Hold on Hope (3/4)
Part III
Sam stopped by the infirmary on her way to the lab the next morning. Blair was asleep in the chair next to Jim’s bed, and Jim seemed to be down for the count, too. Janet waved her over as soon as she saw Sam.
“How are they?” Sam asked.
“I was just about ready to wake Jim up for breakfast,” Janet replied. “I suspect that he’ll sleep a lot over the next few days.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Sam said. “Do you think his sight will come back?”
Janet shook her head, looking disgusted. “I managed to isolate twelve different drugs still present in his system. Twelve, Sam. Some of those drugs will take weeks to fully metabolize. It might take that long for him to regain his sight, or it might take days. I have no idea.”
“Shit,” Sam said with feeling.
“That was my reaction,” Janet agreed. “It’s a mess, any way you put it. I wish I could order them to stay on the mountain, just so I could oversee Jim’s recovery, but I can’t. They could decide to head home tomorrow, and I wouldn’t be able to stop them.”
“General Hammond wants me to convince them to continue accepting protective custody,” Sam responded.
Janet shook her heads. “I’ll give you even odds on that. They’re both stubborn.”
Sam grinned. “Unlike anyone else here.”
Janet laughed. “Granted. I’m going to call for breakfast. Maybe you can convince Blair to take a break.”
“Not likely,” Sam replied. “But I’ll give it a try.”
She approached the bed slowly, having no desire to alarm either man. Jim’s eyes opened, although from the way he focused on a spot just above Sam’s right shoulder, he still hadn’t regained his sight. “Hey,” she said. “It’s Sam. How are you feeling?”
“I’ve felt worse,” he said philosophically. He fumbled for the controls to the bed, starting when Blair’s hand closed over his. “Blair?”
“Right here, man,” Blair assured him. “I’m going to adjust the bed, okay?”
“Yeah, that would be good,” Jim agreed.
Sam hovered near the side of the bed. “Janet said she was going to call for breakfast for you, Jim, and she wanted me to convince Blair to take a break.”
Blair immediately shook his head. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Chief, I’ll be fine,” Jim said softly. “You should go-get something to eat. Get cleaned up?”
Sam grinned at the emphasis Jim placed on that last suggestion, and Blair pulled a face. “So, you’re saying I stink?”
“Well, I didn’t say it,” Jim replied with a smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“I can stay,” Sam offered. “If that would make you feel better.”
Blair let out a breath. “Yeah, that would. Jim?”
“I’m not made of glass,” Jim replied irritably.
“No, you’re not,” Blair agreed cheerfully. “But Jim, I just spent the last two and a half months worried about you. I can’t turn it off that easily.”
Jim sighed. “Yeah, some company would be nice.”
Sam smiled. “I’m really very good company.”
“I’m sure you are,” Jim replied with a smile that transformed his face, making him look younger.
Blair rose, offering Sam his seat. “I guess I’ll go get cleaned up, then. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Blair,” Jim called. “Go outside. Get some fresh air, okay? I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Blair hesitated, but he finally sighed. “I’ll be back soon.” He patted Jim’s shoulder awkwardly before he left.
“How’s your sight?” Sam asked quietly.
Jim shrugged. “Better, actually. Things seem to be getting a little lighter around the edges.”
“Improvement,” Sam replied.
“I’ll take just about anything at this point,” Jim replied. “And the rest of my senses seem to be settling down. I’ve got better control now.” He shifted a little. “I feel like I should say thank you. Sandburg said you were the one who figured out where I was.”
“It was a team effort,” she insisted. “Blair helped.”
Jim chuckled. “You know, this is pretty much exactly how it always goes down.”
“How what goes down?” Sam asked.
“Blair downplays his role, and I talk to the people he claims are responsible for getting something done, and it turns out Blair’s done a lot of the work.” Jim shook his head. “It’s par for the course. Anyway, thanks.”
Sam shrugged, and then realized Jim couldn’t see her. “I’m just glad we could get you out.”
She was saved from having to come up with another topic of conversation by the arrival of Jim’s breakfast tray. She watched as the orderly set the tray up, but she could see the renewed tension in Jim’s posture. She thought she understood the source.
“There’s a glass of orange juice at one o’clock, three inches from the far side of the tray,” Sam said quietly. “There’s a mug of coffee just to the left. Your left. On the plate, there’s toast at ten o’clock, scrambled eggs at six o’clock, and bacon at three o’clock. The fork is on your right, near the edge of the tray.”
Jim let out a long breath. “Thanks.”
He managed fairly well, and Sam resolutely ignored the way Jim’s hand shook slightly. He was halfway through his toast when he asked, “So, why Air Force?”
“I wanted to go to space,” Sam admitted. “And NASA tends to pick Air Force officers for space missions.”
Jim finished off a piece of bacon. “And you got to go to space.”
“How much did Blair tell you?” Sam asked.
Jim smiled wryly. “Not all that much, but he did mention that you guys were affiliated with the space program in some way.”
“As soon as you sign a nondisclosure agreement, we can probably read you in,” Sam replied. “Especially considering that General Hammond wanted me to offer continued protection.”
Jim paused mid-bite, but he chewed and swallowed his bite of eggs before saying, “You think they’ll come after me again.”
“We don’t know,” Sam admitted. “But Janet said she’d feel better if she could keep an eyes on your recovery.”
Jim smiled briefly. “I think I’d feel better if she could keep an eyes on my recovery,” he admitted. “She’s a scary lady, but she also knows exactly what’s going on with me. That’s rare in my line of work.”
“She’s one of the best doctors in the country,” Sam offered. “The SGC only hires the best.”
“Good to know,” Jim replied. “I’m assuming that applies to you, as well.”
Sam flushed. “Ah, I guess?”
Jim chuckled. “So, what is it you’re best at?”
“Officially?” Sam asked. “Deep space telemetry.”
“Unofficially?”
“Worm hole physics,” Sam replied. “I’m pretty much the expert.”
“And what does an expert in worm hole physics have to do with a rogue organization that would kidnap a Sentinel?” Jim asked.
“We have a history with the NID, and its rogue elements,” Sam replied. “And not a great one. If we can put a spoke in their wheel, we’re going to do it.”
Jim smiled. “Fair enough. I guess that worked out well for me, then.”
“Even if we hadn’t been inclined to stop these particular bad guys, we would have pulled you out. We’re not in the business of letting anybody get tortured.” Sam watched as Jim cleaned his plate. “Once you’re feeling better, maybe you’d want to go over the results they came up with.”
Jim fiddled with his fork. “Yeah, maybe.”
“You don’t have to,” Sam was quick to assure him. “It’s completely up to you.”
Jim glanced away, and then back in Sam’s direction. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
“And you don’t have to, if that’s your choice,” Sam assured him.
Jim nodded. “You mind if we change the subject?”
“Not at all,” Sam replied. “What do you want to talk about?”
“You know anything about basketball?” Jim asked hopefully.
“Not really,” Sam admitted. “Sorry.”
“What do you do for fun?” Jim asked.
Sam smiled. “I have a motorcycle.”
Jim grinned widely. “What kind?”
~~~~~
Blair took a deep breath, grateful for the fresh air. Jim often seemed to know what he needed before he knew, and this occasion was no different. After more than a full day in the same clothing, Blair had needed a shower, a decent meal, and a little time under the wide-open sky, even if he had to hike a bit to get there. The mountain air was sharp and cold, even invigorating, and Blair took another deep breath.
He had Jim back, and he needed to call Simon.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Simon’s number. “Banks,” came Simon’s familiar voice.
“Simon, it’s Blair,” he said. “I have Jim.”
Blair heard Simon’s sigh of relief. “Thank God,” Simon said fervently. “How is he?”
“Blind,” Blair replied briefly. “We think it’s a drug interaction.”
“Like when he was exposed to Golden?” Simon asked.
“Something like that,” Blair agreed. “The doctor here is treating him. She thinks Jim will probably regain his sight as the drugs move out of his system.”
“That’s good news,” Simon replied. “So when are you coming home?”
Blair sighed. “I don’t know. They aren’t sure the same group won’t come after us again.”
“Damn,” Simon murmured. “So, you don’t know when you’ll be back.”
“I wish I did,” Blair assured him. “But I’ll definitely keep you up to date, Simon.”
Simon sighed gustily. “I want frequent updates,” he insisted. “I mean it, Sandburg.”
“Yes, sir,” Blair replied. “I promise.”
“How is he otherwise?” Simons asked.
Blair pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. “He was tortured for more than two months. He’s not great.”
“But he’ll be okay?”
“I think so,” Blair agreed. “He seems to be bouncing back. I’d like him to stay here as long as the drugs are in his system, though. The doctor here knows about Jim’s senses. She knows what happened to him. I think she should probably oversee his recovery.”
“Fair enough,” Simon replied. “Just let me know what’s going on, and have him call me when he gets the chance.”
“Yes, sir,” Blair replied. “Don’t worry, Simon. We’re in good hands.”
“Thanks for letting me know what’s going on,” Simon responded. “I’ll talk to you soon, Blair.”
Blair hung up and tipped his head back, looking up at the cloudless sky. He wondered why he wasn’t more homesick; while there were things he missed about Cascade-Simon, the other guys from Major Crimes, the view from the loft-he was content to be here.
Probably because he could get on the elevator, go down a few hundred feet, and find Jim in the infirmary. Oddly enough, even the presence of so many soldiers didn’t bother him, because he knew that anyone coming after Jim now would have to go through a lot of armed resistance first.
What if they did go back home, only to find out in a month or two that this group wasn’t done with Jim yet? Or what if-some little voice in the back of Blair’s head prompted-what if they were done with Jim, but they wanted Blair now? Maybe they got all the data they needed on Jim, but that wasn’t true of Blair.
He hated the idea of having to look over his shoulder all the time, waiting for the other shoe to drop, never knowing when they’d hit next.
With a sigh, Blair headed back into the mountain, stopping at the check-in desk. “General Hammond would like to see you, Mr. Sandburg,” the very young MP stated. “Just head down to his office.”
Blair grimaced, but he knew he couldn’t refuse an invitation from a general. “I’m on my way now,” he promised.
