The Sentinel/General/Life After Death
Title: Life After Death
Fandom: The Sentinel
Characters: Blair Sandburg and Jim Ellison
Prompt: 079. Winter, Table 1
Word Count: 1,076
Rating: PG
Warnings: Set after episode "Sentinel Too, part 2", AU, angst
Summary: Blair and Jim start separate lives after the drowning at the fountain
Author's Notes: I do not own The Sentinel or any of the characters and this is written for entertainment purposes only - no money was made from this endeavor. Table
Life After Death
Debbie
Blair Sandburg hated winter and all things that went along with winter, such as coats, hats, gloves, boots, snow, ice and especially the cold that went with winter. Blair was perpetually cold. Along with being cold, he usually suffered from various respiratory ailments, such as bronchitis, flu, the common cold and sore throats. Things had worsened in the past year, since the drowning at the fountain outside of Hargrove Hall at Rainier University. He had just gone through the worst winter season of his life, in many ways.
He hadn't returned to the loft after the encounter with Alex, going to Sierra Verde and then returning to Cascade. The words from Jim still hung between them. Jim had tried to apologize, but Blair knew the apology wasn't sincere. Too many secrets had been kept between the two of them. Even though Jim brought Blair back from the dead at the fountain, Blair knew Jim couldn't forgive him for not trusting him.
Blair found a fellow grad student to crash with until he could find a place of his own. He had been laid up in the apartment for nearly two weeks as he suffered from a nasty case of bronchitis. He was still not feeling 100% but he needed to return to Rainier, as he had missed too much time between the drowning, the trip to Mexico and his latest illness.
Blair put on his warmest sweater, fingering the pattern as he pulled it down over his long-sleeved shirt. Jim had gotten him the sweater for Christmas the first year they were together. Blair had been sick this past Christmas. He hadn't even been able to offer his services at the local Salvation Army to help needier people and families.
Blair left the house, pulling his keys out of his jeans pocket and hitching his backpack up on his right shoulder. He walked to the garage where his car was parked, thinking his car was probably warmer than he was. He made his way to Rainier.
As he walked towards Hargrove Hall, he paused at the fountain. It looked so beautiful with the water spurting out. Just like the day Alex killed him. Blair started to hyperventilate and his legs gave out. He slumped to the ground, his last conscious thought being he was going to get another cold.
~~0~~
As his consciousness returned, Blair noted that he was warm and there was something soft covering him. He slowly opened his eyes, looking around the room. He recognized the look of a hospital room. He and hospital rooms were getting too well acquainted. There was a nasal cannula attached around his head and he breathed in the oxygen it provided. He was attached to several IVs.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Dr. Stoddard walked into the room. "Well, I see you've decided to rejoin the land of the living, Blair. How are you feeling, son?"
"Silly. I fainted at the fountain, didn't I?" Embarrassment colored Blair's words.
"The doctor said you are still suffering from an upper respiratory infection and that your lungs are filled with fluids. I thought you told me you just had the flu, young man?"
"I thought that was all it was, honestly Dr. Stoddard. I've had problems ever since the drowning, though. The doctor told me my lungs will never recovery properly. I should have went the other way and avoided going by the fountain. It wasn't the best move to make."
"You scared several students who were going by at the time. Luckily, one of them had the presence of mind to call for an ambulance and then call me. Do you want me to contact Detective Ellison?"
"No. I… uh, moved out. No, that's not right. Jim kicked me out of the loft when… well, we had a difference of opinion. He didn't offer to let me come back when we returned from Mexico."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Blair. I know he was the subject of your sentinel research. What are you going to do now?"
"Probably take Jim's advice and write my dissertation about somebody else. He doesn't want to have anything to do with me."
"But what about all the help you've given him over the years? He just wants to think that was nothing?"
"Anyone could have given that help. Hell, even with time, I'm sure he would have come up with the ideas himself to help."
"Blair Sandburg, I know you do not believe that. I've read the introductory chapters of your dissertation and the background historical information you included in that. You made a strong case for sentinels needing partners to keep them on an even keel. Was that an obfuscation on your part, Blair?"
"I was not the important one in our partnership. The ancient texts and writings I found definitely made a case for sentinels to have someone watching their backs. But I think it was more along the lines of an equal, someone who was at least on the same skill level as the sentinel. I'm not on the same skill level as Jim. He needs someone who knows police procedure and can provide an adequate backup, which would include carrying a weapon. I can't be that person, Dr. Stoddard. Jim realized that long before I did."
"Get some rest, Blair. I'll be back to see you in a couple of days. And I'll make sure your students are kept up to date on your syllabus and that you don't fall behind in your own classes."
"Thank you for stopping by, Dr. Stoddard. I'll try to get back to the university as soon as possible."
"Don't worry about that, Blair. I know you can do the work and catch up on what you miss. And your students will get the benefit of your teaching soon enough."
~~0~~
The tall figure slipped into the room unnoticed by the occupant, who was sound asleep. The visitor stood by the bed, looking down at the young man sleeping. A small smile crossed the face of the visitor and he wished he could wake the young man and tell him how sorry he had been. But that wasn't an option at this time. He reached out a hand, suspending it just above Blair's head. He had to leave before Blair woke up and became agitated because he was here.
"Take care of yourself, Chief." He turned, walking out of Blair's life forever.
