"Go to sleep, Sandburg." Jim shook his head and got comfortable. "We'll have all day to talk."
He would have argued, would have sat up and asked his friend to spill it all right then and there. He had every intention of removing his face from the pillow, pushing himself into a sitting position, and staying up all night if need be. And he thought he had, only the next thing he became aware of was the sun poking through the tent weave and slamming him in the eyes.
"Oh, man." Blair rolled over and pulled the light blanket over his face. Of all the times to come visit, he had to arrive right when the team was building a house. Convenient for them, hard work for him. Ah, but his excuse to get out of it was sleeping right over...
"Jim?"
"Hey, Chief."
Blair turned to see his friend step back into the tent, carrying a basin of water and a towel. His hair was wet, what hair there was, and he wore only faded jeans and shoes. "Did you sleep?" Struggling to free his feet from the blanket, Blair sat up, pushing hair from his face.
"Yeah, I slept great. What about you?"
Had he slept? He must have, if he was waking up. "Give me a few minutes, and I'll let you know." He shuffled out of the tent to the sound of Jim's chuckling and took care of business, then took his turn in the makeshift shower the group shared beside the river the natives preferred to bathe in. When he got back to the tent, his friend had replaced the water and put a towel and razor out on the table.
"Better?"
"Better." He pulled on some jeans and a shirt, then set about preparing to shave. "So, Jim, what did you and Dr. Stoddard talk about?" He had to wait until his friend finished pulling a shirt down over his face.
Jim shrugged, settling the shirt in place. "We talked about what he's doing here with the tribes. About Peru and the people he'd met there."
"But what about your Sentinel abilities?" Blair gazed at Jim's reflection in the mirror as he finished shaving. "Did he ask about them?"
"A little." Jim folded the blankets on his borrowed cot. "He's impressed."
"I knew he would be." He washed off the last of the shaving cream and turned around. "I told him all about how you've been able to use your senses on the job."
Jim straightened up and shook his head. "Sandburg, he's impressed with you. Sure, he asked a few questions about what it's like, but mostly he was impressed with you."
"Me? But--"
"You, Chief." Jim laughed lightly, then walked over and patted Blair on the shoulder, trying to steer him out of the tent. "He's impressed with the way you found me, the way you figured out how to harness this thing, and how you've taught me how to use it at work."
Numbly, Blair let himself be led from the tent and in the direction of breakfast.
"And frankly, so am I."
"Good morning, you two. Jim, I hope you slept well?"
Blair glanced at Kathryn as she joined them entering the dining tent. Jim's statement dazed him enough to stop him dead in his mental tracks. Eli was supposed to be impressed with Jim. Blair had explained, in great and enthusiastic detail, all of what Jim could, and might be able to someday, do. He was sure Eli had been impressed when he was explaining it all. After all, Blair didn't create Jim's Sentinel abilities. But wait a minute, hadn't Jim just said...
"Blair, are you with us this morning?"
"What?" Startled, Blair looked up and realized he was sitting at the table, Dr. Stoddard looking at him expectantly. A quick glance at Jim rewarded him with a grin. "I guess not. What are we talking about?"
"Jim has volunteered to help us get this longhouse put together. I think that's very generous."
"I thought we could check out the sights today, Jim." Gawd, another day of hammering and hot tar?
"Come on, Chief. That building can be finished by nightfall if we put our backs into it." Jim slapped Blair on the back and grinned at the agreements he received around the table.
"Great." Just great. Oh well, he'd only been sneaking out of helping every other day. If Jim wanted to pour sweat into something he wasn't going to gain from, then Blair could help out one more day too. He didn't really mind, but he wasn't going to let anything get in the way of taking Jim to those caves before they left.
