by Kristine Williams
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Part 1
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Blair paused before knocking on the door in front of him. Polite society demanded he follow through, but congratulating a man who won a grant you had once counted on.....well humility wasn't one of his strong points. But there was always room for improvement. He took a deep breath and knocked, half hoping Professor Wilson was out.
"Come in."
He composed his face and turned the knob, stepping into the spacious, and way too tidy office. "Professor Wilson. I heard..."
"That the grant came through today, no doubt?" Professor Wilson was standing behind his desk, notebooks in each hand and a stern look on his chiseled face.
Blair nodded, approaching the desk. He felt like a school boy stepping up to accept his punishment. Wilson always made him feel like that. The man was in his fifties, and wore his glasses halfway down his nose, which just added to the appearance of a man looking down at anyone and everyone he spoke to, height not withstanding.
"I just wanted to congratulate you. I know how hard you worked for this." Blair offered a hand, but Wilson simply picked up some files, nodding. "Yeah, well...it's an incredible opportunity and I.."
"Yes, yes. Thank you. Experience always prevails, Mr. Sandburg. Ms Fisher, where are the maps? I can't find the maps. I've asked you time and again to keep them right here." Wilson had turned to face his research assistant, dismissing Blair with a wave of a file-filled hand.
Blair raised his eyebrows, glancing at the research assistant standing in the far corner of the room. She smiled up at him for a moment, then turned to Professor Wilson.
"I've got them in my pack, Professor. It's out in the car, I'll be right back." She glanced again at Blair and motioned towards the door with her head.
Blair nodded and turned to leave, giving Professor Wilson one last look. He was sitting down behind the desk, completely oblivious of his visitor. For a moment, he thought of Simon and the way he so easily dismissed most of what Blair suggested. Usually Jim was with him, and he felt less alone in his rejection. This time he was in his own element, and he couldn't help but wish Jim was there.
Kathy Fisher set down her paperwork and walked out into the hall, motioning for Blair to follow. She closed the door behind them quickly and started walking slowly down the hall.
"Sorry about that. He's been more of a jerk than usual since that grant came through."
Blair nodded, following her down the corridor. "Yeah, well, I guess he's got a lot on his mind." He never could understand her reasons for leaving him, and researching for Wilson. Kathy was young, attractive, and had a bright future ahead of her. They'd had a brief relationship during her work for Blair, but it was destined to fail. And had, right about the time she decided to work for Wilson, instead. She was taller than Blair, with legs that could still distract him and long, black hair.
She stopped in front of the door that led to the basement and Blair's office, leaning against the wall. "That grant should have been yours."
Blair rolled his eyes and looked down for a moment. He hadn't told anyone his reasons for turning down the trip with Dr Stoddard to Borneo. And this grant was appointed months ago, before that offer. He had known for some time he hadn't gotten it, and he was now glad. Of course, being passed up for the grant was still a blow to his ego. And admitting he no longer wanted it would just sound like a copout. "You'll be going with him, right? That should give you some of the credit you deserve."
"Ha. Credit? With Dr Wilson, there is no credit, no respect. Just work." She snorted, shaking her head. "If it wasn't for the research, and the experience, I wouldn't go."
"Why? I know he hogs all the credit for anything and everything, but this kind of opportunity can't be passed up. It's really an honor to be a part of this."
"I know. I know." She sighed. "He could have asked you."
Blair shook his head emphatically.
"Why not? I've never understood how you could pass up the trip with Dr Stoddard to Borneo. If he had asked me, I would have been packed and ready in an hour."
Blair looked around for a moment, trying to form a response. "It just wasn't a good time for me. My own research would have been put on hold, and this friend...well he needed me then and I..."