O’Neill was sitting across from Hammond when Blair entered, and he nodded sharply. “Sandburg.”
“Good morning, sir,” Blair replied. “General Hammond. I was told you wanted to see me?”
“Dr. Frasier tells me that Detective Ellison is doing much better,” Hammond replied. “She’s hopeful that he’ll make a full recovery.”
That wasn’t news to him, so Blair just nodded.
“There is some concern that this group might try again,” Hammond continued.
Blair ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, sir. That’s something I’ve thought about.”
“Colonel O’Neill and I have been talking. We can, of course, continue to offer protective custody,” Hammond said.
Blair shook his head. “No offense, sir, you guys have been great, but we can’t stay here long-term. It would feel too much like a prison sentence.”
“I thought you might say that,” Hammond replied. “The alternative would be to offer you a job-you and Detective Ellison.”
Blair was taken aback. He had half-expected a job offer once Jim’s senses were back under control-assuming Jim did get his senses under control. The fact that they were offering now told Blair that whatever information they had, there were some serious repercussions to consider.
“I appreciate the offer,” Blair began slowly. “But what would we be doing?”
“We hire anthropologists and archaeologists on a regular basis,” Hammond replied. “Dr. Jackson was very impressed by your list of achievements.”
Blair shook his head. “I’m a detective, General. I’m not a doctor of anything.”
“What if you could submit and defend your original dissertation?” Hammond countered. “Most of our scientists here still publish, but their work is labeled classified, and isn’t released to the public, although we have agreements with a couple of universities.”
Blair wondered if General Hammond knew he’d just offered Blair everything he wanted on a platter. He liked being a cop, and he hadn’t wanted to give up the roller coaster of police work for the classroom full time, but this-
This was his doctorate, visiting other planets, and working with people who knew about Jim and his abilities. It meant that maybe Blair could be one of those who helped shut down the bastards who had hurt Jim so badly for good.
Of course, that was assuming that Jim would be willing to leave Cascade.
“What about Jim?” Blair asked. “We’re kind of a matched set.”
“Actually, Ellison transferred to the individual ready reserves when he left the Army,” O’Neill replied. “We can reactivate his commission with a little paperwork.”
Blair’s eyes widened. “You mean the Army could have called him back?”
“Technically, they could have, but it’s highly unlikely,” O’Neill replied. “Ellison was an officer, so without officially resigning his commission, he’d be automatically transferred to the IRR. Reactivating him would be a pain in the ass, especially after what Colonel Oliver had to say about him.”
“Oliver was a crook!” Blair protested.
“The Army knows that now,” General Hammond said. “But that evidence didn’t come to light until fairly recently, and there was no reason to recall Detective Ellison to active duty.”
Blair blew out a breath. “Why are you asking me now? We don’t even know if Jim’s sight is going to come back yet.”
“Dr. Frasier has every confidence that it will,” Hammond replied. “And I trust her judgment on matters such as this. Beyond that, however, we have the report that Dr. Frasier and Sergeant Naismith put together from the data gathered from Detective Ellison.”
Blair accepted the plastic-bound report that Hammond held out. “What am I looking at?”
“We believe they isolated the Sentinel gene, and that they have the technology to activate it in those who show only potential, which means they’ll be able to identify active Sentinels and create new ones,” O’Neill replied.
Blair shook his head. “That’s impossible. The technology required for that kind of gene sequencing, that quickly-”
“Isn’t from Earth,” O’Neill finished. “And we have some evidence that they’ve managed to access the DNA database set up for identification of military personnel.”
Blair shook his head. “What good would that do?”
“They were working to enhance Ellison’s senses,” Hammond said quietly. “Dr. Frasier believes they may have succeeded. And if they managed to do that, they can certainly identify those who have the potential to become a Sentinel and activate the gene, even enhance it.”
Blair swallowed, suddenly sick to his stomach. He thought about Alex, whose senses had come online after a period of solitary confinement, and of Jim, who’d believed he’d been going crazy when he’d come online this last time. What would happen to the men or women these assholes managed to activate? How far would this group go to control new Sentinels?
“You want me around as an expert,” Blair said slowly. “Jim and me. Just in case they manage to activate a bunch of Sentinels.”
“We can’t deny it would be helpful,” Hammond replied. “But beyond that, Detective Ellison’s enhanced senses could be of great help.”
Blair nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll have to talk this over with Jim.”
“Please do,” General Hammond replied. “You can wait until he has his sight back to give him the report, or you can read it to him. Once he’s feeling better, I’ll make him the same offer I’ve made you.”
Blair glanced down at the report. “Thank you. I’d like to go check on Jim now.”
“Of course, son,” General Hammond replied.
Normally, Blair didn’t much like it when anyone called him “son,” but he didn’t really mind it coming out of Hammond’s mouth. It felt sincere.
Hammond would be a good guy to work for, Blair thought. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to leave Cascade, even for the promise of his doctorate and alien worlds.
Blair made his way to the infirmary in a daze, wondering just what he was supposed to tell Jim. Waiting until Jim had his sight back to share the report was out of the question. Blair knew Jim well enough to know he wouldn’t respond well to any attempt on Blair’s part to protect him.
Then again, was it worth bringing up the job offer before they knew for certain whether Jim’s sight would come back in full?
Blair had been gone from the infirmary long enough that he wasn’t sure Sam would still be with Jim. She’d promised to stay, but Blair knew she was busy, and Blair been delayed by his meeting with Hammond
Sam had stuck around, though, sitting next to Jim’s bed, holding a rather enthusiastic conversation with him. Blair paused, realizing that this was the most animated he’d seen Jim since the rescue. Granted, not that much time had passed, but Jim had been scarily passive the last couple of days. He’d been expecting Jim to lose his temper, or to get cranky about the restrictions Janet had placed on him, and there had been nothing.
Blair edged a little closer, wanting to know what they were talking about without interrupting. To his surprise, Jim was asking about motorcycles, and Sam was talking about her Harley.
“When your eyesight is back to normal, you should come riding with me,” Sam said. “I’ve got a 1940 Indian, too. It’s good for your mental health.”
Blair felt a pang, realizing that Jim was essentially setting up a date. If they took the job offer with the SGC, maybe Jim and Sam would start something up. Blair didn’t much like the idea, but he chalked that up to missing his roommate, and not wanting Jim to get hurt. The last thing Jim needed now was another failed relationship, or another person who couldn’t accept Jim for who and what he was.
Jim smiled. “I’d like that. It’s been years since I was on a bike.”
“But you surf,” Sam said. “I should have known you’d ridden motorcycles.”
Jim grinned and shrugged. “It’s been longer than I’d like to admit since I’ve been on a bike or a surfboard.” His head swung unerringly in Blair’s direction. “Look who’s back.”
Sam grinned. “Hey, Blair. Have a nice walk?”
“Yeah, it was good to get some fresh air,” Blair agreed. “Jim, we should go outside as soon as Dr. Frasier releases you.”
Jim nodded hesitantly. “I’d like that.”
“I should get going,” Sam said, briefly clasping Jim’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to you later?”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Jim replied.
Blair threw himself into the chair that Sam had just vacated. “Jim, you dog,” he said with a grin.
Jim rolled his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The gorgeous Major Carter?” Blair prompted.
Jim grimaced. “She’s a really nice lady, but I can’t say whether she’s gorgeous.”
“Take it from me, man,” Blair said in a low voice. “She’s tall, blonde, and dangerous-just your type, other than the whole not trying to kill you part.”
Jim laughed. “Yeah, well, I thought I’d turn over a new leaf.” He sighed. “Seriously, Chief. We have no idea how long it’s going to take for my sight to come back.”
“So we’re accepting their offer of protective custody,” Blair said quietly.
“I am,” Jim admitted. “At least until my sight comes back.”
Blair nodded. “I think that’s a good idea,” he admitted. “I have Frasier’s report on what those assholes did, and what they found.”
“What does it say?” Jim asked.
“I haven’t read it yet. I can read it to you, or I can read it and summarize it for you until you can read it yourself,” Blair said. “It’s up to you.”
Jim hesitated, and then said, “Read it for me? I trust you’ll tell me what I need to know.”
Blair couldn’t quite believe that he was worthy of that sort of trust, but he reached out to squeeze Jim’s hand. “Yeah, sure. You can read all of it for yourself when you’re better.”
Jim nodded. “It’s not quite as dark as it was. I think my eyesight is improving, and the rest of the dials are easier to control.”
“Good,” Blair said fervently. “That’s great news, Jim.”
He was about to tell Jim of the job offer, but Dr. Frasier approached. “Well, Jim, are you ready to get out of here?”
“Is that a trick question?” Jim joked. “Because your hospitality has been great, doc.”
Frasier laughed. “That’s good to hear. I want to see you back here tomorrow, just to check your progress, but I suspect you’re ready for a shower and some privacy. I’ve already checked, and there are base quarters waiting for you right next door to Blair.”
Jim smiled. “Thanks.”
“I’m just going to get one more sample of blood, and then I’ll send you on your way,” she said.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a vampire,” Jim replied, although he obligingly held out an arm.
She snorted. “You and half the base. You’ll let me know if you have any problems.” Her tone made it an order, rather than a suggestion.
“Of course,” Jim promised. “Thanks, doc.”
She finished drawing blood and patted Jim on the shoulder. “Don’t mention it. I don’t think I have to say this, but I’d recommend that you not wander around the base by yourself.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon,” Jim replied ruefully.
Frasier smiled. “Well, Blair knows the procedure by now. I’d like to see you gain back a few pounds before I release you from my care, but don’t overdo it. I don’t want you getting sick. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You got it,” Jim replied.
There was an airman waiting to escort them to Jim’s quarters, and Blair was glad to see that Dr. Frasier was right. Jim’s room was right next to his. “Do you want me to stay?” Blair asked as he escorted Jim inside and closed the door behind them.
“Yeah,” Jim said gratefully. “I don’t suppose you brought any of my clothing with you.”
Blair grimaced. “No, I’m sorry. I should have. It’s not that I didn’t think we’d get you back, it’s just-” He stopped, uncertain of how much he could or should say.
He really had believed they’d get Jim back. It was just that he hadn’t thought of something so mundane as a change of clothes or toiletries in the face of the larger issue.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jim said.
