by Beth Manz
As Jim watched his guide, his thoughts turned to the shooting that had taken place over two months ago not far from the spot where they were now sitting. The moment he had learned that his partner had killed the shooter had been one of the darkest moments Jim had ever encountered. Though Blair was deceptively strong, Jim had still worried that the experience would kill something inside of his lively friend, that it would destroy a wonderful part of who he was. But as Jim watched him now, he knew Blair was all right.
At that moment, Blair's eyes opened. He inclined his head and studied Jim intently. "What?" he finally demanded.
Jim shook his head at the vague question. "What do you mean, 'what'?"
"You're sitting there smiling at me like you know something I don't. What?"
Jim laughed aloud. "It's nothing. I was just wondering what you were thinking about, Darwin."
"Yeah?" Blair paused, then answered softly, "I was thinking about what makes a perfect day."
Jim raised an eyebrow. He hadn't really expected an answer; he'd thought that his guide would just tell him he was meditating or relaxing. "So, what makes a perfect day, Chief?"
Blair inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. "This," he said, his voice full of awe.
"Breathing?" Jim asked, confused.
Blair rolled his eyes and laughed. "No, Jim. This." He lifted his arms and gestured around him, then at Jim. "Being in a place I love on a perfect day. My best friend around to hassle me." He shot Jim a teasing grin, then shook his head and looked out across the campus, his eyes taking on a contemplative look. "I spent a lot of years struggling to get where I am. There were times I never thought I'd get here, reach this point." He squinted over at the detective and shrugged one shoulder. "I guess I'm just feeling content, that's all. I mean, in a few days school will be in session and I'll be a professor! That's something I have always wanted. And I get to keep working as your partner and continue my sentinel research on the side..." He took a another deep breath and exhaled it slowly. "Life is good, man," he said, smiling widely at Jim. "Life is very, very good."
Jim laughed. "So what you're telling me is that you're happy, Sandburg?"
Blair nodded slowly, his grin becoming even more brilliant. "I'm telling you that I am very happy." He paused, then leaned over and pulled his sandals to him. Pushing his feet into them, he looked over at Jim. "However, as much as I'd love to sit here and expound on how perfect the universe is at this particular moment in my young life, all this existential celebrating isn't getting us to that stakeout, now is it?" He stood and retrieved his backpack. "We're still relieving Henri and Rafe at 4:00, right?"
Jim stood as well and glanced at his watch. Nodding his head, he confirmed Blair's question: "4:00 it is," he answered simply. Blair looked up at him and impulsively, Jim reached over and threw his arm around Sandburg's neck, pulling him in close for a brief moment. He released his hold on the young man's neck, but kept his arm draped loosely around his shoulders. "So, you ready, partner?" he asked, smiling down at Blair.
Blair's warm smile reflected his own. "You betcha, partner."
The End