"Oh God, I'd better get those maps." She glanced down the hall towards Professor Wilson's door. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Sure, okay." Blair watched her leave then turned and walked down the stairs to his own office. He wasn't sure what he had expected from Wilson. Maybe a 'thanks, sorry again you didn't get it' would have been nice. He felt sorry for Kathy. She was going to have a rough time with Wilson in the jungle for a year. He was hard to take for an hour. Kathy had been Wilson's assistant now for more than eight months, longer than she ever was for Blair. Of course, Professor Wilson's research was more widely published, and accepted. Which is why he got the grant. Sentinel abilities in modern day man just wasn't a popular idea. Studying the effects of the changing environment on native cultures was. Never mind the case studies he had already catalogued. Never mind that he had a real, living, breathing Sentinel with him every day. Sometimes he worried Jim would never let him publish his findings about his abilities. But then, sometimes he was more interested in just being there, studying him, than in publishing his findings. He was learning something new about his friend almost every day. If he was to publish, it would mean he had learned all there was to know, that he was finished. More and more Blair felt he would never learn everything. And he was beginning to hope he would never have to call it finished. Then why am I so depressed?
As he opened the door he heard the phone ringing at the far end of the office. He ran, tripping over some files that were still on the floor from the night before and made a grab,
"Hello?"
"Hey, Chief. You up for dinner?" Jim asked.
Blair rubbed his face, thinking for a moment. "Not really. I'm not very hungry."
There was a pause at the other end of the line, "What's that sound?"
"What? I don't hear anything."
"I hear a humming, or something. Must be a bad line. So, what's up?"
"Nothing. I just had a bad day, that's all. I've got finals to grade before the morning. How about a rain check?"
"Okay, sure. I'll be home in an hour, can I bring you anything?"
Blair smiled. Always looking out for me. "No, man, thanks. I'm fine. Just one of those days, you know? I'll be home later." He pushed his hair back, trying to push Wilson's face out of his mind. "Did I miss anything today?"
"Oh yeah. Big stuff. Lots of gunfire, dangerous women, conspiracy, intrigue. Big goings on."
Blair laughed a little. "Paperwork?"
"Yep. Playing catch up here. I was going to save it for you, but it's been a slow day." He heard Jim speak quickly to someone else. "Listen, Chief, I've gotta go. I'll bring home Chinese. No MSG."
"Sure. Okay." Blair hung up, shaking his head. Now on top of his depression he began to feel guilty. He had never told Jim about the research grant he had lost. When Dr Stoddard invited him to Borneo, as much as he had wanted to go, he had also wanted to stay with Jim. In his initial excitement at being asked, he hadn't thought of Jim's feelings at all. But then, at the time, he still hadn't believed Jim thought of him as a friend. He'd been feeling in the way more often than not and had still been learning how to be around Jim. When Jim told him to go, even after Blair explained how long it would mean, he'd been surprised at his own reaction. Deep inside he'd been hoping Jim would insist he stay. And when he hadn't, Blair's hopes had fallen through the floor.
But there was Borneo. The research possibilities he had turned down still boggled his mind. How could someone want two completely opposit
e things so much? What would his life be like, right now, if he had gone to Borneo instead? Would Jim still be using his Sentinel senses? Or would he have ignored his Spirit Guide in the jungle and let the gift disappear? There were times when Blair wanted to take credit for Jim's success in the jungle, not losing his special senses altogether because he didn't understand what was happening. But then, he would have figured it out without him, wouldn't he? He was making too much of this, and he knew it.
"Okay, just deal with it and move on." Blair glanced around his office for a moment, trying to get his mind back on track. He had finals to grade and post before the next morning and he hadn't even started them yet. Finding the right stack of paper, he sat down, put his glasses on, and opened the first one with a determined shake of his head.
