some dry catnip.

Unfortunately – or fortunately, as the case had turned out to be – the smallest bag he could find of the stuff was eight ounces. He didn't really need that much for one 'mouse' but figured he could always use it later when this 'mouse' got shredded.

And Jim had come home right when he was putting everything away. The opened bag of loose catnip had been lying out on the kitchen table. The windows had been opened, allowing a cool spring breeze to blow through the apartment, wafting over the catnip and bringing the scent right to Jim's nose.

Jim hadn't stood a chance.

When Blair came out of his room, it was to find Jim naked, rubbing the catnip over his body and sniffing it. He was completely entranced with the dried green herb.

Blair was completely entranced with Jim. He'd caught flashes of his friend's – and secret lust/love object's – body over the years, but he'd never actually seen Jim naked.

Damn, he'd been missing out.

But there was no time to drool over his best friend's naked body; Jim seemed to react to the catnip like a drug, and Blair wasn't about to let Jim OD just because he wanted to ogle him.

Striding forward, he eased up behind his friend and snatched the now only half-full bag of catnip away from Jim. The Sentinel zeroed in on the motion, and by extension, him; but he didn't seem inclined to fight for the bag, too immersed in his new…addiction.

After putting the catnip in a Ziploc bag and stashing it underneath the sink, he went to grab the bull by the horns – or rather, the panther by the tail.

Jim was sitting right where he'd left him, still purring over the catnip. Blair thought over his options and decided that trying to talk Jim out of it would be his best shot.

It probably wouldn't work, but it was the only thing that had at least a chance.

"Jim?" Blair called.

Jim flicked a glazed glance his way, but didn't stop his catnip bath.

"Jim, you need to put the catnip down," Blair said, keeping his tone calm and gentle. He walked closer to his friend, hoping proximity would help Jim snap out of it.

This time when Jim's eyes focused on Blair, they stayed there for a moment. Jim even moved closer to Blair, leaving the catnip behind.

Blair had stuck out one hand in an instinctive 'talk the crazed person/animal down' gesture, and was surprised when Jim's head butted against it, the Sentinel's purring increasing at the contact.

Huh? Blair thought. Jim really was acting like a big cat. Kneeling down on the floor, Blair said, "Jim, Jim, please snap out of it, Big Guy." He ran his hand in a petting motion over the Sentinel's head, hoping the soothing motion combined with his voice would work where his voice alone had failed.

At the sound of his Guide's voice, Jim's head shot up again. When those dazed blue eyes locked with his own, Blair was shocked to see predatory intent in them.

"Jim?" Blair asked, wary but not really afraid. This was Jim, after all, and even if the Sentinel was out of it, Jim would never hurt him.

Of course, that didn't mean Jim wouldn't do other things to him…

…like lick his hand, most likely to taste the remnants of the catnip he'd been working with on his skin.

…like pounce on him once he was sure he'd gotten all the catnip off, and start kissing him and rubbing his rampant erection against Blair's own rapidly hardening length.

…like make love to him on the living room floor, Jim's verbal skills coming online enough to keep up a constant stream of babble about how much he loved him, wanted him, needed him – even if it wasn't in complete sentences.

…like completely and utterly exhaust him with the aforementioned activities, so much so that neither of them woke up until noon the next day.

…like awaken him with soft kisses, and give him a soft smile when he woke up, all the while looking at him with his eyes so full of love that Blair knew whatever happened, they'd be okay.