I saw the movie last night....or at least what I could manage to
watch....Sorry Richard, I still love you. I figured if he could act in
it...I could write this.
Warning!!! This story has not been Beta'd. (and it probably won't be) If
bad grammer frightens you more than the new UPN fall line up, then please stay
away from the story.
Blair, being his normal energetic self, bounced into the loft, stopping only
when he saw Jim sitting transfixed in front of the television. Jim had been
this way for days. Every time he was at home, he was in front of the
television. It was almost as if he were studying it. Blair probably wouldn't
have thought much about it if Jim had been watching football or basketball,
but the hard-nosed, straight laced, tough guy, cop was watching old romance
movies, soaps and he even could have sworn that he had seen Melrose Place on.
A full body shiver came over Blair as he thought of Jim watching mushy
soaps...correction, night time dramas. Blair tried to figure out exactly when
Jim had started acting differently. It was after the camping trip. Jim
became strangely distant. There were times that Blair thought that the older
man was zoning, but Jim just brushed it off as thinking. Blair walked into
the living room and sat down on the couch beside Jim. He had to find out what
was wrong with his sentinel, after all, he was his guide. "Jim, we need to
talk."
"About what?" Jim's gaze never left the screen.
"I want to know what's bugging you."
"Nothing....Just let it go," he replied coldly.
"Is it your senses?" Blair pushed.
Jim turned and looked at Blair with no emotion, then turned back to the TV.
"Jim...if it's something that I've done I would like to know."
"I said it's nothing so don't push it."
He hasn't called me Chief. Usually when Jim gets pissy with me, he calls me
Chief.'
Blair stared at Jim for a moment in stunned silence. There was definitely
something wrong with Jim. Something different. His attitude, personality,
the way he carried himself, and those sounds. Blair watched as Jim did it
again. A twitch of his shoulder caused a crunching sound.'Speaking of
twitches. I haven't seen the classic Ellison jaw clench lately. Blair stood
up and backed away from the couch. This isn't Jim. He hasn't mentioned
anything about his senses and that would explain the look he gave me when I
brought them up. Blair went into the kitchen, standing by the island he
stared at the stranger in the living room, trying to remember the last time he
saw *his* Jim. The woods. Blair ran a hand through his hair. Just
before he went for a walk. The one he went on alone. And I thought he was
just pissed at me when he came back. Mad because I didn't go with him. That
means Jim must still be there in the woods. What if he's hurt or de....oh
God, I should have gone with him. Blair's heart was racing as he thought of
Jim alone and hurt. That was another indication that this wasn't the real Jim
Ellison. The real Ellison would have been at Blair's side at the on set of
the panic attack. "Oh God, Jim where are you?"
Blair's eyes widened at the realization that his last thought had been spoken
aloud. Catching the impostor's attention, distant steely blue eyes locked
with fear filled ones. The impostor stood and made his way to the kitchen. A
few long strides had him standing in front of Blair before the young man had
time to react.
"Who the hell are you?" Blair asked, finally mustering all the courage he had
to face the fake Ellison.
The man's face softened as if he had practiced this scene thousands of times.
"Blair, it's me Jim."
Anger flashed in vibrant blue eyes as Blair straightened and poked the
impostor in the chest. "You....are.....not...JIM!" Blair emphasized each
word with a quick jab of his finger. "What have you done to him? What do you
want?"
The impostor stepped closer. "It's me buddy...Jim." Jim looked at the young
man for a moment. "I'm worried about you Blair. You haven't been yourself
lately."
"What?" Blair asked incredulously.
"You've been withdrawn, distant and moody. Are you having problems at work?"
"You're the problem man. I don't know you."
"Yes you do....I'm the same ol' Jim."
"No...You're not. Man, I think we need to have a talk."
"You're right. Come in the living room and sit down. We'll talk," Jim said
soothingly in an almost hypnotic voice.
Without realizing it, Blair allowed the stranger to lead him into the living
area. Once they had both settled on the couch, *Jim* turned to Blair.
"I've been wanting to say something to you, but I wasn't sure exactly how to
word it. I guess maybe that's why I have seemed a little different lately.
It's really important to me and I'm not sure if you'll feel the same way."
Blair's natural curiosity was now at its peak, he couldn't help himself.
"What is it?"
Jim took a deep breath, his face became a mask of sincerity. "I think it's
time we had a baby."
Blair sat there for a moment, shocked at the comment, and then started
laughing hysterically. Finally he brought himself under control as his anger
began to surface again. "That's great Jim. I'm trying to be serious and you
joke around."
Jim's expression didn't change.
"Oh man! You're serious!" Blair jumped up and began to pace in front of the
large windows. A nervous laugh escaped him. "I know we have a special bond
and everything, but *that* ain't gonna happen. In case you haven't noticed,
I'm a guy and....UMPH!" Blair ran into the impostor, who was now blocking his
path.
"Blair, I love you. I long for you to hold me like you used to. I want to
feel your arms around me again. I want to be good to you for the rest of..."
"What?...." Blair raised his hands in front of himself as he backed away from
Jim's outstretched arms. "Whoa man....back up there. I *don't* swing that
way.....What do you mean *used to*? We never did....."
"But we can."
"NO, we can't." Blair's heart was racing out of control, as he backed away
from the larger man. "This isn't happening." Blair ran a shaky hand through coffee colored curls. "Who are you?!?"
"We have to protect the species," the sentinel said in a strange monotone
voice. Reaching up, he pulled the skin away from his face and the rest of his
skin and clothing seemed to dissolve away, revealing a reddish glowing mass of
muscle and goo.
"AHHGHHH!!!!!! JIM....HELP!!!!!!" Blair screamed as the monster approached
him. Suddenly everything went black.
"Blair wake up! Jim shook the young man, who was thrashing about on the
couch.
"Jim! Help!" Blair screamed, lashing out with fisted hands, still caught up
in the dream.
"Wake up Chief!" Jim smacked Blair across the cheek just hard enough to snap
the terror stricken guide out of it.
Blue eyes flashed, focused and then looked nervously around the room as he sat
up and scooted to the corner of the couch, trying to put as much distance as
possible between him and the man in front of him.
"Are you okay? You were having a nightmare." Jim sat on the now empty
section of couch, monitoring Blair's heart rate and breathing.
"Jim?" Blair gasped, trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah..."
Sandburg gulped. "How do I know that you're you and not him?"
Confusion spread across Jim's face. "Who?"
"The monster. That...thing." Blair gestured wildly.
"Oh...We'll, I'm me.....not a monster."
"But.." Blair began.
"You trust me, right?"
"Well, yeah....I umm...." Blair was slowly shaking the last of the dream off.
"I guess you're right. It was just a dream." He laughed nervously, but he
was still a little shaky. "It just seemed so real."
Jim looked at the coffee table. His stomach threatened to roll as he took in
the empty candy wrappers, half eaten pizza, empty popcorn bowl, and chip bag.
"Good grief Chief. No wonder you had a nightmare. I would after eating all
of that. It was probably your conscience making you feel guilty for pigging
out." Jim stood, picking up the empty items and taking them into he kitchen.
"No. I think it was that really bad movie. That's the last UPN Prime Movie
I'm watching. man. It was just too weird for me. I think I'll stick to those
buddy buddy cop shows."
"Sounds like a plan." Jim said from the kitchen.
"Yeah....and so does getting some Alka Seltzer. I don't feel so hot."
The End.
Muhahahahahahahaha!!!!!