“I can go grab my stuff,” Blair offered. “I’ve got more than enough for both of us.”
“I don’t think your clothes are going to fit me, Chief,” Jim said with a smile. “No matter how much weight I’ve lost.”
Blair smirked. “I meant toiletries, Jim. It looks like someone has left a couple of uniforms at the end of the bed, so you don’t have to worry about clothes.”
Some indefinable emotion passed over Jim’s face, but he didn’t argue. “Thanks.”
Blair hurried to collect the things Jim would need, and then let himself back into Jim’s room without knocking. Jim was still standing where Blair had left him, his expression so lost that Blair’s heart ached.
When Jim’s sight had been compromised by the Golden, he’d soldiered on, undaunted, intent on bringing down the ring of drug dealers even though he couldn’t see. Now, Jim seemed bewildered, and uncharacteristically passive. Blair wondered if the NID had managed to break him.
“You okay, man?” he asked softly.
Jim shrugged. “As okay as I can be.”
“I know you want to go home,” Blair began, “but I think we should wait at least until your sight comes back.”
“If it comes back,” Jim replied bitterly.
“Hey, you said it was already getting better,” Blair objected. “And Dr. Frasier said it was just a matter of time.”
“She said it was probably a matter of time, but I already said I’d stay, didn’t I?” Jim shook himself, as though he could throw off the doubts that plagued him. “You mind putting that stuff in the shower?”
Blair approached Jim slowly, and put a gentle hand under his elbow. “Yeah, sure. Come on, I’ll show you where everything is.”
There was a towel hanging over the bar already, and Blair pointed it out to Jim. He set the shampoo and soap on the small shelf, and took Jim’s hand to indicate where everything was. “If you want some help shaving, I can give you a hand,” he offered diffidently.
Jim ran a hand over his face. “It’s been a few days,” he acknowledged. “You don’t have an electric razor, do you?”
“No, I don’t,” Blair replied. “Is that what you used?”
“Every few days they’d let me shower and shave,” Jim replied, sounding a little distant. “They kept an eye on me, though.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Blair asked. “I can go back to my room.”
Jim smiled gently. “No. It’s-I’d feel better knowing you’re guarding the door.”
“Anything you need,” Blair promised fervently. “I mean that.”
Jim’s smile widened. “I know you do, Chief.” He touched Blair’s cheek gently. “I’ll let you know about the shaving thing.”
Blair left him then, collapsing back onto the bed and rubbing his hands over his face. He heard the water begin to run, and he wondered how long it was going to take for Jim to get back to normal-if he ever would.
Blair wasn’t going to hold his breath on that point.
The water ran for a long time, but Blair didn’t blame Jim for needing the break. He was probably relishing the privacy, and the chance to get clean.
When Jim emerged, it was in a cloud of steam with a towel wrapped around his waist. His state of undress underscored just how much weight Jim had lost, and Blair winced but didn’t say anything. Just as he’d done on the plane, Blair handed Jim the bundle of clothing, boxers on top, so that Jim could put each article on in order.
“Pretty much everybody on base wears a uniform,” Blair began conversationally. “Even the civilian consultants. You’ll blend right in.”
Jim smiled briefly. “That’s good to know.”
Blair turned his head away to give Jim some privacy, even though he hadn’t asked for it, and wouldn’t know. “I thought we could grab some lunch after this.”
“Yeah, sure,” Jim said, his voice muffled briefly.
Blair glanced over to see Jim pulling his t-shirt down over his chest. “Do you want any help?”
Jim hesitated, but then gave a short nod. “Yeah, I don’t really want to slice my face up, and I don’t trust my hands to stay steady.”
Blair glanced at Jim’s hands, which had a mild tremor. “Sure, Jim. Of course.”
It was a strangely intimate experience to lather Jim’s face while he perched on the closed toilet seat. Blair took a deep breath, willing his nerves to calm and his hands to hold steady. Slowly, carefully, Blair began to scrape the stubble off of Jim’s face with the razor. Jim kept his eyes closed the entire time, and Blair tilted Jim’s head this way and that with careful fingers.
When Blair finished, he carefully wiped every trace of shaving foam off of Jim’s face. He was surprised when Jim reached out and pulled him close, resting his head against Blair’s stomach.
Blair swallowed hard and cupped the back of Jim’s head. “I’ve got you, buddy,” he murmured. “I’m right here.”
~~~~~
Jack walked into the commissary, intent on getting lunch and pie-and not necessarily in that order. As was his habit, he scanned the room as he entered. He spotted Ellison sitting at table on the far side of the room, his back to a corner. Sandburg was in line, juggling two trays, with Carter and Daniel behind him.
He sighed, resigning himself to having to eat lunch with the two men, in addition to his team. Jack grabbed lunch and made his way through the scattered tables to slide in next to Daniel. “Howdy, campers,” Jack said.
Daniel and Carter exchanged grins. “Jack,” Daniel replied evenly. “Did you have a good morning?”
Jack shrugged, determinedly not looking at Sandburg, since most of his morning had been spent in a meeting with Hammond about Sandburg and Ellison. “Meetings, you know. You?”
“Translations,” Daniel replied happily. “I think I’ve made some progress.
Sandburg asked Daniel what he’d been working on, and Jack tuned them out, focusing instead on Ellison, who was making his way through his meal with single-minded purpose, his eyes still unfocused.
Teal’c approached the table, moving more quietly than someone of his size to do might be expected to move. “Detective Ellison,” he rumbled. “May I sit next to you?”
Ellison’s head came up. “Uh, sure. Teal’c, right?”
“That is correct. You have a good ear,” Teal’c replied, taking the seat on the other side of Ellison.
Daniel was still chattering at Sandburg. Since they were sitting next to each other, it was easy for them to shut out everybody else. Jack was a little closer to Teal’c and Ellison, so he listened in to their conversation almost against his will.
“Your eyesight is better,” Teal’c observed.
Ellison shrugged. “Things aren’t quite as dark, but I can’t make much out. Vague shapes, maybe, but not enough to be of use.”
“You survived,” Teal’c replied equably. “Sometimes, that’s as much as we can do.”
Ellison made a noncommittal sound.
Teal’c raised an eyebrow; Jack figured Ellison’s only defense against the eyebrow was being functionally blind. “You do not agree?”
Ellison shrugged. “If I’d been doing my job, I would have escaped.”
“And if escape was not possible?” Teal’c countered.
Ellison blinked, almost as though he’d never thought about that possibility. “I don’t-”
“There were three four-person teams brought in to rescue you, along with a group of Marines and personnel from a nearby military base,” Teal’c pointed out reasonably. “Would you accuse us of not doing our jobs, or being unprepared?”
“No,” Ellison replied immediately. “You got me out, didn’t you?”
Teal’c kept his silence, and even though Ellison couldn’t see Teal’c’s expression, he seemed to read Teal’c’s attitude easily enough. “I hear you,” he muttered.
Sandburg glanced at Ellison and grinned at that comment, and Jack suspected it was a private joke between them.
“Shut up, Sandburg,” Ellison muttered.
Sandburg’s grin grew wider. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I can hear you thinking, Chief,” Ellison said with an amused grin. “But your point is taken, as is yours, Teal’c.”
“Good,” Teal’c intoned.
Jack noticed that Ellison didn’t have any pie on his plate. “Ellison, the pie is pretty good here.”
Jim’s head came up. “Blair, you didn’t tell me there was pie.”
“Dr. Frasier said to go easy on the food, man,” Sandburg replied. “I wasn’t sure your stomach would be up to it.”
“Get one slice and I’ll give you what I can’t eat,” Ellison replied.
Sandburg heaved a sigh, but he was smiling. “Milk this for all its worth, Jim. I’m done playing errand boy as soon as your sight is back.”
Ellison grinned. “So you say.”
The bickering felt normal, easy, and it told Jack a lot about their partnership. In a sense, it put Jack at ease.
When Sandburg returned, it was with a piece of apple pie, which Sandburg announced with a certain amount of smugness. “There’s fruit, so it’s at least a little healthier.”
“You know, Dr. Frasier said I was supposed to gain weight,” Ellison replied smugly.
“Eating regular decent meals will take care of that,” Sandburg said. “That’s no excuse to eat Wonderburger and pie all the time.”
“What is Wonderburger?” Teal’c asked.
Ellison grinned. “It’s the food of the gods.”
Sandburg snorted. “It’s a heart attack on a platter, is what it is. It’ll kill you.”
“Ah, is this fast food?” Teal’c asked.
“The best fast food,” Ellison insisted.
Sandburg rolled his eyes, but Jack could see the relief in the smile that tilted his lips. “That’s debatable.”
“No, it’s not, Chief,” Ellison insisted.
Jack grinned. “You know, I’ve had Wonderburger. I have to agree with Ellison.”
Ellison grinned broadly. “See, Sandburg? Finally, a discriminating opinion.”
Sandburg laughed, relaxing even further, and Jack suspected he was seeing a normal reaction from Ellison; it was a far cry from the distant, shell-shocked man they’d rescued.
He understood Sandburg’s relief. Jack had been on a number of tough missions where he’d been grateful for any sign that his team members were back to normal.
Carter grinned. “I don’t know if you could call Colonel O’Neill’s opinion ‘discriminating.’”
The conversation at that point devolved into good-natured ribbing, which Jack joined on occasion, although he mostly watched the others. Ellison stayed relatively quiet as well, but he participated enough for Jack not to worry too much.
“You know, Blair, I could use your help this afternoon,” Daniel said. “I’ve got a few artifacts from off-world that seem to be related to Mayan culture. Your area of expertise is South America, right?”
Sandburg hesitated. “That’s one of my areas of expertise.”
“Would you mind?” Daniel prodded.
Sandburg cast an anxious look at Ellison. “I don’t-”
“Go,” Ellison said quietly. “It’s not often you get to use your skills in anthropology.”
Sandburg shifted, and Carter said, “Why don’t you come join me in my lab, Jim?”
Ellison frowned. “I don’t want to take you away from your work,” he protested. “I distracted you enough this morning.”
“I’m just running some simulations,” Carter replied. “I could use the company.”