Part 3
* * *
As it turned out, he enjoyed the day more than he expected. Jim was impressed with the building's structure, following the design of the natives with a few adjustments for personal space that Craig had added. With his help and organization, they developed a rhythm of placing boards, hammering them into place, and erecting walls quickly and smoothly. Blair relished the chance to concentrate on one thing at a time, following Jim's lead as he worked beside his friend. It was easier than trying to figure out why Eli had said what he had. What exactly that was, he didn't know. Maybe Jim just got the wrong impression? He was always trying to downplay his Sentinel senses. It could be that he was changing the subject so often in that tent last night, he wasn't sure what they were talking about.
No, that wasn't Jim. He could direct any conversation, from years of interrogations and questioning suspects. Knowing what someone was saying or not saying was part of what made Jim such a good detective. He knew the dance better than most.
And he knew his way around a hammer and nails. By late afternoon, they were finished, except for the grass-bundle roof that Kathryn and several of the native women were still binding together. To celebrate, and because they all realized they'd missed lunch, Jim, Blair and Craig followed some of the tribesmen into the jungle on a hunt for fresh fruit to go with the fish Dr. Stoddard had caught during his "little break" that lasted three hours.
Jim's jungle expertise, along with what Blair was sure must have been a Sentinel-trained eye, netted them more fruit than they could all carry and sent them back to the village as dinner-time heroes. And to Blair's relief, that evening's conversation consisted of their work with the natives and the things they'd learned. Each time he stole a glance, he found Jim paying interested attention to the tales, often nodding in approval, and occasionally glancing back at Blair with a tolerant smile.
This was going well. Far better than Blair expected for a quick trip to Borneo and a visit with an old friend. If Jim had just mentioned something about flying out, he could have been more prepared. But having him here, even if Eli was the only one who knew exactly what Jim was, did a lot for him. Things that were in a way still fragmented in his mind were falling into place nicely, now that Jim and Dr. Stoddard had met. Blair wasn't sure exactly why that was so important to him, but it had been for some time now.
Jim had literally become Blair's life's work. It went beyond studying a Sentinel, he knew that. Just like Jim's senses went beyond guarding a small tribe. He didn't need anyone's approval to make his new life any more valid, but it was nice to have it. Someday, he'd have to explain what he was really studying to Naomi. Maybe.
"I suspect Blair will be showing you around tomorrow?" Dr. Stoddard stuffed his notebook back into one of the many pockets of his vest and glanced at Blair.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact I was going to show Jim the caves."
"Where you lost your dignity?" Jim's ribbing was accompanied by laughter around the group.
Blair rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, that would be the place."
Jim laughed, then turned to Dr. Stoddard. "Well, I think I'll turn in."
"That's a good idea. I'm heading up to the high country tomorrow with the group, so you and Blair will be on your own."
"I think we can handle ourselves." As long as I don't forget that slick spot going into the caves. After saying their goodnights, everyone split off to their respective tents for the evening. In another day or two the longhouse would be fit for occupation and Blair could leave with a sense of satisfaction at seeing the second stage of Dr. Stoddard's work coming into play.
Entering the tent, he yawned mightily.
"Nothing like a hard day's work to put you right to sleep, eh?" Jim pulled his shirt off and stretched, then in
spected the few nicks and scrapes on his knuckles.
"You know, you didn't have to help. But everyone appreciated it." He yawned again and pulled off his own shirt, tossing it aside. "It's going to make it nicer for the group during the rainy season."
"I was glad to help, Chief. Are you keeping those cuts clean?"
Once he scrubbed the bat guano off when they happened. Blair nodded. "It's not exactly traditional, but it's close enough." He let his jeans slide off then folded them over the chair next to his cot. "Traditionally, a bachelor would build an apartment, then when he married he'd add on to it. When they have kids, they add more apartments to the end. And then, when each child marries, they add even more apartments until they have one long house with a huge family unit."
Jim nodded, sliding his legs under the light blanket covering his cot. "Then this one's not all that different. This group is an extended family, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Blair turned off their lantern and gazed up at the tent roof. The weave was too tight for him to see the stars, but he was sure Jim could watch the night sky with ease. It felt like they were camping, as if they had traveled no farther than the Olympics or one of the Passes, instead of somewhere in the middle of Malaysia. "I'm glad you came, Jim."
