It was 9AM on the dot. Trust Jim Ellison to be right on time. He had his shadow with him for the first time in weeks. Simon watched as the rest of the unit all came up and shook Blair's hand and pounded him on the back. Jim stood by looking equal parts proud, happy and protective.
Simon would never forget what had happened all those weeks ago at the fountain. When Blair was lying face down in the cold water, all he could see was his son Darryl. Blair was just barely young enough to be his son, too, and right then it became clear how he felt about the kid. Just what he needed, another son addicted to trouble - except it looked like Blair would not be trouble much longer.
They pulled his limp body out and started to work on him. Simon shouted at Jim to find Blair's heartbeat, but Jim was in shock. Ellison was barely breathing himself, until they started the CPR. As Megan and the others stood guard around them and waited for either good news or the ambulance, he and Jim worked on the kid. He was cold, as cold as the water had been. Simon tried to convince himself that the cold meant that he was going to make it, that it had preserved brain function. Simon was certain of one thing as he pumped - a Blair without his mind would not be Blair at all. He prayed that Blair's brilliance would return whole if it returned at all.
He couldn't feel a pulse. He couldn't get the heart started again, no matter how hard he pushed or how much he prayed. The EMT's arrived, and took over with an ambubag and their own strong arms, but as Jim cried out in denial, as Jim nearly sobbed in denial, they couldn't get Blair back either.
He and Henri tried to console their friend, but he would have none of it. Simon had not realized how tight these two were. They were always fighting - like a married couple, he thought. Partners get that way sometimes, and these two actually lived together. There was no time to think of that, though. Jim burst from their arms and pushed away the paramedics to lie beside Blair. He held Blair in one arm and stroked his hair with the other gently. Simon never knew that Jim could be gentle.
"Come on, Chief! I know you're in there. I can hear you. I can feel you. Don't hide from me, buddy, please. Please! I need you. Don't make me go back to that empty loft alone." There were tears streaming down Jim's face.
Megan sobbed openly, while Henri turned away in pain. Simon couldn't take his eyes off the pair. He saw it first. He saw Blair's eyelids flutter.
"Dear Lord! Jim, look!"
"I see. Blair!" Jim held his partner tighter. Blair looked at him, straight at him, smiled and started to talk, but could only cough. The EMT's roused themselves from their shock and began to work again, breathing for him. One tapped Jim on his shoulder. He nodded, leaned forward for a moment and then relinquished his hold. Simon thought he saw a kiss, but there was too much water in his eyes to be certain.
Jim rode with Blair to the hospital. Everyone else followed. He was put on a ventilator immediately, but they were assured that it was only temporary, since he was already starting to breathe a little on his own. He'd be just fine.
Once reassured of that fact, Jim took Megan aside, filled her in on his abilities and those of Alex Barnes, and the two of them ran off to get her. Two hours later, Alex was in custody. Simon was never clear on how, but it didn't matter. What mattered was Blair and Jim.
Jim would not leave the hospital again, not until Blair was certified ready to go home. The rest of the unit took care of the loft, bringing back Blair's stuff and putting the furniture back where it belonged.
It turned out that the neurotoxin had depressed Blair's nervous system and reduced even his automatic reflexes. Somehow, it had worn off just enough and just in time to save him from debilitating brain damage. That meant one less murder charge for Alex Barnes, but no one was complaining.
Blair had gone home two weeks ago. Jim requested and was granted vacation time to take care of him. He asked that they be let alone because they had things to discussand to work out. Simon had an idea of what some of those issues were, but he wasn't going to ask. He did call once or twice. Blair sounded different, more introspective, somehow a little quieter. Older, perhaps. This was not a surprise. Nearly dying had to age a man. It certainly had aged Simon, and it hadn't been him in the fountain.
Now Blair was back. He didn't look very different - he still bounced around like a hyperactive kid. There was something new - a silver wolf-head medallion hanging from a thong around his neck. Simon had never seen that piece of jewelry before.
And there was one other difference. Simon didn't notice at first. Jim had always hovered over Blair and now he had good reason to be protective. It wasn't until he was on his way to make his own welcome, after they were settled at Jim's desk and looking over a file, that he saw what had happened between them.
It was such a simple gesture. Blair's hair was hiding his face, so Jim gently tucked it behind his ear, stroking the long curls until he reached Blair's shoulder.
Copyright 1998 Debra Fran Baker and NightRoads Associates
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