Ellison nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“Absolutely.” Carter smiled, and Jack had to suppress the surge of jealousy he felt. He didn’t have the right, and unless one of them decided to retire, there was no chance.
Jack supposed that at least if Carter started seeing Ellison, the gossip on base about him and Carter would end.
At least, he hoped so. Carter didn’t need that kind of trouble.
~~~~~
Jim relaxed in Sam’s lab, listening as she puttered. “Thanks for putting up with me,” he said. “I know how much Blair misses anthropology and research.”
“He’s a good detective,” Sam replied. “He was the one who helped me narrow down the location for where they were holding you.”
“Blair is the best detective I’ve ever worked with,” Jim admitted roughly. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
Sam let the silence linger, and Jim was grateful for the quiet, and the company. He hadn’t been lying; he wanted to give Blair the space to enjoy the chance to use his anthropology skills, but he hadn’t wanted to be alone either. Sam had offered the perfect opportunity.
“Tell me about what you’re working on,” Jim said. “If you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all,” Sam said. “But it’s pretty advanced physics.”
Jim hesitated, and then admitted, “I’d appreciate hearing someone else’s voice, and talking about physics is a lot better than hearing people talk about how much they’d like to dissect me.”
He felt Sam’s wince, even if he couldn’t see it, and he quickly apologized. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have-”
“No,” Sam said quickly. “We’ve all-well, we’ve all been captured and tortured before. I won’t say I know how you feel, but I can empathize.”
Jim felt some of his tension ease. “Yeah?”
“Definitely,” Sam assured him. “I’m pretty sure you’re not part of the SGC until you’ve either been imprisoned, tortured, or subjected to a weird alien ritual.”
He laughed.
“Oh, I’m serious,” Sam protested.
“Too bad I haven’t been offered a job,” Jim said. “I’d have my initiation over with.”
“Haven’t you?” Sam countered, and then Jim heard her swallow. “Sorry. You didn’t hear me say that.”
Jim frowned. “Sandburg said they’d made the offer to him, but I didn’t think they’d want me until my sight was back.”
Sam sighed. “All I know is that General Hammond has put a few things in motion. I think he wants to make the pitch as soon as Janet clears you.”
“But you were the one to offer continued protection,” Jim objected. “I’m assuming that someone asked you to do that.”
Sam laughed. “You’re sharp.”
“It’s served me well,” Jim admitted. “Just because they screwed with my senses doesn’t mean my brain is off line. So?”
“General Hammond thought you might respond better to me,” she admitted.
“Well, Blair says you’re very attractive, but I’m not sure what that has to do with anything, since my eyesight is still shot.”
Jim thought he might actually be able to feel the rising heat in Sam’s face, and that scared him. He’d thought he was sensitive before, but Jim was beginning to suspect that his senses were that much more acute now.
He’d had things under control before the NID kidnapped him; the idea that he might have to start over from scratch freaked him out.
Blair was going to want to run a bunch of tests to establish a new baseline, and Jim probably wouldn’t even protest all that much. He wanted control back.
Sam cleared her throat. “I was there when we got you out,” she finally said. “And if it wasn’t me, it would be Daniel. General Hammond doesn’t usually send Jack or Teal’c in when there’s any kind of finesse required.”
Jim chuckled. “I wanted to ask you about Teal’c, actually,” he said. “He’s-not human, is he?”
“No, he’s not,” Sam replied quietly. “He’s on our side, though. How did you know?”
Jim shrugged. “I can’t put my finger on it. It was almost like I was getting two heart beats from him.”
“Teal’c’s been a good friend to us,” Sam insisted
Jim sighed. “The guys that grabbed me were human,” he said softly. “What they did to me-maybe they thought they had a reason. I don’t know. But I do know that Teal’c loaned me his jacket, and he’s been nothing but kind to me since I got here. I don’t care where he came from. I just wanted to be sure that I wasn’t going crazy.”
“You’re definitely not going crazy,” Sam assured him. “I’m just used to people getting worked up about Teal’c being an alien.”
“What? Wanting to dissect him?” Jim asked. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“No, I guess you wouldn’t,” Sam replied. “And yeah, that’s been tried.”
Jim shifted uncomfortably, knowing that there probably wasn’t much that separated him from Teal’c. Maybe Teal’c was an alien, but it wasn’t too much of a leap to decide that Jim wasn’t worthy of protection because he was different when they’d already decided that they could do whatever they wanted to Teal’c.
“That’s not going to happen,” Sam insisted, as though sensing-or seeing-his discomfort, “not if we can help it.”
“But you can’t help it if we go back to Cascade, can you?” Jim asked.
Sam sighed. “No, we can’t.”
“Tell me something, Sam, and be honest with me.”
“If I can, I will,” she agreed.
“Do you think they’ll come after Blair?”
Jim could feel her hesitation, but he didn’t say anything. He just waited for her to respond, wondering if she’d tell him the truth, although he somehow knew that he’d be able to sense if she were lying.
“I think it’s entirely possible,” Sam finally replied. “This group seems to think that Blair might have some special abilities.”
“Yeah,” Jim said heavily. “That’s what I thought.”
And Jim would do whatever it took to keep Blair safe, even if it meant packing up and leaving Cascade.
~~~~~
Blair roused when he heard the insistent knocking on his door. He rolled out of bed, too sleepy to care that he was answering the door in boxers and a t-shirt. When he opened the door, he saw Jim standing there, a broad grin on his face.
“Jim?”
“Hey, Sandburg.”
The import of Jim standing there slowly didn’t immediately penetrate Blair’s sleep-fogged mind. “What time is it?”
“It’s a little after six,” he said, the grin never wavering.
Blair blinked. “Wait. Your eyesight?”
“Not completely back to normal, but a lot better,” Jim confessed.
Blair stepped aside and waved Jim in. “What do you mean, you’re not completely back to normal?”
“My eyesight is still a little fuzzy,” Jim admitted, and then joked, “Maybe I need glasses.”
Blair’s eyes narrowed. “No, I don’t think so. Sit down.”
Jim hesitated. “Janet said to see her if there were any changes.”
“We’ve got time for this,” Blair insisted. “And if I’m right, this is going to make her job a lot easier. So, sit.” When Jim still seemed reluctant, Blair asked, “Do you trust me?”
“I told you I did,” Jim said peevishly.
Blair put his hands on Jim’s shoulders and pushed him to sit on the bed. “Okay, so I know we haven’t talked about the report from those bastards who took you, but I have a couple of theories.”
Jim’s jaw tensed. “Go ahead.”
Blair sighed. Jim hadn’t wanted to talk about the report, or about the job offer. He kept saying that Blair could fill him in once his sight was back, and now here they were. Jim’s sight was back, and Blair had to explain what he’d gathered from the report.
“The NID-or whoever-wanted to isolate the gene that’s responsible for your senses,” Blair began. “And we think they’re interested in trying to trigger other people with the potential to come online. I think-I think as a part of their research they tried to make your senses sharper.”
“How does me going blind fit into it?” Jim demanded.
“I don’t think it does,” Blair admitted. “But I also think that was just a side effect. Right now, I think you’ve maybe lost your baseline. Where are your dials?”
For a minute, Blair didn’t think Jim would answer, and then he shrugged. “Maybe a four, but it’s hard to keep them there.”
“Okay, so I’m going to walk you through a meditation exercise, and we’re going to try to get a new baseline for your senses,” Blair said. “If I’m wrong, you should be really relaxed by the end of this. If I’m right, your sight should be back to normal.”
Jim shrugged good-naturedly. “Let’s do it, then.”
By this point, Jim was an old hand at the meditation exercises, and Blair easily talked him into a light trance. “Okay, we’re going to start with touch,” Blair said. “I know this is going to be uncomfortable, but I want you to dial all the way up. That’s right, Jim. All the way up, until the dial is set at ten. I’m going to be right here the whole time. If you get too uncomfortable, all you have to do is dial down.”
Jim stiffened, and then said in a distant voice, “I can feel each thread in the fabric against my skin. I can feel-air currents, your breath, everything.”
“Good,” Blair said. “Now, dial it back slowly. Down, down, until you’re at a normal level. Where’s the dial, Jim?”
“Three.”
“Good,” Blair said. “We’re going to go to smell next.”
Blair walked him through each of his other senses, saving sight for last. “Okay, Jim, you’re going to need to open your eyes for this one. I want you to open your eyes, and then I want you to dial up your sight, all the way up.”
He heard Jim’s sharp intake of breath and couldn’t help asking, “What do you see?”
“Dust motes in the air,” Jim said, sounding almost drugged. “The pulse in your neck. The pores in your skin. I think-I think I can see your skin cells.”
Blair swallowed. “That’s great, Jim. Now, I want you to close your eyes and dial your sight back until it’s normal range. Take it back to a three.”
When Jim nodded, Blair let out a breath. “Great. When you open your eyes, you’re going to be well rested and in a really good mood.”
Jim let out a breath. “I think trying to hypnotize me into a better mood is cheating.”
Blair grinned. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. How do you feel?”
“Good,” Jim admitted. “My eyesight is back to normal.”
Blair couldn’t find it in himself to be pleased by that news. “Jim-”
“Why couldn’t they have taken the senses away?” Jim demanded. “If they were going to fuck with things, why would they do this?”
Blair couldn’t think of any response, so he held his tongue.
“I hate this,” Jim said. “Ever since they grabbed me, the dials have been hard to control. Even now, it’s-it’s difficult. I feel like I’m going to zone or spike all the time.”
Blair winced. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Jim replied. “Look, I should really see the doctor. Will I see you for breakfast?”
“I’ll be there,” Blair promised.
Jim rose to his feet. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Jim had his hand on the doorknob when Blair found the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing him for the last couple of days. “Jim? What about the job offer?”
Jim let out a breath. “I don’t know yet. I won’t make a decision without you.”
“Okay,” Blair replied, knowing that he couldn’t ask for more than that.
There was a part of him that wanted nothing more than for Jim to agree to Hammond’s job offer. The idea that he could go back to anthropology, get his doctorate, and still be Jim’s partner was incredibly seductive.
And yet, Blair couldn’t see Jim leaving Cascade, and Blair knew he could never ask.
