TEST OF TRANQUILITY

(c) March 2004 by Charlotte Frost

PART THREE

When Blair next opened his eyes, it was in the grayness of morning. He guessed that it was later than it seemed, since the curtains were closed.

As he drifted he took stock of his situation.

He had a lazy morning erection. His butthole felt like it had been through an ordeal.

He ran his tongue along a throb at his lip and tore it open again, nullifying whatever healing had taken place.

When he ran his tongue along it again, it stung and tasted of blood.

Jim had done that to him. Bitten him in a fit of passion.

God, what passion.

To be so wanted by the one man he wanted so much....

Blair's barely-open eyes took in his ripped shirts on the floor.

Jim had been feral last night. Had said something about "claiming" Blair, and if that happened Blair could never have another.

Jim is mine.

Blair blinked, fighting back the temptation to allow himself to be thoroughly overcome.

Jim's warm heat was against his back. Blair whispered, "Jim? You awake?"

Jim snuggled closer and Blair realized Jim's arm was around his waist. "Uh-hmm," Jim answered lazily. Then, after a moment, "You okay?"

How could he even begin to answer that? Finally, he settled on, "I'm perfect," and made the effort to roll over onto his back.

Jim accommodated him, settling on his side to face Blair.

"Are you perfect, Jim?"  Blair reached up and stroked a finger along his cheek.

Jim slowly ran his hand across Blair's chest. "I am if what I think happened last night actually happened."

Blair furrowed his brow. "You aren't sure?"

Jim drew a careful breath. "I remember that it was me but it didn't always feel like me."

Blair brushed his fingers along Jim's cheek. "Whatever part of you was in control, it doesn't matter."  His heart beat softly in his chest. "I love you, Jim."  He swallowed. "Last night was... the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me."

Jim's expression softened. A finger brushed the cut on Blair's lip. Then he gazed into Blair's eyes for a long moment. "You're my everything."

Ah, Jim.  Blair closed his eyes a moment. Then he had to swallow a couple of times to steady his voice. "I think you've been my everything since the moment we first met."

Jim kissed him. And then gently loved him.

Later, while Blair still lounged in bed, Jim opened the curtains to let the noon sun stream in.

Jim came back toward the bed. "Chief, physically... are you sure you're all right?"

Blair smiled at his concern. "You prepared me well."  He met Jim's eyes. "That was what you were doing all this time, wasn't it? You knew this day would come."

Jim shrugged and looked innocent. "I had no idea."

"Maybe not consciously. But your subconscious knew exactly what you were doing when you bought those vibrators. That part of you knew that your senses would be fully functional when it was necessary for them to be; and it knew you would regain your sexual ability."  Blair furrowed his brow. "I just don't understand what one has to do with the other - why they both came back at the same time."

Jim studied him for a moment. But when he spoke it was on a different subject. "How did you know what to say to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Right before... when you told me to claim you."

Blair shrugged. "You were hesitating and you'd used that 'claim' word. It seemed like you were waiting for something."  His brow furrowed again. "What do you mean about me 'knowing' what to say? Didn't you really just need to be sure that I really wanted you... that way? Permanently?"

"You said ancient words. The right words."

Really? Wow.  "Maybe we both tapped into something primitive last night."  He wanted to understand it. Someday. It just wasn't the most important thing right now.

The important thing was that this was the first day of the rest of their lives.

Smiling inwardly at that thought, Blair got out of bed, took a moment to stretch, and then put his arm around Jim. "Why don't we shower up and see what we want to do today?"

Jim was washing Blair's back when he said, "The cell phone is ringing."

That meant it was Simon. "We'll call him as soon as we're done."  Blair turned so the shower spray could rinse his back. "Are you controlling your senses all right?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah."  He hesitated, then, "You know, everything you've taught me is pretty much instinct by now."

As Blair shampooed Jim's hair, he considered that this was the second time Jim had mentioned his instructions. The first had been when Jim had used "everything you taught me" to dampen his senses when the army had him.

Words could never adequately explain what that meant to him.

After they'd dried off, Blair took the cell phone and hit the speed dial.

"Hello?" Simon answered anxiously.

"Sorry about before, Simon. We were in the shower."