By the time he finished the last paper, it was dark outside. He checked the clock above the door. Nine o'clock. Three hours had passed since he spoke to Jim on the phone. Good, that's three hours of not thinking about Wilson. And that made him realize he had just thought of Wilson again. "God, get over it Sandburg." He tossed the stack of graded papers in his out box where the Unit Secretary would find them and grabbed his coat. Jim would be wondering about him if he wasn't home soon. He hurried up the stairs, unconsciously glancing down the hallway at the top, towards Wilson's office. He noticed the light shining out from under the door but didn't make a move towards it. A little voice inside was urging him to go have a talk with the Professor, get these stupid feelings of hostility towards each other out in the open and clear the air. But then a louder voice, Jim's voice, came to his mind and he continued on to the parking lot.
The Corvair started on the first try and he pulled out of the now deserted parking lot, turning left onto the main road. He was still not sure of his car's reliability, and he kept to the main, well-lit roads now. Jim had bought him a cell phone a few months ago and he kept it in the car. Five miles down the road, as the Corvair coughed and died, he was again grateful for the foresight of his Blessed Protector.
"Ellison."
"Jim. Hey man, I'm stuck."
"Where have you been? I started calling your office an hour ago."
Blair thought for a moment. He had been concentrating on the papers, but... "I just left there ten minutes ago. I swear, the phone didn't ring while I was there. I haven't been anywhere else."
"Where are you now?"
"At the corner of Sixteenth and Chester. The car broke down again. Can you come?"
He heard Jim sigh. "Yeah, sure. I'll be right there. Just lock the doors and wait for me, okay?"
"Okay." Blair was too embarrassed to admit that was exactly what he'd been planning to do.
"We've got to do something about that car of yours." Jim said. "I'm on my way."
Blair waited until he heard Jim break the connection before hanging up. He checked both doors to make sure they were locked, then sat back, pulling his coat up around him for warmth against the cold rainy evening. He was just losing the last residue of warmth from the stalled car's heater when he recognized Jim's truck pulling up in front of him. He unlocked the door and climbed out.
"I'm sorry man, I was going to take it in to the shop, but things just kept coming up."
Jim was digging his hands into his pockets against the cold rain that was falling with even more intensity. "Same as before?"
Blair paused, not sure which incident Jim was referring to. "It just stalled out. I can't get it going again." Jim reached in through the front door and popped the hood release. "Can't we just leave it here? It's cold." Blair was bouncing on his heels now, trying to generate some body heat. He didn't mind the rain, but lately he hated to be cold.
"You'll get a ticket if we leave it here, Chief." Jim lifted the hood and peered around with his small flashlight. After a minute of looking he reached inside and jiggled some wires. "Try it now."
Blair hurried into the car and turned the key. Nothing.
"Okay, try it now!" Jim had to raise his voice against the downpour.
Blair turned the key, crossing his fingers as he did. After a moment's coughing the car started. "Yes!"
"Now, don't take your foot off the gas." Jim dropped the hood down. "Follow me and stay close. If it dies again, honk."
Blair nodded, pulling the door closed. He had to wait for Jim to get into the truck and start it up again before he could pull away from the curb. All the while he kept one foot on the gas and one on the brake. Luckily he was just pulling into his usual spot behind the loft when it stalled out and died again. Blair got out, pulled his pack from the passenger seat, and slammed the door closed. It was pouring rain and he had to run around the block to get to the front of the building. Jim was waiting for him under the eaves.
"Tomorrow that thing's going in to the shop." Jim chided as Blair ducked in under the eaves.
"I know, I know." Blair pulled his soaking wet hair away from his face, urging Jim to open the door and let them both get into the building, out of the rain. "I'm sorry about this."
Jim led the way down the hallway and up the stairs to their front door, shaking water off his jacket as he removed it.
Blair stood back, trying to avoid the additional shower from his friend's coat as he waited for the door to open. He was going to protest, but it was his fault Jim had to go out in this weather. "This is just the perfect topper to the worst day." he said, following Jim into the apartment.
"What was so terrible about today?" Jim asked, hanging his coat on a peg by the door. Before Blair could answer Jim reached out for his coat. "You're dripping."