Part IV
Sam stopped by the infirmary on her way to the lab the next morning. Blair was asleep in the chair next to Jim’s bed, and Jim seemed to be down for the count, too. Janet waved her over as soon as she saw Sam.
“How are they?” Sam asked.
“I was just about ready to wake Jim up for breakfast,” Janet replied. “I suspect that he’ll sleep a lot over the next few days.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Sam said. “Do you think his sight will come back?”
Janet shook her head, looking disgusted. “I managed to isolate twelve different drugs still present in his system. Twelve, Sam. Some of those drugs will take weeks to fully metabolize. It might take that long for him to regain his sight, or it might take days. I have no idea.”
“Shit,” Sam said with feeling.
“That was my reaction,” Janet agreed. “It’s a mess, any way you put it. I wish I could order them to stay on the mountain, just so I could oversee Jim’s recovery, but I can’t. They could decide to head home tomorrow, and I wouldn’t be able to stop them.”
“General Hammond wants me to convince them to continue accepting protective custody,” Sam responded.
Janet shook her heads. “I’ll give you even odds on that. They’re both stubborn.”
Sam grinned. “Unlike anyone else here.”
Janet laughed. “Granted. I’m going to call for breakfast. Maybe you can convince Blair to take a break.”
“Not likely,” Sam replied. “But I’ll give it a try.”
She approached the bed slowly, having no desire to alarm either man. Jim’s eyes opened, although from the way he focused on a spot just above Sam’s right shoulder, he still hadn’t regained his sight. “Hey,” she said. “It’s Sam. How are you feeling?”
“I’ve felt worse,” he said philosophically. He fumbled for the controls to the bed, starting when Blair’s hand closed over his. “Blair?”
“Right here, man,” Blair assured him. “I’m going to adjust the bed, okay?”
“Yeah, that would be good,” Jim agreed.
Sam hovered near the side of the bed. “Janet said she was going to call for breakfast for you, Jim, and she wanted me to convince Blair to take a break.”
Blair immediately shook his head. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Chief, I’ll be fine,” Jim said softly. “You should go-get something to eat. Get cleaned up?”
Sam grinned at the emphasis Jim placed on that last suggestion, and Blair pulled a face. “So, you’re saying I stink?”
“Well, I didn’t say it,” Jim replied with a smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“I can stay,” Sam offered. “If that would make you feel better.”
Blair let out a breath. “Yeah, that would. Jim?”
“I’m not made of glass,” Jim replied irritably.
“No, you’re not,” Blair agreed cheerfully. “But Jim, I just spent the last two and a half months worried about you. I can’t turn it off that easily.”
Jim sighed. “Yeah, some company would be nice.”
Sam smiled. “I’m really very good company.”
“I’m sure you are,” Jim replied with a smile that transformed his face, making him look younger.
Blair rose, offering Sam his seat. “I guess I’ll go get cleaned up, then. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Blair,” Jim called. “Go outside. Get some fresh air, okay? I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Blair hesitated, but he finally sighed. “I’ll be back soon.” He patted Jim’s shoulder awkwardly before he left.
“How’s your sight?” Sam asked quietly.
Jim shrugged. “Better, actually. Things seem to be getting a little lighter around the edges.”
“Improvement,” Sam replied.
“I’ll take just about anything at this point,” Jim replied. “And the rest of my senses seem to be settling down. I’ve got better control now.” He shifted a little. “I feel like I should say thank you. Sandburg said you were the one who figured out where I was.”
“It was a team effort,” she insisted. “Blair helped.”
Jim chuckled. “You know, this is pretty much exactly how it always goes down.”
“How what goes down?” Sam asked.
“Blair downplays his role, and I talk to the people he claims are responsible for getting something done, and it turns out Blair’s done a lot of the work.” Jim shook his head. “It’s par for the course. Anyway, thanks.”
Sam shrugged, and then realized Jim couldn’t see her. “I’m just glad we could get you out.”
She was saved from having to come up with another topic of conversation by the arrival of Jim’s breakfast tray. She watched as the orderly set the tray up, but she could see the renewed tension in Jim’s posture. She thought she understood the source.
“There’s a glass of orange juice at one o’clock, three inches from the far side of the tray,” Sam said quietly. “There’s a mug of coffee just to the left. Your left. On the plate, there’s toast at ten o’clock, scrambled eggs at six o’clock, and bacon at three o’clock. The fork is on your right, near the edge of the tray.”
Jim let out a long breath. “Thanks.”
He managed fairly well, and Sam resolutely ignored the way Jim’s hand shook slightly. He was halfway through his toast when he asked, “So, why Air Force?”
“I wanted to go to space,” Sam admitted. “And NASA tends to pick Air Force officers for space missions.”
Jim finished off a piece of bacon. “And you got to go to space.”
“How much did Blair tell you?” Sam asked.
Jim smiled wryly. “Not all that much, but he did mention that you guys were affiliated with the space program in some way.”
“As soon as you sign a nondisclosure agreement, we can probably read you in,” Sam replied. “Especially considering that General Hammond wanted me to offer continued protection.”
Jim paused mid-bite, but he chewed and swallowed his bite of eggs before saying, “You think they’ll come after me again.”
“We don’t know,” Sam admitted. “But Janet said she’d feel better if she could keep an eyes on your recovery.”
Jim smiled briefly. “I think I’d feel better if she could keep an eyes on my recovery,” he admitted. “She’s a scary lady, but she also knows exactly what’s going on with me. That’s rare in my line of work.”
“She’s one of the best doctors in the country,” Sam offered. “The SGC only hires the best.”
“Good to know,” Jim replied. “I’m assuming that applies to you, as well.”
Sam flushed. “Ah, I guess?”
Jim chuckled. “So, what is it you’re best at?”
“Officially?” Sam asked. “Deep space telemetry.”
“Unofficially?”
“Worm hole physics,” Sam replied. “I’m pretty much the expert.”
“And what does an expert in worm hole physics have to do with a rogue organization that would kidnap a Sentinel?” Jim asked.
“We have a history with the NID, and its rogue elements,” Sam replied. “And not a great one. If we can put a spoke in their wheel, we’re going to do it.”
Jim smiled. “Fair enough. I guess that worked out well for me, then.”
“Even if we hadn’t been inclined to stop these particular bad guys, we would have pulled you out. We’re not in the business of letting anybody get tortured.” Sam watched as Jim cleaned his plate. “Once you’re feeling better, maybe you’d want to go over the results they came up with.”
Jim fiddled with his fork. “Yeah, maybe.”
“You don’t have to,” Sam was quick to assure him. “It’s completely up to you.”
Jim glanced away, and then back in Sam’s direction. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
“And you don’t have to, if that’s your choice,” Sam assured him.
Jim nodded. “You mind if we change the subject?”
“Not at all,” Sam replied. “What do you want to talk about?”
“You know anything about basketball?” Jim asked hopefully.
“Not really,” Sam admitted. “Sorry.”
“What do you do for fun?” Jim asked.
Sam smiled. “I have a motorcycle.”
Jim grinned widely. “What kind?”
~~~~~
Blair took a deep breath, grateful for the fresh air. Jim often seemed to know what he needed before he knew, and this occasion was no different. After more than a full day in the same clothing, Blair had needed a shower, a decent meal, and a little time under the wide-open sky, even if he had to hike a bit to get there. The mountain air was sharp and cold, even invigorating, and Blair took another deep breath.
He had Jim back, and he needed to call Simon.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Simon’s number. “Banks,” came Simon’s familiar voice.
“Simon, it’s Blair,” he said. “I have Jim.”
Blair heard Simon’s sigh of relief. “Thank God,” Simon said fervently. “How is he?”
“Blind,” Blair replied briefly. “We think it’s a drug interaction.”
“Like when he was exposed to Golden?” Simon asked.
“Something like that,” Blair agreed. “The doctor here is treating him. She thinks Jim will probably regain his sight as the drugs move out of his system.”
“That’s good news,” Simon replied. “So when are you coming home?”
Blair sighed. “I don’t know. They aren’t sure the same group won’t come after us again.”
“Damn,” Simon murmured. “So, you don’t know when you’ll be back.”
“I wish I did,” Blair assured him. “But I’ll definitely keep you up to date, Simon.”
Simon sighed gustily. “I want frequent updates,” he insisted. “I mean it, Sandburg.”
“Yes, sir,” Blair replied. “I promise.”
“How is he otherwise?” Simons asked.
Blair pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. “He was tortured for more than two months. He’s not great.”
“But he’ll be okay?”
“I think so,” Blair agreed. “He seems to be bouncing back. I’d like him to stay here as long as the drugs are in his system, though. The doctor here knows about Jim’s senses. She knows what happened to him. I think she should probably oversee his recovery.”
“Fair enough,” Simon replied. “Just let me know what’s going on, and have him call me when he gets the chance.”
“Yes, sir,” Blair replied. “Don’t worry, Simon. We’re in good hands.”
“Thanks for letting me know what’s going on,” Simon responded. “I’ll talk to you soon, Blair.”
Blair hung up and tipped his head back, looking up at the cloudless sky. He wondered why he wasn’t more homesick; while there were things he missed about Cascade-Simon, the other guys from Major Crimes, the view from the loft-he was content to be here.
Probably because he could get on the elevator, go down a few hundred feet, and find Jim in the infirmary. Oddly enough, even the presence of so many soldiers didn’t bother him, because he knew that anyone coming after Jim now would have to go through a lot of armed resistance first.
What if they did go back home, only to find out in a month or two that this group wasn’t done with Jim yet? Or what if-some little voice in the back of Blair’s head prompted-what if they were done with Jim, but they wanted Blair now? Maybe they got all the data they needed on Jim, but that wasn’t true of Blair.
He hated the idea of having to look over his shoulder all the time, waiting for the other shoe to drop, never knowing when they’d hit next.
With a sigh, Blair headed back into the mountain, stopping at the check-in desk. “General Hammond would like to see you, Mr. Sandburg,” the very young MP stated. “Just head down to his office.”
Blair grimaced, but he knew he couldn’t refuse an invitation from a general. “I’m on my way now,” he promised.
O’Neill was sitting across from Hammond when Blair entered, and he nodded sharply. “Sandburg.”