"So am I, Chief." Jim's cot creaked as he rolled onto his side. "Good night."
"Good night."
It was a very good night. So good, Blair was awake and refreshed before Jim, and before the sun finished climbing into full view. Quietly, he slipped out of bed and grabbed a towel and some clothes from the chair. All was quiet outside, the group having left already for their visit to the village one valley over. They had the camp to themselves, but he had no intention of hanging around here when there was so much he wanted to show Jim while they had the time. After a quick shower, Blair dressed and went to the main tent to fix breakfast. Thoughts of his previous conversation with Kathryn kept him company while he cooked.
Studying one man had become far more complicated than studying a culture or tribe. In some ways it was easier, but for the most part it was a lot more work than he'd ever imagined. With a tribe you could generalize actions and motivations, but if you singled out one member of that tribe, got to know his or her individual personality, the actions of the tribe became that much more complex. When that individual was a Sentinel, the complex became that much more interesting. When that person was Jim Ellison, all bets were off.
"Hey, Chief."
"Perfect timing." Blair picked up the two plates he'd just filled with eggs, sausage and fresh papaya slices and set them on the table as Jim walked in. "I thought we'd have a nice breakfast, then I'd give you a tour of the area on the way to the caves."
Jim sat down, nodding his approval. "Sounds great. When did everyone clear out of here, anyway? I never heard a thing."
"They usually start out right before sunrise." Blair poured the coffee then sat down. "The village is a good four hour hike around the mountain and they'll want to spend the day there."
"Didn't you want to go with them?"
"I would have, but I've been there before." He stabbed a chunk of papaya. "Now that you're here, there's other things to do."
"Like the bats?"
His mouth full, Blair nodded.
"What's the big deal with these bats, anyway?" Jim picked up his cup and watched Blair over the rim.
"It's not the bats so much as their sonar, Jim. I'm just curious to see if you can pick it up. And with so many, the chances are pretty good."
"Always on the job, aren't you, Sandburg?" Jim finished his coffee and shook his head.
"Of course, Jim. These Sentinel senses aren't something you take off on the weekend and put away." Blair picked up his empty plate and reached over for Jim's. "Besides, you're always on the job. You should understand this more than anyone."
"I suppose. But I don't understand the significance of whether or not I can hear bats." Jim stood and brought his cup to the basin of soapy water Blair was using to wash the dishes in. "They're not likely to commit a crime in Cascade."
"Jim, that's not the point." Blair pulled his hands out of the warm soapy water in order to emphasize his position. "Your Sentinel senses are bigger than we know. There's still a lot we don't understand, and a lot more we need to explore. You've become comfortable with a few things and now you think that's all there is or ever will be about them." Jim was shaking his head and moving back to the table. "You know I'm right, Jim."
"Sandburg, there isn't much more to figure out. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't."
"Now that's what I mean right there, Jim." Blair dried his hands on a towel then tossed it on the counter. "You're becoming almost bored with them. I can't get you to try anything new or tell me when something strange is happening. I can't get you to exercise them or test how strong something might be. All I get from you is complaints about how they don't work."
"Sandburg, there hasn't been anything strange to tell you about." Jim shook his head and walked out of the tent, holding the flap for Blair to follow. "With your help, they do work, Chief. So what's the problem?"
Blair ducked under the flap and followed Jim outside. "The problem is you finding me out of a crowd of people by tuning in to my voice, then turning around and telling me you can't find someone wearing a very distinctive scent." They walked back to Blair's tent.
"There was too much going on at once. How was I supposed to get past it all?"
"But you did, Jim. You found me easily enough." The map to the caves sat on Blair's desk, along with the small binoculars he wanted to bring. "And you could have found her that way too, if you'd just practice more and let me work with your senses, get them developed further."
"They're developed just fine, Chief." Jim fastened his watch and nodded toward the tent flap. "I don't see any need to change what works."
