Adjustments
 

*Taptaptaptaptaptaptap.*

Jim sighed up at the ceiling.

*Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.*

2am - and Sandburg was still up, working on his notes.

*Tap......tap.......tap............*

Slump.  About time.  Jim levered himself out of bed, preparing to go downstairs and haul his partner off the coffee table and into his room.

A cry shattered the still air. Oh, no. Not now, Dayna Jim begged silently.  His partner was on the verge of exhaustion as it was.  To top it off, somewhere along the line Sandburg had picked up a cold as well. Maybe if I get there before...

He heard the crash as his Guide jerked awake, then the splash of liquid. "Shit!  Oh, man!"  Moving to the door, Jim looked down into the lounge.  Blair was frantically mopping spilled coffee of his pile of papers. "Hang on Dayna, I'm coming."  He padded into the bedroom, and came out a moment later with an armful of crying baby. "Shhh.  It's ok, Dayna.  Hungry?  I've got a bottle."  He moved into the kitchen and put a bottle into a pan of water.  "Shh.  'sokay, I'm just heating it up."  Blair jiggled the baby gently in one arm, while he lit the gas with the other.  "Shh. Don't want to wake Jim up, do we?  Jim needs his sleep."

"So do you, Chief."

Blair turned, glasses hanging off one ear. "Oh.  Jim.  Sorry, we didn't mean to..."

Jim waved his hand. "Don't worry about it, Chief.  Consider it a blanket apology for the future."  He reached forward and set his partner's glasses on properly, frowning at the slight fever he could feel building through his fingertips.  "Why don't you let me take care of her while you get some sleep?"

"Nah, I'm fine.  I wasn't sleeping anyway.  I was finishing up the last of these notes for my two o'clock class tomorrow."  He looked blearily up at the clock.  "Uh, today."

"Sure Chief."  Jim didn't need Sentinel abilities to see the Sandburg-shaped dent in the pile of papers.

Moving to the coffee table, he saved the file and closed the laptop down as Blair fed Dayna, smiling slightly as she sucked at the bottle.  Dayna sighed softly as Blair burped her, and rested on his shoulder, eyelids growing heavy.

Jim waited until she was asleep before speaking. "We need to talk, Chief."

Blair met his eyes nervously.  "Uh, sure Jim.  Just let me put Dayna down."  He disappeared into his bedroom and came out a moment later, nervously wiping his hands on his pants. "Yeah Jim?  What's up?"

"Sandburg."  Jim paused, then beckoned his partner over to the couch. "Blair.  You can't keep doing this -"

Blair leapt up from the couch. "Don't say it, Jim."  He started pacing the rug, hands waving frantically in the air. "You think I'm just gonna put her in some orphanage?  Give her to some family that doesn't know, doesn't care who her mother was?  I can't do that, Jim.  Dayna deserves better than that.  So does Dayna." He paused, confused by his own words.

Jim held up a hand.  "You didn't let me finish.  I was going to say 'by yourself.'  You can't keep this up."

"I'm fine man, I can handle it.  I'm the original sleepless wonder, that's what they used to call me."

"Sandburg, you can't.  Sooner or later something is going to break. You're already sick, you're not taking care of yourself. All I'm saying is let me help."

Blair sighed and flopped bonelessly on the couch. "Jim, I'm fine.  Once I get it all sorted, I can handle it. And it's just a sniffle."  He blew his nose for effect. "See?"  Leaning back, he shook his head around a gigantic yawn. "I still can't believe it you know?  I mean, the father is there.  He's someone we work with.  How can someone we work with just dump a baby?  How can they...." He yawned again. "How...."

"I don't know Chief."  said Jim softly as his Guide fell asleep. "I just don't know."  He waited a few minutes before picking up his friend and carrying him into the lower bedroom, carefully swinging him through the doors.

Spreading the blankets open with his foot, Jim gently put Blair down, pulling his glasses off and tucking them away on the nightstand.  Deciding he could sleep in his sweats, he pulled off his partners sneakers and drew the blankets up to his chin.

On the other side of the bed, Dayna squirmed slightly and made a small sleepy sound.  Jim soothed her with a few soft noises, then leaned over and reset the alarm.  Blair turned, mumbling something incoherent under the blanket.

Jim sighed. Can't leave her alone with only a sick Sandburg for company... Picking up the baby, he decided that he could put up with the noise.

For one night, at least.

"Sweet dreams, Chief." he said softly as he closed the door.

'.......Traffic in the northwestern region...'

Blair shot out a hand and slapped the alarm off before it could wake Dayna.

Ten thirty, he registered fuzzily through the clouds in his head.  Since when does my alarm go off at ten thirty?  I usually have it set to eight, but Dayna wakes up at six...  He sat bolt upright.

Dayna!

He looked over to the other side of his bed, but there was only a scrumple in the blankets.

Oh man, please don't tell me I kicked her out of the bed in my sleep!  He caught himself peering over the edge of the bed. Don't be an idiot, Sandburg.  She would have made a lot of noise if you did.

He heard a slight indignant cry from the next room and started to slide out of the bed.

"Shh.  We don't want to wake the Chief up, do we?"  Jim's voice.  Blair snuck over to the door, peering through the gap in the curtains over the panels.  The Sentinel swung the baby off the couch, one hand rubbing gently at her back.  "Shh.  I bet you're hungry, aren't you?  You must be, 'cos I don't smell anything.  Let's see if we have anything made up."