“Good morning, sir,” Blair replied. “General Hammond. I was told you wanted to see me?”
“Dr. Frasier tells me that Detective Ellison is doing much better,” Hammond replied. “She’s hopeful that he’ll make a full recovery.”
That wasn’t news to him, so Blair just nodded.
“There is some concern that this group might try again,” Hammond continued.
Blair ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, sir. That’s something I’ve thought about.”
“Colonel O’Neill and I have been talking. We can, of course, continue to offer protective custody,” Hammond said.
Blair shook his head. “No offense, sir, you guys have been great, but we can’t stay here long-term. It would feel too much like a prison sentence.”
“I thought you might say that,” Hammond replied. “The alternative would be to offer you a job-you and Detective Ellison.”
Blair was taken aback. He had half-expected a job offer once Jim’s senses were back under control-assuming Jim did get his senses under control. The fact that they were offering now told Blair that whatever information they had, there were some serious repercussions to consider.
“I appreciate the offer,” Blair began slowly. “But what would we be doing?”
“We hire anthropologists and archaeologists on a regular basis,” Hammond replied. “Dr. Jackson was very impressed by your list of achievements.”
Blair shook his head. “I’m a detective, General. I’m not a doctor of anything.”
“What if you could submit and defend your original dissertation?” Hammond countered. “Most of our scientists here still publish, but their work is labeled classified, and isn’t released to the public, although we have agreements with a couple of universities.”
Blair wondered if General Hammond knew he’d just offered Blair everything he wanted on a platter. He liked being a cop, and he hadn’t wanted to give up the roller coaster of police work for the classroom full time, but this-
This was his doctorate, visiting other planets, and working with people who knew about Jim and his abilities. It meant that maybe Blair could be one of those who helped shut down the bastards who had hurt Jim so badly for good.
Of course, that was assuming that Jim would be willing to leave Cascade.
“What about Jim?” Blair asked. “We’re kind of a matched set.”
“Actually, Ellison transferred to the individual ready reserves when he left the Army,” O’Neill replied. “We can reactivate his commission with a little paperwork.”
Blair’s eyes widened. “You mean the Army could have called him back?”
“Technically, they could have, but it’s highly unlikely,” O’Neill replied. “Ellison was an officer, so without officially resigning his commission, he’d be automatically transferred to the IRR. Reactivating him would be a pain in the ass, especially after what Colonel Oliver had to say about him.”
“Oliver was a crook!” Blair protested.
“The Army knows that now,” General Hammond said. “But that evidence didn’t come to light until fairly recently, and there was no reason to recall Detective Ellison to active duty.”
Blair blew out a breath. “Why are you asking me now? We don’t even know if Jim’s sight is going to come back yet.”
“Dr. Frasier has every confidence that it will,” Hammond replied. “And I trust her judgment on matters such as this. Beyond that, however, we have the report that Dr. Frasier and Sergeant Naismith put together from the data gathered from Detective Ellison.”
Blair accepted the plastic-bound report that Hammond held out. “What am I looking at?”
“We believe they isolated the Sentinel gene, and that they have the technology to activate it in those who show only potential, which means they’ll be able to identify active Sentinels and create new ones,” O’Neill replied.
Blair shook his head. “That’s impossible. The technology required for that kind of gene sequencing, that quickly-”
“Isn’t from Earth,” O’Neill finished. “And we have some evidence that they’ve managed to access the DNA database set up for identification of military personnel.”
Blair shook his head. “What good would that do?”
“They were working to enhance Ellison’s senses,” Hammond said quietly. “Dr. Frasier believes they may have succeeded. And if they managed to do that, they can certainly identify those who have the potential to become a Sentinel and activate the gene, even enhance it.”
Blair swallowed, suddenly sick to his stomach. He thought about Alex, whose senses had come online after a period of solitary confinement, and of Jim, who’d believed he’d been going crazy when he’d come online this last time. What would happen to the men or women these assholes managed to activate? How far would this group go to control new Sentinels?
“You want me around as an expert,” Blair said slowly. “Jim and me. Just in case they manage to activate a bunch of Sentinels.”
“We can’t deny it would be helpful,” Hammond replied. “But beyond that, Detective Ellison’s enhanced senses could be of great help.”
Blair nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll have to talk this over with Jim.”
“Please do,” General Hammond replied. “You can wait until he has his sight back to give him the report, or you can read it to him. Once he’s feeling better, I’ll make him the same offer I’ve made you.”
Blair glanced down at the report. “Thank you. I’d like to go check on Jim now.”
“Of course, son,” General Hammond replied.
Normally, Blair didn’t much like it when anyone called him “son,” but he didn’t really mind it coming out of Hammond’s mouth. It felt sincere.
Hammond would be a good guy to work for, Blair thought. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to leave Cascade, even for the promise of his doctorate and alien worlds.
Blair made his way to the infirmary in a daze, wondering just what he was supposed to tell Jim. Waiting until Jim had his sight back to share the report was out of the question. Blair knew Jim well enough to know he wouldn’t respond well to any attempt on Blair’s part to protect him.
Then again, was it worth bringing up the job offer before they knew for certain whether Jim’s sight would come back in full?
Blair had been gone from the infirmary long enough that he wasn’t sure Sam would still be with Jim. She’d promised to stay, but Blair knew she was busy, and Blair been delayed by his meeting with Hammond
Sam had stuck around, though, sitting next to Jim’s bed, holding a rather enthusiastic conversation with him. Blair paused, realizing that this was the most animated he’d seen Jim since the rescue. Granted, not that much time had passed, but Jim had been scarily passive the last couple of days. He’d been expecting Jim to lose his temper, or to get cranky about the restrictions Janet had placed on him, and there had been nothing.
Blair edged a little closer, wanting to know what they were talking about without interrupting. To his surprise, Jim was asking about motorcycles, and Sam was talking about her Harley.
“When your eyesight is back to normal, you should come riding with me,” Sam said. “I’ve got a 1940 Indian, too. It’s good for your mental health.”
Blair felt a pang, realizing that Jim was essentially setting up a date. If they took the job offer with the SGC, maybe Jim and Sam would start something up. Blair didn’t much like the idea, but he chalked that up to missing his roommate, and not wanting Jim to get hurt. The last thing Jim needed now was another failed relationship, or another person who couldn’t accept Jim for who and what he was.
Jim smiled. “I’d like that. It’s been years since I was on a bike.”
“But you surf,” Sam said. “I should have known you’d ridden motorcycles.”
Jim grinned and shrugged. “It’s been longer than I’d like to admit since I’ve been on a bike or a surfboard.” His head swung unerringly in Blair’s direction. “Look who’s back.”
Sam grinned. “Hey, Blair. Have a nice walk?”
“Yeah, it was good to get some fresh air,” Blair agreed. “Jim, we should go outside as soon as Dr. Frasier releases you.”
Jim nodded hesitantly. “I’d like that.”
“I should get going,” Sam said, briefly clasping Jim’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to you later?”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Jim replied.
Blair threw himself into the chair that Sam had just vacated. “Jim, you dog,” he said with a grin.
Jim rolled his eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The gorgeous Major Carter?” Blair prompted.
Jim grimaced. “She’s a really nice lady, but I can’t say whether she’s gorgeous.”
“Take it from me, man,” Blair said in a low voice. “She’s tall, blonde, and dangerous-just your type, other than the whole not trying to kill you part.”
Jim laughed. “Yeah, well, I thought I’d turn over a new leaf.” He sighed. “Seriously, Chief. We have no idea how long it’s going to take for my sight to come back.”
“So we’re accepting their offer of protective custody,” Blair said quietly.
“I am,” Jim admitted. “At least until my sight comes back.”
Blair nodded. “I think that’s a good idea,” he admitted. “I have Frasier’s report on what those assholes did, and what they found.”
“What does it say?” Jim asked.
“I haven’t read it yet. I can read it to you, or I can read it and summarize it for you until you can read it yourself,” Blair said. “It’s up to you.”
Jim hesitated, and then said, “Read it for me? I trust you’ll tell me what I need to know.”
Blair couldn’t quite believe that he was worthy of that sort of trust, but he reached out to squeeze Jim’s hand. “Yeah, sure. You can read all of it for yourself when you’re better.”
Jim nodded. “It’s not quite as dark as it was. I think my eyesight is improving, and the rest of the dials are easier to control.”
“Good,” Blair said fervently. “That’s great news, Jim.”
He was about to tell Jim of the job offer, but Dr. Frasier approached. “Well, Jim, are you ready to get out of here?”
“Is that a trick question?” Jim joked. “Because your hospitality has been great, doc.”
Frasier laughed. “That’s good to hear. I want to see you back here tomorrow, just to check your progress, but I suspect you’re ready for a shower and some privacy. I’ve already checked, and there are base quarters waiting for you right next door to Blair.”
Jim smiled. “Thanks.”
“I’m just going to get one more sample of blood, and then I’ll send you on your way,” she said.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a vampire,” Jim replied, although he obligingly held out an arm.
She snorted. “You and half the base. You’ll let me know if you have any problems.” Her tone made it an order, rather than a suggestion.
“Of course,” Jim promised. “Thanks, doc.”
She finished drawing blood and patted Jim on the shoulder. “Don’t mention it. I don’t think I have to say this, but I’d recommend that you not wander around the base by yourself.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon,” Jim replied ruefully.
Frasier smiled. “Well, Blair knows the procedure by now. I’d like to see you gain back a few pounds before I release you from my care, but don’t overdo it. I don’t want you getting sick. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You got it,” Jim replied.
There was an airman waiting to escort them to Jim’s quarters, and Blair was glad to see that Dr. Frasier was right. Jim’s room was right next to his. “Do you want me to stay?” Blair asked as he escorted Jim inside and closed the door behind them.
“Yeah,” Jim said gratefully. “I don’t suppose you brought any of my clothing with you.”
Blair grimaced. “No, I’m sorry. I should have. It’s not that I didn’t think we’d get you back, it’s just-” He stopped, uncertain of how much he could or should say.
He really had believed they’d get Jim back. It was just that he hadn’t thought of something so mundane as a change of clothes or toiletries in the face of the larger issue.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jim said.