There was silence and Blair realized Simon was trying to interpret "we".

Blair went on. "What's up? Jim's listening in. He has his senses back, Simon."

"Oh. Thank God. Congratulations, Jim."  Yet, Blair could detect the doubt in Simon's voice, as though he wasn't sure this was a good thing. Or maybe he was just wondering if Jim thought it was a good thing.

"I've got good news," Simon went on. "General Townsend is being listened to and some heads are going to roll. Apparently, this was some sort of CIA and army partnership gone bad. That scientist, Paul Ruggart, was a civilian. But he got the CIA interested and the CIA wanted to work through the army - I guess because they thought Jim would be more cooperative that way. Anyway, I'm meeting with the general again tomorrow evening and I should have more information then."  He paused. "Maybe I should plan on flying out there the day after."

"Please do," Jim said, leaning down to speak into the phone. "We're in Helena, Montana. But we can be back in Boise by then. We should probably be moving on anyway."

"That's fine. Hopefully, you won't be 'moving on' much longer."

Blair realized what Simon was saying. This thing was about to be over. Surely, they were no longer being hunted - if they even had been after those first few days.

They no longer needed to 'move on'.

Yet, he felt as Jim did - that it felt natural to leave and go elsewhere. They'd been moving around less than two months. But already it seemed like a habit. A comfortable one, at that.

"All right then," Simon said, "I'll be looking to fly out to Boise sometime the day after tomorrow. I'll let you know when I have the details."

"We'll head for Boise then. Bye, Simon."

They strolled along the quiet street that stretched away from the motel, in search of a restaurant for lunch.

"You know something, Jim? I'm not sure that Cascade is home anymore. I'm not sure I want to go back."  Blair looked up to see how Jim was going to take that.

Jim put his arm around his shoulders. "What would you want to do instead?"

"Be with you."  Blair shrugged, realizing how selfish he was being. "I've liked having you to myself. We go back, I have to share you with your cases and co-workers."  He snorted, trying to be amused at himself. "Maybe it's just as well. Maybe I'll get sick of you before long and be glad to have time away from you."  Never mind that he'd never gotten sick of Jim in their prior four years together.

Jim turned to face Blair. "This isn't all one-sided, Chief."  He cupped Blair's chin. "Last night wasn't a bunch of empty words, said in the lust of the moment."

"Sentinels mate for life," Blair stated, showing that he understood.

Jim gazed at him for a long moment, then presented a pleased smile.

They began walking again.

"I just don't understand it, from a nature standpoint, and considering your behavior in the past. I mean, you've slept with plenty of women without demanding a commitment from them first. You were even married and divorced. And, you know, taking on a male partner isn't exactly 'mating'. You've insured that there won't be any future generations like you."

Jim was silent.

"Do you understand what it's all about?" Blair asked.

"No. At least, not consciously."

"Maybe we can open up your subconscious sometime."

Jim stopped. "What you said about future generations... maybe I'm doing my share in that by preserving the lives of others."

"Yeah, maybe so," Blair said thoughtfully. "It's just - "

"Quiet."  Jim waved his hand while looking off in the distance.

Blair looked too. He thought he saw a little girl walking along the sidewalk a few blocks down.

Jim pointed. "That little girl is crying. I wonder if she's lost."

They took off at an easy jog, not wanting to frighten her as they approached.

She was indeed crying as she walked, her head turned toward the houses and their large, fenced front yards.

"Sweetheart," Jim greeted as he and Blair slowed.

She looked up at them with a big frown.

"Hey," Blair said as they stopped in front of her. "What's wrong, little lady? Are you lost?"

She shook her head. "My dog is. He ran off."

Blair noticed then that she had a small leash clutched in her hand.

"How long ago?" Jim asked.

"This morning."

"Where's your mom?" Blair wondered. He wasn't sure that a child should be looking for her dog alone. But maybe this town had safer neighborhoods than Cascade.

"She's calling the pound and other places in case anyone picked him up."

Jim said, "What does your dog look like, honey?"

"Brown and white."

"How big?"

She put her hand about a foot off the ground.

"Do you know what breed?" Blair asked.

"He's a mix."

"Okay," Blair said, trying not be discouraged by that general information.  "Maybe we can help. What's his name?"

