Roachia 03 Before Dawn

by Cindy Combs

  The eyes never wavered. "You've become important to us, one of the team. Plus," Jim took a deep breath, then plunged in, "I need you. I don't know anything about being a sentinel, but you do. You've helped me more than any one else."

  "You want me to be your guide?" Blair asked hopefully. While he had hoped to convince Jim that would be a good idea, he hadn't been sure it would work. He was, after all, a lot younger than Jim, and was uncertain he knew how to handle the sentinel.

  "You are my guide." Jim made the statement without doubt or indecision. It was fact.

  "What?" Blair whispered in shock. Surely it couldn't be this easy. "What are you saying?"

  "You are my guide. From the beginning, I knew you were important to me, though I didn't know why. You've always felt like family. Perhaps even more than Rafe, who's the closest to family I've got now. Then in the tunnel, I started to suspect. You were anchoring me in a way no one else had before. By the time you saved me from that truck, I knew. Just like Harry knew Keegan was his and was willing to fight the Center for him. You are my guide. I was just waiting for you to heal enough to realize that."

  Blair stood a moment in shock. What he had always wanted, had always hoped for, had aimed for, was suddenly dumped into his lap. The doubts soon threatened to swamp him. "I'm a lot younger than you are."

  "Keegan was five years younger than Harry."

  "I'm pretty small compared to the rest of you guys."

  "You're big enough. We just have to get you healthy and in shape."

  "I don't think I've had any weapons or combat training."

  "That's my job description. Yours is to watch my back and help me handle these senses."

  "I really don't have any guide training, either."

  "You know a lot more than I do. Probably more than anyone else left alive on this planet."

  "You really want ME?"

  Jim sighed in exasperation. "YES, I want you. If you'll take the job." He held out his hand.

  A shy smile spread across Blair's face. "Okay, I accept the job." He shook Jim's hand, then was suddenly pulled into a bear hug. His protector, his sentinel had accepted him before Blair even knew he was a guide. Blair soaked up the warmth, realizing that with this man standing beside him, they could tackle anything.

  When they pulled apart, Blair tentatively asked, "What does the Colonel and Major Banks say about this?"

  Jim chuckled. "Full approval, all the way up to your 'Uncle Pete'. Jack and Simon feel you're their best hope to get my senses on-line full time. The General feels you're safest here with us. He's worried that with your background, you may be targeted by the Roaches like your father."

  "Oh man," Blair moaned. "I hadn't even thought of that." He paused a moment. "What about Sam? He'd be even more likely to be targeted than me."

  "Dr. Branson is offering him a position here as we speak. He can even set it up so that Sam can finish his final year of college with only a couple trips to Glendale. Apparently, they had worked out a similar deal for Evan."

  "Great!" Blair shouted. Everything was falling into place. He had a sentinel, Sam would be close by, he now had good friends. If only...

  Seeing the eyes sadden, Jim asked, "What's wrong?"

  "I just wish I could tell Dad about all this," Blair admitted. There was a place in his heart crying out for his father.

  Jim draped an arm around his guide. "I'd like to meet this father of yours, too. But you know what? I have a feeling that one day I will meet him. If he is anything like his sons, I know I will. So don't give up!" He gave the short curly head an affectionate rub. "Now let's get inside before you DO turn into a popsicle!" He grinned at the man who was now his guide and his brother.

  "Okay," Blair replied as they turned towards the stairs. "Hey Jim, I've got some ideas on how we can tests your senses. See how sensitive they are."

  "Tests? You never said anything about tests before."

  "Well, I'm your guide. I've got to know these things."

  "I never agreed to any tests..."

  The End

  Author's note 6/20/98: In case anyone is interested , there were 35 characters (from major to briefly mentioned) in this story that were either taken or roughly based on characters from seven different TV shows. Below is a list of the shows and number of characters from each. I have a detailed list if you want to see if you have picked them all out

  If people are interested, I do have a sequel in mind for this story. However, I promise my next piece will be 'Hot Time in Chicago', which should be a light-hearted romp in my TS/MacGyver world. I've had enough of dark pieces for now.

  Cindy