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Crossover: Sentinel/Emergency!
Notes: Feel free to use the theme, or add to story as long as I get a copy, too..., This is a revised copy intended to replace all previous archived copies.
Warnings: AU alert! Slash/explicit sexual content/graphic descriptions of the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.

The Sentinel
-- Mission of Mercy Part 2--
written by Roy's Lady 51 (October 2002)

Ellison stared at her suspiciously, but let it go: Blair needed him. He waited for John, Roy, and Dr. Early to leave the room before he went back into the chamber where his Guide lay quietly on the bed, still, and with his back to the wall. He struggled with the harm he had caused Blair for several minutes. Then he studied Sandburg for another long moment.

"How much did you hear, and how much of it made any sense to you, Chief?" He said as he eased his weight onto the bed next to him.

"All of it: Is he really gone, Jim?"

Ellison closed his eyes against the hurt "Why-did-you-do-this-to-me?" look in Blair's tear-filled eyes.

"Yeah, he is. Is...is it as bad as I think it is?"

"I don't know." He watched warily as Jim shuddered, then zoned. He moaned a little, he knew he didn't have a choice, that he had to move, but he also knew it was REALLY going to hurt when he did.

*I was right, God, I hate it when I'm right about shit like that* Blair thought as he shifted close enough to Jim to get him out of that zone. He was still laying there, panting against the fire eating his guts when he succeeded. He didn't have enough strength left to recover himself. And Jim saw that right off: Tears filled the Sentinel's eyes as he carefully adjusted his Guide's position, and tucked him in gently. Blair barely noticed; he simply hurt too damned much right then to give a damn.

Jim moved to leave, heard Blair whimper, returned. He wasn't sure if Blair would like it, but he was going to do it anyway. If he caused nightmares, at least he could be there to soothe them away. He got into bed with his still naked Guide and cuddled the younger male in as close to himself as he could manage.

~~~~

Roy and John sat next to the bed they shared with Jane and listened to her as she spoke in quiet tones. The didn't really enjoy hearing where and how many of the years of seperation had been spent on her part, but they knew they needed to know.

"Jesus Roy, homeless, half the time foodless, and the scars! I thought there were too many, but Christ! And this other thing, these, what did you call them, little love? Bonded Pairs? Pairs of what?"

"Jim is one half of the Pairing, he's what's known as a Sentinel, and Blair is the other half, called a Guide. I know Blair likes to tease Jim about being a throwback to early man, but the truth is, they both are. Actually, they ALL are. These two aren't the only Pair here, just the most experienced. They have some serious issues to work through, and they can't do that until they Bond properly. The process is a mentally, emotionally, and for the Guide, physically painful one.

If you'll pardon the phrase, it's a trial by fire. The time for physical pain is over, now they have a spiritual, and emotional trial to overcome, and after that the Sentinel will have a period mental re- adjustment before they have smooth sailing. Just stay out of their business, okay? If there's interfering needed, it's MY job."

"And does their captain know about all this?"

"Probably. You can ask him by letting him know that not only do WE know, but that I've had to handle Pairings before."

"So...what do we do now?"

"Well, we could use more firewood. And it think it's John's turn to milk this week. Look, we all have chores, and I, for one, need to get busy. It looks like we're about to get our first look at the sun in while, since the wind's down and the clouds are up." She sighed unhappily. "There's not much to BE done, for them for now. And life in the Stead isn't going to stop because they're 'out' of it for a while. First get YOUR chores done, then get the main entrance shoveled snow-free. That'll take most of the morning. We'll discuss this afternoon's plans at lunch."

Jim tracked the conversation by ear, so to speak, but maintained his position curled around Blair's smaller form. During the night, the younger male had finally relaxed, and had a decent nights sleep. Jim had remained in full B.P.M. throughout the night. He relaxed a little more until he heard her reserve the right of interfering with him and his guide for herself.

That made Ellison a little nervous: She knew too much, and had much too much experience at dealing with sentinels and guides. He wondered how she knew so much, but remained wrapped around his shattered young Guide, to hold him while he slept.

He had to.

"Jim?' Ellison cringed at the broken catch in Blair's deep voice.

"Yes?"

"I guess the bottom line is that I *am* your Guide. If you need something, then it's my JOB to see to it that you get it: No matter what." Sandburg spoke in a sudden rush of words, as if he feared he wouldn't be able to bear to say what he needed to say, if he tried to say it slowly.

"Oh JESUS! Oh God..." Jim's arms tightened around the smaller, younger male, and the Sentinel trembled. "Christ...no, Oh HELL, she was right! Why the hell did she have to be right?"

He began to rock Sandburg in his arms, cradling the other man close to himself as he moved. "I refuse! I'm NOT going to hurt you, damn it! I'm NOT like HIM! I'm NOT HIM, and I WON'T DO IT!"

Jane listened quietly to Jim's denial, and then sent Stoker to Kramer Stead for Mitch Kramer and Stan Lake. Less than an hour later, when she judged that Mike'd had time to get there and ask Mitch to step outdoors and listen for her, she went outside herself.

She explained Jim's current crisis, since only another full sentinel could aide the alpha male, and only with the aide of HIS Guide, in close quarters to the pair in Bonding Progress. (Using the bonded pair to force the issue was dirty pool, but she was going to do it anyway) When Mitch and Stan had agreed to go with Mike to join them, she went to 'warn' Jim.

"Sentinel of DeSoto-Gage Stead," She intoned formally, "The Sentinel of Kramer Stead and HIS Guide are in route to assist you in completeing your Bond. The presense of another Pair is required for reassurance, advice, and the answers to any questions you may have. As a Fully Bonded Pairing, they're presense here will cause a biological response in BOTH of you, as soon as they cross the territorial border. This response is the Final Phase of the Transition from Normal, to Full Sentinel for, you, Jim, and from Normal to Full Guide for Blair. In this case, shamanism is not a consideration. One need not be a Guide to be a shaman, although if you are a Guide, you CAN be a shaman." She paused when she saw Sandburg slip both arms around Jim's neck, and open his mouth for Jim's. Ellison's tongue was already licking at the corners, and his big hands were already exploring his Guide's flanks as he covered Blair's body with his own larger frame.

She slipped out of the Sentinel's bedchamber to go and greet Mitch and Stan, joining them in the main hall of the Stead.

"Mitch! Stan! I'm SO glad you could make it! I'm even gladder that Ellison is FINALLY allowing instinct to show him what to do and how to do it, though."

"Trouble?"

"Oh yes, and FAR too much of it! That idiot denied poor Blair for three flippin' YEARS, and then brought him into this area where the potenial for threats to an UnBonded Guide is as high as the proverbial kite. The Spirit World stepped in, and sent the OLDEST ONE in to force the issue: Oh Dear, I shouldn't have told you in front of poor Stan!"

Mitchell found Stan suddenly wrapped around his larger body, trying to hide. He was trembling violently, and Kramer turned to soothing the smaller male.

"Where?" Mitch snapped.

"Two doors down on the left, in corridor three, Mitch." Mitch tried petting Stan at first, but finally just scooped the frightened Guide into his arms and headed for the indicated bedchamber. Since it was right next to the one Jim was in with Blair, each of the Sentinels immediately reacted to the presense of the other, each of them by making intense love to his guide...

TBC

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