"Snoopy."

"That's a cute name," Blair said with a smile. "What about your name?"

"Gretchen."

"How old are you, Gretchen?" Jim asked.

"Eleven."

"Does your mother know where you are?"

"She told me to look in all the yards."

Blair took her hand. "I'll help you." His eyes met Jim's. "My friend Jim will look around at some other streets."

She seemed relieved to have help. Blair kept up a conversation with her, asking her about other things to distract her from her sadness.

Within twenty minutes, Jim was carrying a brown and white dog toward them.

"Snoopy!" she said happily, holding out her arms.

The dog tried to jump out of Jim's grip, but Jim held firm. He knelt to place Snoopy on the ground, then held him by the collar until Blair could get the leash snapped on.

"We'll walk you back home to your mom," Blair said.

After they left the girl's house, Blair brushed his hands together. "That was a nice good deed for the day. No bodies. No trials. No procedures."  He looked up at Jim. "How did you find him?"

"I heard some excited barking a few blocks over. The dog was running along the fences and barking at other dogs in their yards."

"I figured you'd find him first, with your senses back now."

Jim didn't respond.

They settled on a fast food restaurant for lunch. It was after two and the restaurant began to fill with high school students who were obviously finished with their classes for the day.

As they ended their meal, Blair noticed a group of teenage girls who kept looking over at him and Jim, talking and laughing. Sometimes pointing.

Blair grinned at Jim. "Are they checking us out?"

"Just you," Jim replied evenly. "All their talk is about you."

"Well," Blair said, "they're just kids."

Finally, amongst many squeals of disbelief and delight from across the restaurant, one of the girls boldly approached the table.

"Hi," she greeted brightly. "I'm Candy."  Then to Blair, "What's your name?"

"Blair," Blair smiled back. "Nice to meet you, Candy."  He wasn't sure what further conversation he was supposed to have with a flirtatious high school student.

Jim's arm snapped across the table and gripped Blair's wrist. "He's taken," he snarled to Candy.

Her mouth fell open and she stepped back, her eyes following Jim as he stood to his full height.

Then Blair was aware of his arm being yanked and he quickly followed Jim out of the restaurant.

As soon as the door was closed behind them Blair pulled his arm from Jim's grip. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Then he realized he didn't want to have a confrontation with Jim that was visible from inside the restaurant. He waited until they'd crossed over to a nearby park, so they couldn't be seen.

"Jim, dammit, she was just a high school kid!  Do you really think I was interested?"

"She was interested," Jim with disdain, even as they continued to walk. "She'd soaked her underpants with wanting you."

Blair was about to respond to that crude statement when he suddenly realized that Jim had spoken literally.

Even now, Jim's nostrils were dilated.

"All right, okay," Blair said more calmly, "you were just responding to the information your heightened senses were giving you about a threat to your mate. But Jim, she wasn't a threat. I'm yours.  You have to trust that, man."

Jim didn't react.

"And, for God's sake, it was embarrassing as hell to have you behave like that in front of a bunch of... harmless juveniles!"

Jim stopped. Then he rubbed his hand across his face. "God, you're right. You're right."  He reached to squeeze Blair's hand. "Sorry."

Blair squeezed back. "It's all right. This is just going to take some getting used to."

By evening, they were on the road to Boise.

Blair leaned over to push open the passenger door.

Simon threw his duffel bag into the backseat and got in. "Hi, Sandburg. Where's Jim?"

Blair eased away from the passenger pick-up curb. "There's a convention in town and the hotels are pretty booked. He needed to stay in line to try to get us a room at a place we liked."   He looked at Simon fully and grinned at him. "Good to see you, Simon."

"Good to see you, too."  Simon frowned. "What the hell happened to your lip?"

Oh, yeah.  It was taking a long time to heal because he kept reopening it. Jim had suggested going to an emergency room so they could put a stitch in it, but Blair liked the reminder of that night when everything had changed.

Now, it looked like the cut was going to prompt a conversation with Simon that he hadn't intended on having right away - especially without Jim being present.

Various lies crossed his mind. They would be so easy. But they had intended to tell Simon anyway. Had to, in fact.

"Jim did it to me."  Blair kept his eyes focused on the road.