Blair removed his coat and handed it over. He was about to gather up his soaking hair and ring it out, then remembered the scolding he had received the last time. As he turned to go get a towel from the bathroom, the phone rang.
"There's Chinese in the fridge." Jim said as he reached for the phone.
Blair nodded but just stood there in the living room, wondering what he felt like doing. His hair was dripping down his back but he didn't care so much all of a sudden. He wasn't hungry. He could go to bed and try to forget the day, or he could talk to Jim. He really wanted to talk, to let Jim know all about the grant, the fact that he had applied for it well before they had become friends. He wanted Jim to understand that even though he didn't want to leave, he was still upset about not winning it. Jim would understand. He always did. And he could probably explain to him how he had made the right decision by staying with the Sentinel research. He knew, deep down, he was right where he belonged. Standing there in Jim's apartment, was right where he belonged. He just wanted to hear it out loud.
"Grab your coat, Chief." Jim hung up the phone and Blair realized he had missed the conversation.
"What's up?" He caught his jacket as Jim tossed it over, pulling on the wet leather with a grimace.
"There's been a murder." Jim put his coat on and automatically checked his hip for the service revolver kept there. "At the University."
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In his mental fog, Blair hadn't made the connection until they pulled up in front of the Anthropology building at his own University. His blood ran cold for a moment, thinking of the various people he knew there.
"If you want to wait here..." Jim shut the driver's side door and looked over at Blair.
"No, Jim. I'm coming with you." Blair urged Jim to go first then followed closely. Murder? Maybe a theft in the Computer Lab in the next building. But murder? Here? He tried not to worry as Jim led them into his own building and down the hall. He could see several uniformed officers standing halfway down the corridor, speaking with a young woman. As they approached he recognized her.
"Kathy? What's going on?"
"That's him. That's Blair Sandburg." She said, pointing to him as they stepped closer.
Blair looked questioningly from her, to Jim, and back.
Jim pulled his ID out and showed the officers. "What have we got here?"
"A Professor Wilson. DOA." One officer replied, nodding towards the office beh
ind him.
"What!?" Blair looked into the room, then back to Kathy. "What happened?"
Kathy looked at him then, the strangest expression on her face. For a moment, Blair didn't understand what she was trying to convey. Then she shook her head and moved away, standing farther behind the uniformed officer she had been speaking to.
Blair raised his eyebrows and was going to step forward to speak with her when Jim grabbed his arm, gently pulling him into the office. "Hang on a minute Chief. Let's see what we've got here."
Blair looked at him, confused. Then he noticed Professor Wilson, lying on the floor in front of his desk.
"My God." He stopped, staring at the body of the man he had spent the better part of the day angry with. "Jim, I know this guy."
Jim put a hand on Blair's shoulder. "Why don't you stay here?" he said as he proceeded to the body.
Blair didn't protest. He couldn't move. Seeing dead bodies was never going to get easy for him, he knew that. But seeing someone he knew, had just been talking to. And Kathy. He turned to look back out the door. She was still standing there with the officers, speaking occasionally, and glancing at him with that same expression. Blair still couldn't grasp what she was thinking, or trying to convey. He swore he saw something in her eyes other than shock and fear. He should talk to her, but he was torn now between being an anthropologist and being a Guide to Jim, who was now kneeling over Wilson's body.
"Detective, I'm Officer Kelly. My partner and I were first on the scene." Blair turned to see an officer standing next to Jim. He still felt disconnected, but he forced himself to move closer, at least so he could hear what was being said.
"Okay, let me have what you've got so far." Jim said, looking at Blair for just a moment.
The officer flipped open his notepad. "CenCom got a call from a Ms Fisher. She found the body at approximately 9:15 p.m." Blair glanced back at Kathy in the hallway, still standing with one of the officers. The other had left, but Blair didn't see where. "Apparently she's his research assistant. They were working on something late tonight. She says she stepped out for some dinner, and came back to this."
Scapegoat Page 1