Fandom: The Sentinel
Characters: Blair Sandburg and Jim Ellison
Prompt: 079. Winter, Table 1
Word Count: 1,076
Rating: PG
Warnings: Set after episode "Sentinel Too, part 2", AU, angst
Summary: Blair and Jim start separate lives after the drowning at the fountain
Author's Notes: I do not own The Sentinel or any of the characters and this is written for entertainment purposes only - no money was made from this endeavor. Table
Life After Death
Debbie
Blair Sandburg hated winter and all things that went along with winter, such as coats, hats, gloves, boots, snow, ice and especially the cold that went with winter. Blair was perpetually cold. Along with being cold, he usually suffered from various respiratory ailments, such as bronchitis, flu, the common cold and sore throats. Things had worsened in the past year, since the drowning at the fountain outside of Hargrove Hall at Rainier University. He had just gone through the worst winter season of his life, in many ways.
He hadn't returned to the loft after the encounter with Alex, going to Sierra Verde and then returning to Cascade. The words from Jim still hung between them. Jim had tried to apologize, but Blair knew the apology wasn't sincere. Too many secrets had been kept between the two of them. Even though Jim brought Blair back from the dead at the fountain, Blair knew Jim couldn't forgive him for not trusting him.
Blair found a fellow grad student to crash with until he could find a place of his own. He had been laid up in the apartment for nearly two weeks as he suffered from a nasty case of bronchitis. He was still not feeling 100% but he needed to return to Rainier, as he had missed too much time between the drowning, the trip to Mexico and his latest illness.
Blair put on his warmest sweater, fingering the pattern as he pulled it down over his long-sleeved shirt. Jim had gotten him the sweater for Christmas the first year they were together. Blair had been sick this past Christmas. He hadn't even been able to offer his services at the local Salvation Army to help needier people and families.
Blair left the house, pulling his keys out of his jeans pocket and hitching his backpack up on his right shoulder. He walked to the garage where his car was parked, thinking his car was probably warmer than he was. He made his way to Rainier.
As he walked towards Hargrove Hall, he paused at the fountain. It looked so beautiful with the water spurting out. Just like the day Alex killed him. Blair started to hyperventilate and his legs gave out. He slumped to the ground, his last conscious thought being he was going to get another cold.
~~0~~
As his consciousness returned, Blair noted that he was warm and there was something soft covering him. He slowly opened his eyes, looking around the room. He recognized the look of a hospital room. He and hospital rooms were getting too well acquainted. There was a nasal cannula attached around his head and he breathed in the oxygen it provided. He was attached to several IVs.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Dr. Stoddard walked into the room. "Well, I see you've decided to rejoin the land of the living, Blair. How are you feeling, son?"
"Silly. I fainted at the fountain, didn't I?" Embarrassment colored Blair's words.
"The doctor said you are still suffering from an upper respiratory infection and that your lungs are filled with fluids. I thought you told me you just had the flu, young man?"
"I thought that was all it was, honestly Dr. Stoddard. I've had problems ever since the drowning, though. The doctor told me my lungs will never recovery properly. I should have went the other way and avoided going by the fountain. It wasn't the best move to make."
"You scared several students who were going by at the time. Luckily, one of them had the presence of mind to call for an ambulance and then call me. Do you want me to contact Detective Ellison?"
"No. I… uh, moved out. No, that's not right. Jim kicked me out of the loft when… well, we had a difference of opinion. He didn't offer to let me come back when we returned from Mexico."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Blair. I know he was the subject of your sentinel research. What are you going to do now?"
"Probably take Jim's advice and write my dissertation about somebody else. He doesn't want to have anything to do with me."
"But what about all the help you've given him over the years? He just wants to think that was nothing?"
"Anyone could have given that help. Hell, even with time, I'm sure he would have come up with the ideas himself to help."
"Blair Sandburg, I know you do not believe that. I've read the introductory chapters of your dissertation and the background historical information you included in that. You made a strong case for sentinels needing partners to keep them on an even keel. Was that an obfuscation on your part, Blair?"
"I was not the important one in our partnership. The ancient texts and writings I found definitely made a case for sentinels to have someone watching their backs. But I think it was more along the lines of an equal, someone who was at least on the same skill level as the sentinel. I'm not on the same skill level as Jim. He needs someone who knows police procedure and can provide an adequate backup, which would include carrying a weapon. I can't be that person, Dr. Stoddard. Jim realized that long before I did."
"Get some rest, Blair. I'll be back to see you in a couple of days. And I'll make sure your students are kept up to date on your syllabus and that you don't fall behind in your own classes."
"Thank you for stopping by, Dr. Stoddard. I'll try to get back to the university as soon as possible."
"Don't worry about that, Blair. I know you can do the work and catch up on what you miss. And your students will get the benefit of your teaching soon enough."
~~0~~
The tall figure slipped into the room unnoticed by the occupant, who was sound asleep. The visitor stood by the bed, looking down at the young man sleeping. A small smile crossed the face of the visitor and he wished he could wake the young man and tell him how sorry he had been. But that wasn't an option at this time. He reached out a hand, suspending it just above Blair's head. He had to leave before Blair woke up and became agitated because he was here.
"Take care of yourself, Chief." He turned, walking out of Blair's life forever.