Simon seemed to be waiting for further explanation. Then he said, subdued, "You sound okay about it. I guess you both worked it out."  Then, sympathetically, "A little too much tension, huh?"

Blair shook his head. "He didn't hit me, Simon."  

"Then how did he cut you like that?"

Abruptly, Blair turned onto a little street that led to the underground parking lot. He pulled into a fire lane and put the car in park. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to face Simon. "He bit me."

Simon's brow furrowed. "Bit you?"

"Yes. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me. Until a few seconds later when he did things to me that were even more exciting."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa."  Simon was waving his hands and shaking his head. "Way too much infor--"

"You have to know," Blair said firmly. "About us. You aren't going to want us back."

"What? Of course I do."  Simon released a long breath. "It'll be a bit difficult, I admit, but if you both don't flaunt it...."

Blair maintained his firm voice. "The Cascade PD isn't ready for Jim and me. And I don't mean just because we're fucking."

Simon let out another breath, as though he still wasn't ready to hear such blatant facts.

"He's a sentinel, Simon. He has certain instincts. Primitive ones. We've tapped into some that Burton never talked about. He's jealously possessive of his mate. He can't function in a bureaucratic environment the way he is now. And I don't want to function in one either."  Blair's voice softened. "I've gotten used to being around him all the time. I'm possessive of him, too. Not in the primitive, instinctual way that he is of me; but whatever the motivation is for each of us, the bottom line is the same."

Simon rubbed at his eyes, not looking at Blair. "You're his... mate?"

"Yes."  Blair didn't fight the pride that went through him. Or the smile that re-opened his cut yet again. "He chose me. To be the person who stays with him for the rest of his life."

"Blair."  Simon removed his glasses and finally looked at him. "I don't want to rain on your parade but he did already choose a mate once before... and divorced her."

"That wasn't the sentinel who married and divorced. I don't understand it all, Simon. I just know that the togetherness Jim and I have is different from weddings and vows and things like that. It's on a much more earthy plane - and yet also a more ethereal one. He claimed me."

Simon put his glasses back on. "Don't hate me for asking this, Blair. But between me and you, is this something you went along with voluntarily? Or did he force --"   

Blair wasn't outraged only because he knew Simon was concerned for him. "He didn't force anything."  He couldn't help but smile. "In his own way, he was very polite about it all."  He reached up and touched his lip. It no longer bled when he reopened it, but only stung. "Besides, if he hadn't picked up by now that my whole world revolves around him...."

"I know you love him," Simon said in a fatherly tone. "You've made that clearer than anyone I know has ever made clear that they love someone else. I'm just... worried."

"He's the same Jim he's always been," Blair assured. "The old Jim is back but he has the new Jim's mellowness. Inner peace, I guess. The regular-guy part of him and the sentinel part of him are integrated in a way they've never been before." He paused, wondering if he was going to sound too self-grandiose. "I think it's because he knows I'll always be with him." Having said that, he felt it necessary to emphasize again, "We want to be around each other all the time. The sentinel in him won't stand for us being apart from each other."

"You're not with him now."

Blair was amused at Simon's attempt to approach their situation logically. "Jim knows exactly where I am and you're at the very top of a very short list of people we trust completely. Besides, he wouldn't expect me to meet up with any trouble while picking you up and driving you back to town."

After a moment, Simon quietly asked, "What are you going to do with yourselves?"

"We don't know," Blair said, feeling a sense of contentment. "Probably keep wandering around like we are now until we figure something else out. I think we've got it in our blood now."  He knew that wouldn't sound convincing, so he smiled at Simon again. "You know what we've done the past week? We saved a guy from being knifed to death and we helped a little girl find her lost dog."

Simon snorted. "You really think Jim - or you, for that matter - is going to be content finding lost dogs?"

"We made a difference, Simon. The guy in the alley - if that had happened in Cascade, Jim wouldn't have known about it until after the guy was dead. Then the PD's resources would have gone into figuring out who did it. Jim's sentinel yearnings are to protect his tribe. He's able to do that as a detective in the sense that he helps put people behind bars so they can do no further harm. But the best way to help is to stop the initial crime from happening in the first place - so that no detective is ever needed."

