Epilogue
In the days that followed, Sentinel and Guide easily returned to their old patterns of living; the only real difference was their sleeping arrangements. Blair accompanied Jim to the station each day, somehow getting stuck doing all of the unfinished paperwork from the carjacking bust. In fact, only one case took them out of the station at all. Most of the time, Blair just sat and grumbled about traveling all that way just so he could fill out form after form.
It was difficult to say who was more surprised, Jim or Blair, when Simon wordlessly handed over the anthropologists old Observer I.D. Blair had been required to return it before he left for Virginia; however, since the I.D. was valid until June of the next year, the Captain had just locked it away in his desk. He had suspected that the younger man would want to ride with Ellison and Ryf whenever he came back into town, and Blair certainly didn't disappoint him.
For the most part, Blair spent his evenings with Jim. They went out to dinner once, but generally preferred to stay home where they didn't have to monitor their behavior. Sentinel and Guide spent the entire six day period together with the exception of the night that Blair reluctantly tore himself away from his lover to go out with some of old friends from Rainier.
They were both hoping that a position would be open in the coming fall, one that would allow the professor to return to Cascade and allow him to continue his work in the field of anthropology. At that point in time, there were no openings, but the fall was still months away, and as they both were well aware, a lot can happen in nine months.
Instead of focusing on their impending separation, the two men would retreat to the couch every evening for marathon cuddling sessions. Whether they just watched television, or made out like teenagers; it was more than enough just to know they were together and in love with each other.
And love each other they did. Jim couldn't recall another time in his entire life where he'd had sex with the frequency that he maintained with Blair. Each morning -- whether in bed, in the shower, or even the kitchen table once when his Guide was feeling rather adventurous -- and each night, they made passionate love to each other. It was awkward at times, as they discovered the intricacies of the actual mechanics; but after the nervous laughter; the frequent blushes; and more importantly, the powerful orgasms, it was worth it.
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December 30th 11:02 PM
'Time flies...,' Jim thought as he waited with Blair for the final boarding call of the younger man's flight back to Virginia.
Indeed, time had flown by the last few days. Time. Jim realized what a precious gift it really was over the course of the past week.
Any doubts he had about their relationship were completely banished from his mind. If nothing else, this week with Blair proved to him that they were meant to be together. Now that they were forced to separate, Jim once again braced himself for the pain of separation that he knew was coming.
"Geez, Jim, I didn't think I was that rough on you," Blair commented when he saw Jim wincing in pain as he shifted in his chair. They had chosen to say their 'good-byes' at home, rather than risk being seen in public. Unfortunately, they got a little carried away. His Guide had been determined to give his lover something 'to remember him by.' Even now, hours later, the Sentinel's ass was still warm and throbbing from Blair's pounding thrusts.
Looking into his Guide's smirking face, Jim couldn't help but smile himself. "I'm fine, Chief. I'm just looking forward to payback," he taunted.
Blair's face lit up at the thought of the prospect. "I'm so glad Simon cleared your time off. Just think, man. Only two more weeks until we're together again."
The Captain had indeed kept his earlier promise to the Sentinel. With the 50 hours of overtime Jim had logged during the carjacking case, Simon was only too happy to give his detective comp time to go to Virginia for ten days. Frankly, after all those long hours, Jim could use the vacation.
"This is the final boarding call of flight 361, direct service to Charlotte."
With no direct flights from Richmond to Cascade, Blair had a two hour layover while he before he could change planes. At Jim's insistence, Blair's called the airline's customer service line to get a refund on his ticket. The younger man not only received a voucher for a free round trip to Cascade, but he also managed to get himself bumped up to first class for both of his return flights.
"I guess this is it," Blair said as he leaned over to pick up his backpack. The movement pulled his hair for allowing his hair to fall forward, the long curls completely concealing his face. Jim would have none of it, though, and brought a hand up to raise his Guide's chin. Although he was trying his best to hide it, tears filled the wide smoky blue eyes.
"Hey, come on here, Chief. It's only two weeks...," Jim said tenderly. If he thought his words were comforting his Guide, the Sentinel was greatly mistaken.
"I know that, Jim. It's just that...well, I feel like we're not supposed to be apart from each other. And it's not just the 'new relationship' kinda thing. It's deeper than that." A solitary tear slipped down Blair's cheek as he expressed his emotions.
"I know," Jim replied as his own throat began to tighten. Taking the smaller man into a crushing embrace, the Sentinel closed his eyes, allowing his other senses to make one final imprint of the man he loved. Uncaring of the people around them, Jim pressed a gentle kiss to his Guide's forehead. "I love you, Blair," he said softly.
"I love you, too, Jim." With one last squeeze, they broke apart.
"Safe trip, Chief."
"Take care of yourself, love." Blair adjusted his backpack and made his way towards the woman checking tickets. As he reached the jetway, the younger man turned around for one last look at his Sentinel. Smiling sadly, he whispered, "I'll be waiting for you," before disappearing from Jim's sight.
'I'll be there soon, Chief. Count on it.'
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