“I can go grab my stuff,” Blair offered. “I’ve got more than enough for both of us.”
“I don’t think your clothes are going to fit me, Chief,” Jim said with a smile. “No matter how much weight I’ve lost.”
Blair smirked. “I meant toiletries, Jim. It looks like someone has left a couple of uniforms at the end of the bed, so you don’t have to worry about clothes.”
Some indefinable emotion passed over Jim’s face, but he didn’t argue. “Thanks.”
Blair hurried to collect the things Jim would need, and then let himself back into Jim’s room without knocking. Jim was still standing where Blair had left him, his expression so lost that Blair’s heart ached.
When Jim’s sight had been compromised by the Golden, he’d soldiered on, undaunted, intent on bringing down the ring of drug dealers even though he couldn’t see. Now, Jim seemed bewildered, and uncharacteristically passive. Blair wondered if the NID had managed to break him.
“You okay, man?” he asked softly.
Jim shrugged. “As okay as I can be.”
“I know you want to go home,” Blair began, “but I think we should wait at least until your sight comes back.”
“If it comes back,” Jim replied bitterly.
“Hey, you said it was already getting better,” Blair objected. “And Dr. Frasier said it was just a matter of time.”
“She said it was probably a matter of time, but I already said I’d stay, didn’t I?” Jim shook himself, as though he could throw off the doubts that plagued him. “You mind putting that stuff in the shower?”
Blair approached Jim slowly, and put a gentle hand under his elbow. “Yeah, sure. Come on, I’ll show you where everything is.”
There was a towel hanging over the bar already, and Blair pointed it out to Jim. He set the shampoo and soap on the small shelf, and took Jim’s hand to indicate where everything was. “If you want some help shaving, I can give you a hand,” he offered diffidently.
Jim ran a hand over his face. “It’s been a few days,” he acknowledged. “You don’t have an electric razor, do you?”
“No, I don’t,” Blair replied. “Is that what you used?”
“Every few days they’d let me shower and shave,” Jim replied, sounding a little distant. “They kept an eye on me, though.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Blair asked. “I can go back to my room.”
Jim smiled gently. “No. It’s-I’d feel better knowing you’re guarding the door.”
“Anything you need,” Blair promised fervently. “I mean that.”
Jim’s smile widened. “I know you do, Chief.” He touched Blair’s cheek gently. “I’ll let you know about the shaving thing.”
Blair left him then, collapsing back onto the bed and rubbing his hands over his face. He heard the water begin to run, and he wondered how long it was going to take for Jim to get back to normal-if he ever would.
Blair wasn’t going to hold his breath on that point.
The water ran for a long time, but Blair didn’t blame Jim for needing the break. He was probably relishing the privacy, and the chance to get clean.
When Jim emerged, it was in a cloud of steam with a towel wrapped around his waist. His state of undress underscored just how much weight Jim had lost, and Blair winced but didn’t say anything. Just as he’d done on the plane, Blair handed Jim the bundle of clothing, boxers on top, so that Jim could put each article on in order.
“Pretty much everybody on base wears a uniform,” Blair began conversationally. “Even the civilian consultants. You’ll blend right in.”
Jim smiled briefly. “That’s good to know.”
Blair turned his head away to give Jim some privacy, even though he hadn’t asked for it, and wouldn’t know. “I thought we could grab some lunch after this.”
“Yeah, sure,” Jim said, his voice muffled briefly.
Blair glanced over to see Jim pulling his t-shirt down over his chest. “Do you want any help?”
Jim hesitated, but then gave a short nod. “Yeah, I don’t really want to slice my face up, and I don’t trust my hands to stay steady.”
Blair glanced at Jim’s hands, which had a mild tremor. “Sure, Jim. Of course.”
It was a strangely intimate experience to lather Jim’s face while he perched on the closed toilet seat. Blair took a deep breath, willing his nerves to calm and his hands to hold steady. Slowly, carefully, Blair began to scrape the stubble off of Jim’s face with the razor. Jim kept his eyes closed the entire time, and Blair tilted Jim’s head this way and that with careful fingers.
When Blair finished, he carefully wiped every trace of shaving foam off of Jim’s face. He was surprised when Jim reached out and pulled him close, resting his head against Blair’s stomach.
Blair swallowed hard and cupped the back of Jim’s head. “I’ve got you, buddy,” he murmured. “I’m right here.”
~~~~~
Jack walked into the commissary, intent on getting lunch and pie-and not necessarily in that order. As was his habit, he scanned the room as he entered. He spotted Ellison sitting at table on the far side of the room, his back to a corner. Sandburg was in line, juggling two trays, with Carter and Daniel behind him.
He sighed, resigning himself to having to eat lunch with the two men, in addition to his team. Jack grabbed lunch and made his way through the scattered tables to slide in next to Daniel. “Howdy, campers,” Jack said.
Daniel and Carter exchanged grins. “Jack,” Daniel replied evenly. “Did you have a good morning?”
Jack shrugged, determinedly not looking at Sandburg, since most of his morning had been spent in a meeting with Hammond about Sandburg and Ellison. “Meetings, you know. You?”
“Translations,” Daniel replied happily. “I think I’ve made some progress.
Sandburg asked Daniel what he’d been working on, and Jack tuned them out, focusing instead on Ellison, who was making his way through his meal with single-minded purpose, his eyes still unfocused.
Teal’c approached the table, moving more quietly than someone of his size to do might be expected to move. “Detective Ellison,” he rumbled. “May I sit next to you?”
Ellison’s head came up. “Uh, sure. Teal’c, right?”
“That is correct. You have a good ear,” Teal’c replied, taking the seat on the other side of Ellison.
Daniel was still chattering at Sandburg. Since they were sitting next to each other, it was easy for them to shut out everybody else. Jack was a little closer to Teal’c and Ellison, so he listened in to their conversation almost against his will.
“Your eyesight is better,” Teal’c observed.
Ellison shrugged. “Things aren’t quite as dark, but I can’t make much out. Vague shapes, maybe, but not enough to be of use.”
“You survived,” Teal’c replied equably. “Sometimes, that’s as much as we can do.”
Ellison made a noncommittal sound.
Teal’c raised an eyebrow; Jack figured Ellison’s only defense against the eyebrow was being functionally blind. “You do not agree?”
Ellison shrugged. “If I’d been doing my job, I would have escaped.”
“And if escape was not possible?” Teal’c countered.
Ellison blinked, almost as though he’d never thought about that possibility. “I don’t-”
“There were three four-person teams brought in to rescue you, along with a group of Marines and personnel from a nearby military base,” Teal’c pointed out reasonably. “Would you accuse us of not doing our jobs, or being unprepared?”
“No,” Ellison replied immediately. “You got me out, didn’t you?”
Teal’c kept his silence, and even though Ellison couldn’t see Teal’c’s expression, he seemed to read Teal’c’s attitude easily enough. “I hear you,” he muttered.
Sandburg glanced at Ellison and grinned at that comment, and Jack suspected it was a private joke between them.
“Shut up, Sandburg,” Ellison muttered.
Sandburg’s grin grew wider. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I can hear you thinking, Chief,” Ellison said with an amused grin. “But your point is taken, as is yours, Teal’c.”
“Good,” Teal’c intoned.
Jack noticed that Ellison didn’t have any pie on his plate. “Ellison, the pie is pretty good here.”
Jim’s head came up. “Blair, you didn’t tell me there was pie.”
“Dr. Frasier said to go easy on the food, man,” Sandburg replied. “I wasn’t sure your stomach would be up to it.”
“Get one slice and I’ll give you what I can’t eat,” Ellison replied.
Sandburg heaved a sigh, but he was smiling. “Milk this for all its worth, Jim. I’m done playing errand boy as soon as your sight is back.”
Ellison grinned. “So you say.”
The bickering felt normal, easy, and it told Jack a lot about their partnership. In a sense, it put Jack at ease.
When Sandburg returned, it was with a piece of apple pie, which Sandburg announced with a certain amount of smugness. “There’s fruit, so it’s at least a little healthier.”
“You know, Dr. Frasier said I was supposed to gain weight,” Ellison replied smugly.
“Eating regular decent meals will take care of that,” Sandburg said. “That’s no excuse to eat Wonderburger and pie all the time.”
“What is Wonderburger?” Teal’c asked.
Ellison grinned. “It’s the food of the gods.”
Sandburg snorted. “It’s a heart attack on a platter, is what it is. It’ll kill you.”
“Ah, is this fast food?” Teal’c asked.
“The best fast food,” Ellison insisted.
Sandburg rolled his eyes, but Jack could see the relief in the smile that tilted his lips. “That’s debatable.”
“No, it’s not, Chief,” Ellison insisted.
Jack grinned. “You know, I’ve had Wonderburger. I have to agree with Ellison.”
Ellison grinned broadly. “See, Sandburg? Finally, a discriminating opinion.”
Sandburg laughed, relaxing even further, and Jack suspected he was seeing a normal reaction from Ellison; it was a far cry from the distant, shell-shocked man they’d rescued.
He understood Sandburg’s relief. Jack had been on a number of tough missions where he’d been grateful for any sign that his team members were back to normal.
Carter grinned. “I don’t know if you could call Colonel O’Neill’s opinion ‘discriminating.’”
The conversation at that point devolved into good-natured ribbing, which Jack joined on occasion, although he mostly watched the others. Ellison stayed relatively quiet as well, but he participated enough for Jack not to worry too much.
“You know, Blair, I could use your help this afternoon,” Daniel said. “I’ve got a few artifacts from off-world that seem to be related to Mayan culture. Your area of expertise is South America, right?”
Sandburg hesitated. “That’s one of my areas of expertise.”
“Would you mind?” Daniel prodded.
Sandburg cast an anxious look at Ellison. “I don’t-”
“Go,” Ellison said quietly. “It’s not often you get to use your skills in anthropology.”
Sandburg shifted, and Carter said, “Why don’t you come join me in my lab, Jim?”
Ellison frowned. “I don’t want to take you away from your work,” he protested. “I distracted you enough this morning.”
“I’m just running some simulations,” Carter replied. “I could use the company.”
Ellison nodded. “If you’re sure.”