"What? He has some sort of ESP that tells him when people are in trouble? And where?"

"No. Just his physical senses. But I believe in synchronicity and the idea that there's no such thing as coincidences. If Jim makes himself available to help, he'll feel drawn to people and places where that help is needed."

Simon looked out the side window. "I don't want to lose Jim. Or you."

"You won't be 'losing' us. We just won't be around as much. But we can still visit."  He shrugged. "I'm not sure what we'll do for money. We'll probably have to take odd jobs here and there."

Simon released a sigh, as though resigned. "Actually, if we're ready to pick Jim up, I might be able to help you with that department."

Jim had managed to reserve them a room at the four-star hotel and they got a table at one of the restaurants there.

"This is the scoop," Simon said when they received their drinks. He pulled a file folder from his duffel bag and opened it. "The army is unofficially admitting its liability to you, Jim. Because of the 'sensitive' nature of the branch that does testing on human capabilities, it doesn't want to admit to anything publicly. What it's willing to do is give you four hundred thousand dollars for pain and suffering, in a lump sum payment, in exchange for your signing off on an agreement that you'll never try to prosecute in either civil or military court."

Jim snorted. "Just throw money at it and it'll go away."

No shit, Blair thought. "What about that creep who burned Jim? What happens to him?"

"All Townsend can tell me is that the army is dealing with Paul Ruggart 'internally' - which I guess can be interpreted any number of ways, including that nothing happens to him at all."

"That sucks. Jim deserves justice for what happened to him."

"You, I, and Jim know that. But we can't have it both ways. We can't agree to keep everything confidential - so that Jim isn't exposed to any more suspicions of his actually being a sentinel - and at the same time demand that the justice system go to bat for us."

"He's right, Chief," Jim said. "Going to any kind of court means telling the truth. This is the best chance for any question about my abilities to be laid to rest. What I get in return for what I went through is the army and CIA's belief that I'm not a sentinel."  He squeezed Blair's shoulder. "That's something, at least."

Blair said, "Until Lee Brackett or somebody like him opens his mouth."

"Not necessarily," Simon said. "In fact, for all we know, what might have prompted the joint CIA/U.S. Army investigation was Brackett trying to buy some favors from his prison cell. If he, or somebody like him, suggested they go after Jim to see how good his abilities are... well, the army and CIA no longer have any reason to listen to a Lee Bracket. From everything General Townsend has said, it's clear in the minds of everybody who knew about the 'experiments' they did on you, Jim, that they made a big mistake in trying to prove that you're something you're clearly not. I'm sure they would have given you a formal apology, save for everyone's desire to keep things low-key."

The waitress served their meals and Simon added, "You know, I got the impression from Townsend that it probably wouldn't take a whole lot to get them to up the amount. If you get a lawyer to go to bat for you...."

Blair wasn't surprised when Jim said, "A lawyer would drag the whole thing out ten years trying to get four million - and then take a third of it."

"I suppose that's true. But I could try negotiating a little higher, just by pulling out those pictures again."

"No."

"No, Simon," Blair said at the same time Jim did. "He's been exposed to those creeps enough. He doesn't need to keep being re-victimized. Tear those fucking pictures up. They can't be used for evidence, anyway, if Jim agrees to never prosecute."

"The four hundred G's will be adequate," Jim said, ending the conversation.

They all started eating.

Simon couldn't get a plane out until morning.  The three of them spent the afternoon playing a round of golf, then went to an amusement park and spent time playing various games of skill. That night, they ended up having margaritas at an outdoor restaurant near their hotel.

"You really sure you want to quit the force, Jim?" Simon asked after they'd sipped their drinks a while.

"I can't be there unless Blair is at my side at all times and I can watch over his safety."

"He is at your side most of the time and you do watch over his safety."

"You and I both know you can't maintain our current status indefinitely. Blair's playing second fiddle to me, to the whole department. He's respected by his peers but he's just being given a token paycheck, and he only gets that because you fought for it. But with the next budget cuts, you know Blair's position will be the first to go."

"Besides," Blair said, "neither Jim nor I would want to go out of our way to keep our relationship a secret. What's more, the PD has too much red tape for Jim to be able to work the way he works best."  Blair snorted. "He can't even use facts gathered by his senses as evidence in trials."