Was he born with blinders on? "You know, it's that attitude that makes me wonder why you keep me around." Frustrated, Blair pushed past his friend and went back outside, stuffing the small map into his back pocket. The binoculars clipped easily to his belt as he walked away from the row of tents.
"Sandburg, you know full well why I keep you around." Jim was behind him, easily matching the shorter man's pace. "Besides, now that I know you're not skipping out on me, we have time to talk about some of these developments of yours."
At first, Blair didn't think he heard Jim correctly. He stopped, glancing at his friend. "What do you mean, now that you know I'm not skipping out?" What the hell was he talking about?
Jim sighed, glancing at the blue sky for a moment before replying. "It's nothing. Just a few rumors I heard."
Suddenly things began to fall into place with a heart twisting snap. Rumors, things Dr. Stoddard had asked Blair that he didn't feel warranted a mention to his partner. Reasons for Jim to suddenly purchase a ticket for Borneo at full price and fly half way around the world. Blair could feel the pain of emotion welling up inside, but he allowed anger to beat all the other ones. With a control that was new to him, Blair met Jim's eyes and dared him to explain. "Rumors of what, Jim?"
Jim ran a hand over his hair and shook his head. "It's nothing, Chief. Dr. Stoddard explained it all to me the other night."
"Dr. Stoddard explained? What did he explain?"
"I was at the University and ran into Professor Kinyon." Jim held out a hand, smiling to make light of the situation. "She said a few things that got me worried, and before I knew what I was doing I was on a plane down here."
"Because you thought what, Jim?" Blair's head was spinning. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, but he wasn't hearing Jim deny it either. "You flew down here because you thought I wasn't coming back, didn't you?"
"Sandburg, it was stupid. I know that. I just had one moment of irrationality and--"
"No, Jim. It isn't that easy." Blair shook his head and stepped back a few paces, running a hand through long hair. "Jim Ellison does not do something on this scale just because of
one moment of irrational thinking." Jim opened his mouth to speak but Blair stopped him with a raised hand. "You really believed I'd do that, didn't you? That I could come down here to stay and not tell you? Just what kind of a jerk do you think I am?"
"I told you, it was stupid." Jim glanced around for a moment as if searching for the right words. "Call it what you like. Low blood sugar, spring fever, whatever. I put two and two together and for a minute it came out seven."
This was just perfect. Just exactly what he needed. "I can't believe this. After all we've been through together, you actually thought I could leave like that?" Blair's anger was reaching the boiling point, his new-found control quickly vanishing. "My God, Jim. I have devoted my career to you and this Sentinel study. I've watched your back, gone undercover with killers...I've been shot working with you! And this is what I get? You believe I'm capable of sneaking off like some rat leaving a ship?!"
"Sandburg---"
"Don't, Jim! Just don't." Pulling away from his friend's outstretched hand, Blair spun around and started up the slope. He had to put some distance between them quickly. How could he think that? After all they'd been through...all they'd meant, how could Jim think for a minute he would up and leave and not say anything? Even that first time, when Eli got the grant, Blair had been open and honest about the possible change in his plans. How many times did he have to explain this? What was it Jim still didn't understand? He'd said he knew it was about friendship. He confessed to Jim that he was avoiding finishing his papers because he didn't want to end it all. And this is the thanks he gets? The man he admires so much thinks he's capable of walking away without so much as a goodbye.
Blair's frustration brought him to the top of the rise overlooking the valley. If he continued, he'd enter the jungle in the opposite direction of the caves he had intended to visit. Anger kept him from returning, but the pain of his discovery made him too emotionally sick to keep going. He could see Jim out the corner of his eye, standing where he'd left him, staring up the ridge. Damn him! This week was so perfect! Unable to go forward or back down to camp, Blair sat down on the grassy section of the ridge and pushed his hair out of his eyes, waiting for the inevitable approach that would either end or renew the argument. He didn't have long to wait, but it was enough time for him to gather his angry thoughts.
The Dancing Page 3