“Absolutely.” Carter smiled, and Jack had to suppress the surge of jealousy he felt. He didn’t have the right, and unless one of them decided to retire, there was no chance.
Jack supposed that at least if Carter started seeing Ellison, the gossip on base about him and Carter would end.
At least, he hoped so. Carter didn’t need that kind of trouble.
~~~~~
Jim relaxed in Sam’s lab, listening as she puttered. “Thanks for putting up with me,” he said. “I know how much Blair misses anthropology and research.”
“He’s a good detective,” Sam replied. “He was the one who helped me narrow down the location for where they were holding you.”
“Blair is the best detective I’ve ever worked with,” Jim admitted roughly. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
Sam let the silence linger, and Jim was grateful for the quiet, and the company. He hadn’t been lying; he wanted to give Blair the space to enjoy the chance to use his anthropology skills, but he hadn’t wanted to be alone either. Sam had offered the perfect opportunity.
“Tell me about what you’re working on,” Jim said. “If you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all,” Sam said. “But it’s pretty advanced physics.”
Jim hesitated, and then admitted, “I’d appreciate hearing someone else’s voice, and talking about physics is a lot better than hearing people talk about how much they’d like to dissect me.”
He felt Sam’s wince, even if he couldn’t see it, and he quickly apologized. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have-”
“No,” Sam said quickly. “We’ve all-well, we’ve all been captured and tortured before. I won’t say I know how you feel, but I can empathize.”
Jim felt some of his tension ease. “Yeah?”
“Definitely,” Sam assured him. “I’m pretty sure you’re not part of the SGC until you’ve either been imprisoned, tortured, or subjected to a weird alien ritual.”
He laughed.
“Oh, I’m serious,” Sam protested.
“Too bad I haven’t been offered a job,” Jim said. “I’d have my initiation over with.”
“Haven’t you?” Sam countered, and then Jim heard her swallow. “Sorry. You didn’t hear me say that.”
Jim frowned. “Sandburg said they’d made the offer to him, but I didn’t think they’d want me until my sight was back.”
Sam sighed. “All I know is that General Hammond has put a few things in motion. I think he wants to make the pitch as soon as Janet clears you.”
“But you were the one to offer continued protection,” Jim objected. “I’m assuming that someone asked you to do that.”
Sam laughed. “You’re sharp.”
“It’s served me well,” Jim admitted. “Just because they screwed with my senses doesn’t mean my brain is off line. So?”
“General Hammond thought you might respond better to me,” she admitted.
“Well, Blair says you’re very attractive, but I’m not sure what that has to do with anything, since my eyesight is still shot.”
Jim thought he might actually be able to feel the rising heat in Sam’s face, and that scared him. He’d thought he was sensitive before, but Jim was beginning to suspect that his senses were that much more acute now.
He’d had things under control before the NID kidnapped him; the idea that he might have to start over from scratch freaked him out.
Blair was going to want to run a bunch of tests to establish a new baseline, and Jim probably wouldn’t even protest all that much. He wanted control back.
Sam cleared her throat. “I was there when we got you out,” she finally said. “And if it wasn’t me, it would be Daniel. General Hammond doesn’t usually send Jack or Teal’c in when there’s any kind of finesse required.”
Jim chuckled. “I wanted to ask you about Teal’c, actually,” he said. “He’s-not human, is he?”
“No, he’s not,” Sam replied quietly. “He’s on our side, though. How did you know?”
Jim shrugged. “I can’t put my finger on it. It was almost like I was getting two heart beats from him.”
“Teal’c’s been a good friend to us,” Sam insisted
Jim sighed. “The guys that grabbed me were human,” he said softly. “What they did to me-maybe they thought they had a reason. I don’t know. But I do know that Teal’c loaned me his jacket, and he’s been nothing but kind to me since I got here. I don’t care where he came from. I just wanted to be sure that I wasn’t going crazy.”
“You’re definitely not going crazy,” Sam assured him. “I’m just used to people getting worked up about Teal’c being an alien.”
“What? Wanting to dissect him?” Jim asked. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“No, I guess you wouldn’t,” Sam replied. “And yeah, that’s been tried.”
Jim shifted uncomfortably, knowing that there probably wasn’t much that separated him from Teal’c. Maybe Teal’c was an alien, but it wasn’t too much of a leap to decide that Jim wasn’t worthy of protection because he was different when they’d already decided that they could do whatever they wanted to Teal’c.
“That’s not going to happen,” Sam insisted, as though sensing-or seeing-his discomfort, “not if we can help it.”
“But you can’t help it if we go back to Cascade, can you?” Jim asked.
Sam sighed. “No, we can’t.”
“Tell me something, Sam, and be honest with me.”
“If I can, I will,” she agreed.
“Do you think they’ll come after Blair?”
Jim could feel her hesitation, but he didn’t say anything. He just waited for her to respond, wondering if she’d tell him the truth, although he somehow knew that he’d be able to sense if she were lying.
“I think it’s entirely possible,” Sam finally replied. “This group seems to think that Blair might have some special abilities.”
“Yeah,” Jim said heavily. “That’s what I thought.”
And Jim would do whatever it took to keep Blair safe, even if it meant packing up and leaving Cascade.
~~~~~
Blair roused when he heard the insistent knocking on his door. He rolled out of bed, too sleepy to care that he was answering the door in boxers and a t-shirt. When he opened the door, he saw Jim standing there, a broad grin on his face.
“Jim?”
“Hey, Sandburg.”
The import of Jim standing there slowly didn’t immediately penetrate Blair’s sleep-fogged mind. “What time is it?”
“It’s a little after six,” he said, the grin never wavering.
Blair blinked. “Wait. Your eyesight?”
“Not completely back to normal, but a lot better,” Jim confessed.
Blair stepped aside and waved Jim in. “What do you mean, you’re not completely back to normal?”
“My eyesight is still a little fuzzy,” Jim admitted, and then joked, “Maybe I need glasses.”
Blair’s eyes narrowed. “No, I don’t think so. Sit down.”
Jim hesitated. “Janet said to see her if there were any changes.”
“We’ve got time for this,” Blair insisted. “And if I’m right, this is going to make her job a lot easier. So, sit.” When Jim still seemed reluctant, Blair asked, “Do you trust me?”
“I told you I did,” Jim said peevishly.
Blair put his hands on Jim’s shoulders and pushed him to sit on the bed. “Okay, so I know we haven’t talked about the report from those bastards who took you, but I have a couple of theories.”
Jim’s jaw tensed. “Go ahead.”
Blair sighed. Jim hadn’t wanted to talk about the report, or about the job offer. He kept saying that Blair could fill him in once his sight was back, and now here they were. Jim’s sight was back, and Blair had to explain what he’d gathered from the report.
“The NID-or whoever-wanted to isolate the gene that’s responsible for your senses,” Blair began. “And we think they’re interested in trying to trigger other people with the potential to come online. I think-I think as a part of their research they tried to make your senses sharper.”
“How does me going blind fit into it?” Jim demanded.
“I don’t think it does,” Blair admitted. “But I also think that was just a side effect. Right now, I think you’ve maybe lost your baseline. Where are your dials?”
For a minute, Blair didn’t think Jim would answer, and then he shrugged. “Maybe a four, but it’s hard to keep them there.”
“Okay, so I’m going to walk you through a meditation exercise, and we’re going to try to get a new baseline for your senses,” Blair said. “If I’m wrong, you should be really relaxed by the end of this. If I’m right, your sight should be back to normal.”
Jim shrugged good-naturedly. “Let’s do it, then.”
By this point, Jim was an old hand at the meditation exercises, and Blair easily talked him into a light trance. “Okay, we’re going to start with touch,” Blair said. “I know this is going to be uncomfortable, but I want you to dial all the way up. That’s right, Jim. All the way up, until the dial is set at ten. I’m going to be right here the whole time. If you get too uncomfortable, all you have to do is dial down.”
Jim stiffened, and then said in a distant voice, “I can feel each thread in the fabric against my skin. I can feel-air currents, your breath, everything.”
“Good,” Blair said. “Now, dial it back slowly. Down, down, until you’re at a normal level. Where’s the dial, Jim?”
“Three.”
“Good,” Blair said. “We’re going to go to smell next.”
Blair walked him through each of his other senses, saving sight for last. “Okay, Jim, you’re going to need to open your eyes for this one. I want you to open your eyes, and then I want you to dial up your sight, all the way up.”
He heard Jim’s sharp intake of breath and couldn’t help asking, “What do you see?”
“Dust motes in the air,” Jim said, sounding almost drugged. “The pulse in your neck. The pores in your skin. I think-I think I can see your skin cells.”
Blair swallowed. “That’s great, Jim. Now, I want you to close your eyes and dial your sight back until it’s normal range. Take it back to a three.”
When Jim nodded, Blair let out a breath. “Great. When you open your eyes, you’re going to be well rested and in a really good mood.”
Jim let out a breath. “I think trying to hypnotize me into a better mood is cheating.”
Blair grinned. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. How do you feel?”
“Good,” Jim admitted. “My eyesight is back to normal.”
Blair couldn’t find it in himself to be pleased by that news. “Jim-”
“Why couldn’t they have taken the senses away?” Jim demanded. “If they were going to fuck with things, why would they do this?”
Blair couldn’t think of any response, so he held his tongue.
“I hate this,” Jim said. “Ever since they grabbed me, the dials have been hard to control. Even now, it’s-it’s difficult. I feel like I’m going to zone or spike all the time.”
Blair winced. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Jim replied. “Look, I should really see the doctor. Will I see you for breakfast?”
“I’ll be there,” Blair promised.
Jim rose to his feet. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Jim had his hand on the doorknob when Blair found the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing him for the last couple of days. “Jim? What about the job offer?”
Jim let out a breath. “I don’t know yet. I won’t make a decision without you.”
“Okay,” Blair replied, knowing that he couldn’t ask for more than that.
There was a part of him that wanted nothing more than for Jim to agree to Hammond’s job offer. The idea that he could go back to anthropology, get his doctorate, and still be Jim’s partner was incredibly seductive.
And yet, Blair couldn’t see Jim leaving Cascade, and Blair knew he could never ask.
Part IV