"But what about the tribe?"  Simon looked at Jim. "Isn't Cascade your tribe?"

Jim merely shrugged.

Blair said, "His tribe has expanded, Simon. Just consider it all of mankind."  He glanced at Jim, aware that he was talking about him in the third person. He reached to clasp Jim's hand. "It's almost like he's reached a new level as a sentinel. I don't know if it ties into having claimed a mate or what. But I think it's going to get harder and harder for him to work within bureaucracies. Me, too, for that matter. When someone needs help, Jim needs the freedom to do what he can - and not worry about procedures or red tape."

"Where will you go?"

Blair smiled at Jim. "I hope we head south before winter."

"We'll have to go back to Cascade to meet with Townsend and get the money," Jim said. "Then we'll have to put the loft up for sale and take care of our investments and that sort of thing."  He looked at Blair. "I want your name on everything I own."

Blair nodded. It made sense, though he couldn't fathom the idea of owning anything without Jim. For being without Jim would mean that something had happened to him. And that was something he couldn't bear to think about.

Simon said, "I know the plane I'm taking back in the morning is full. But you should come back to Cascade as soon as you can. I can arrange the meeting with Townsend whenever you want. Maybe I'll talk to your father about having one of his lawyers oversee the proceedings?"

"That'll be fine," Jim said. He squeezed Blair's hand. "We'll drive back. Probably start out tomorrow sometime."

Blair closed his eyes as he continued to suck on Jim's stout cock. He was on his knees, still dressed, and Jim was sitting at the edge of the bed with his pants lowered to his thighs.

Blair understood what Jim had meant before about pleasing Blair making him feel "powerful".  That's what Blair felt now. He loved Jim's cock - how much pleasure it gave to Jim... and to himself. He was all the more amazed at its recovery from the damage that had been done to it. It was beautiful and magnificent and Blair loved how it filled his mouth.

Jim's hands held both sides of his head. They stroked back through his hair, the touch so gentle and tender.

Eventually, the foreplay was over and they both lay back on the bed, their arms around each other.

Blair knew it would be a while before Jim was ready for round two, which would include them both getting completely naked and Jim mounting Blair.

Jim was very tender at doing that, too. Blair wasn't sure which he preferred more - the recent tenderness, or the intense passion of their first encounter. He considered himself fortunate that both were possibilities for their lovemaking.

They were in a motel in Spokane. Before dark, they would reach Cascade.

While approaching the city the night before, they'd come upon an elderly woman on an off-ramp with car trouble. The way the trees had obscured her car, she would have been difficult for a passing patrolman to find. Jim had found her, apparently with a combination of vision and hearing.

She had been afraid of them at first, making Blair curse to himself that Jim didn't have his badge. Jim had gone back to their car, for fear of being too intimidating, leaving Blair to put on his best charming manner to show that he could be trusted. He called 911 while she listened, and they waited with her until the police came.

She'd then insisted on giving them the canister of cookies that she'd baked for her grandchildren. Saying "no" hadn't been an option.

Now, while Blair waited for desire to rebuild, he said, "Jim? Are you sure you're okay about that creep scientist not being prosecuted for what he did to you?"

"What choice do I have?" Jim asked quietly, his hand running along Blair's jeans-clad hip. "Even if I went through a trial proceeding, there's no guarantee that he'd get convicted. And even if he got convicted, there's no guarantee that his punishment would fit the crime.  To say nothing of the fact that it would probably take years."  His hand patted Blair. "I think, in a lot of ways, just taking the money and putting this behind us is the best possible solution."  

Jim shifted, getting up on an elbow and leaning over Blair. Very gently, he said, "Even considering everything that's happened since they abducted me, I don't think things turned out so badly."  His eyes held a warm smile.

Blair smiled back, his heart feeling full. "I love you so much, man."  He rose up and put his arms around Jim's neck.

Jim's arms enclosed him warmly. His face ended up pressed against Blair's neck. "I love you, Blair."  He squeezed tighter. "My Blair."

EPILOGUE

In the grayness of Cascade's dawn, Blair stood with his hands on his hips, next to the brand new Ford pickup that they'd purchased. They'd bought a camper to go on the back, and it would serve as shelter if they needed somewhere to sleep when a motel wasn't available.

"That's it, isn't it?" he asked as Jim walked out of 852 Prospect.

"Yep," Jim said. "It's all locked up."

Finally.  Blair hadn't felt as melancholy as he would have expected about cleaning out the loft the past couple of weeks. It was up for sale and Jim's father had power of attorney to handle all the paperwork connected with such. They had sold all the furniture. Rather than sadness, Blair had only felt excitement - and a bit of impatience - to get started with their new lives. After all, a tendency toward wanderlust had always been a part of his personality.

There had been other activities too - putting their now-joint funds in various investment accounts and making plenty of cash available via access on a debit card. They'd decided to keep the fake IDs and accounts that had been set up under bogus names, because they both liked the idea of being untraceable, even though they were no longer worried about the army tracking them. But if they did indeed establish a pattern of helping people... one never knew when a reporter or the like might connect them to Blair's defunct dissertation or catch on to their travels enough to anticipate their next move

Jim cocked his head. "Simon's coming."

Blair grinned, proud of Jim for being able to identify their friend's car merely from the engine. There was nothing unique about the engine itself, but Jim was able to pick it out from all other traffic noises.

"You weren't kidding about the crack of dawn," Simon greeted a few moments later. He puffed on a cigar.

"There really wasn't much to pack," Jim said.

"You really think you have enough supplies to live on for a while?"

Jim presented a patient smile. "All we have to do, if we don't, is stop by a store."

"I suppose, though I'd thought you two had mentioned something about roughing it for a while."

"We'll see how it goes," Blair said. That was the beauty of it - they had no particular place they needed to be, no particular direction they needed to go. He and Jim had fishing supplies and hoped they could find a nice isolated spot somewhere to indulge themselves for a while.

"You ever figure out what direction you're heading?"

Blair gestured, his hand moving along an imaginary map. "South through most of Oregon, then we'll slant southeast. Maybe we'll end up in Texas for a while. Maybe we'll go as far as Florida."

"If you get bored doing nothing, there's no shame in coming back."

Blair chuckled. "Somehow, I think we'll manage to stay busy."  He put his arm around Jim's waist.

"Call," Simon said seriously. "For anything. And sometimes for nothing."

Jim reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the cell phone Simon had given them on their first visit to Boise. "Your number is still 01 in the memory."  His voice softened. "You call if you need us, too. For anything."

Simon nodded, eyes lowered. Then he said, "I guess this is it."

"Not quite."  Jim reached into his other pocket and removed a sealed envelope. "We were going to mail this to you, because I was afraid you wouldn't accept it if I gave it to you face-to-face. But I-I want to give it to you."

Blair smiled, feeling better about doing it this way, too.

Simon accepted the envelope. "What is it?"

"Fifty thousand dollars. It's the only way we can begin to say 'thanks' for all you've done for us when we had nobody else to turn to."

"Dammit, Jim," Simon said, but his voice was more choked than angry. "If I didn't know you mean well, I'd be downright pissed off at being so insulted. You two are my friends."

"Blair and I got money out of this whole thing. My father is seeing to Smitty's comfortable retirement. Why should you be the only good guy in this who doesn't get any cash?"

Simon continued to slowly shake his head.

"If it makes you feel better, use it for Daryl's college fund. Or whatever."

"Take it, Simon," Blair said. "I hope you'll use at least some of it for some R&R. We know this whole thing had to stress you a lot, to say nothing of all the time and effort you had on our behalf. At the very least, plan on meeting up with Jim and me sometime."

Simon nodded and put the envelope away. "Thanks, guys."  But he wouldn't meet their eyes.

"Now this is it," Blair said.

They ended up in a three-way hug. It lasted a long time, with backslapping and hand squeezing.

"God bless you both," Simon finally said, turning back to his car.

"We love you, Simon," Blair called as he and Jim got in their pickup.

Both were quiet as they started up and left the parking lot, Simon having already disappeared.

"You ready, Chief?" Jim asked, glancing over at him.

Blair grinned. "I'm ready. For anything."

"Then let's go."  Jim put the truck in gear and they started the journey to their future.

END