Blair watched in fascination. Jim's good with kids, he thought, faintly surprised.  He never got a chance to just watch the Sentinel, without knowing that Jim was watching him back, subconsciously monitoring his heart, his breathing.  Jim seemed to be entirely focused on the baby as he walked her through the lounge.  "Shh.  I'm getting your bottle. Shh.  Let's see if we can get Blair to sleep a little longer, ok?"  Blair smiled as Jim pulled the now-warm bottle out and held it up, waggling it enticingly. "Mm-mm, huh?"  He sat on the couch and fed her.

Blair started as his cell phone rang behind him. Busted. He scooped it up and pressed the receive button.  "Blair Sandburg." he snuffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

"Blair?  It's Sandy.  Look, I'm really sorry, but I can't sit today.  I'm sorry, I don't mean to spring this on you like this, but my mom's taken a bad fall.  I need to go look after her for a couple of days.  I'm really, really sorry - "

"No, it's ok Sandy, I can work around it. Take care of your mom, ok?"  he heard Jim nearing the door.  Look, I gotta go" before Mr-big-ears-Jim hears this "Send her good thoughts from me, huh?" he disconnected the phone as the door swung open.

"Chief?"

"Yup, yup, I'm up, Jim." He saw his partner's gaze move to the phone in his hand.  "Just a friend."  He said, holding it up.  "She was telling me that she can't come to class for a while.  She wanted me to grab some notes and stuff for her."  Blair tossed the phone on his bed and his eye caught the clock.  11:00

"Man!  Jim, you were supposed to wake me up earlier."  He moved past his partner, gently pulling the baby out of his arms. "Heya Dayna?  How are you?  Thanks for looking after her Jim, but I asked you to wake me up."  He headed towards the coffee table.  "I have to retype all those notes I spilled on last night, and I need to print them out and then I'll have to wait for an hour in the print room to copy them and...." He trailed off.

Sitting beside his laptop was a pile of perfectly typed, neatly stacked notes. "Jim?"  he asked softly, thumbing through them.

Jim shrugged.  "I redid them this morning.  Copied them down at the station."  He looked faintly embarrassed.  "You looked like you needed the sleep. You were pretty out of it last night."

Blair was touched. "Wow.  Thanks.  Thanks Jim." He paused as a thought struck him.  "You took Dayna to the station?"

"Yeah.  She was ok though.  Took me about half an hour to pry her away from Brown and Rafe once they got a hold of her."

"Brown and Rafe?" Blair shifted Dayna in his arms, leaning her against his shoulder, one hand cupping the back of her head.  She gurgled happily and drooled on his T-Shirt.

"Yeah.  Big mush heaps when it comes to babies."

"Somehow I can't see it....Oh, wait, yeah, I can." Blair chuckled at the thought.

"Before I forget."  Jim reached over to the counter and pulled out a plain brown envelope.  "This was with the paper this morning."

Blair took the envelope warily. 'Blair Sandburg' typed on the front with a nondescript typewriter.  He weighed it in his hand.  It felt a little too heavy.  "Uh, it's not a letter bomb or anything, is it Jim?" he said only half jokingly.

The Sentinel shook his head.  "No, I checked it out."  he said seriously.  "Nothing but paper. Lots and lots of paper."  Blair nodded and moved to the couch, flipping the envelope over to read the back as he put Dayna down on a pile of cushions.

'Paternity Money' it said simply, beneath the seal.

"Paternity money?  What the hell is this?"  Blair tore the pack open and pulled out a wad of twenties. No note, no name.  "This is bullshit, man."  he yelled, waving the money in his fist.

"Easy, Chief, easy."

"No, I will not take it easy.  This is crap!" Blair went to tear the money up, but Jim stopped him.

"Chief.  This is for Dayna.  It doesn't matter where it came from."

"Yes it does, Jim.  Yes it does.  Who the hell does he think he is?  Does he think dumping five hundred bucks on the morning paper makes it ok?"  Blair sat down suddenly. "Five hundred..." he breathed. "Oh man, I can get her that cot I saw at the thrift shop, and that car seat, you know that extra safety one we saw in the catalogue, and.....What the hell am I thinking?"

"You're thinking the right thing.  You're thinking of Dayna."  Jim wrinkled his nose.  "Speaking of Dayna, you wanna think about changing her?"

"Huh?"  Blair looked down at the squeaking baby beside him.  "Oh, yeah, sure thing." He picked her up and headed for his room.  Pausing in the doorway, he cast a wicked grin over his shoulder.  "Unless you want to do it?" he offered.

Jim backed away, hands held high.  "No, I'll let you do this one, Chief."

"You suuuuure?" teased Blair.  "I mean, with me sick and all, I might..."  he swayed suddenly, and Jim steadied him, taking Dayna from his hands.  "I think you'd better go back to bed, Chief."

"Whoa, yeah, I think you're right, Jim."  He leaned briefly against the doorframe.  "Just wake me up in time for class, ok?"

Jim nodded. Yeah, yeah, "Sure thing, Chief."  He steered his partner to the bed.

"Jim, I mean it."  Blair let Jim push him down into a sitting position.  "I've already missed way too much time teaching my classes as it is.  If I don't start showing up to them, they're gonna revoke my status or something. Anyway, I have to go.  I have an exam."

"You're not going to be any good in an exam half asleep."

"Jim."

Jim put his hand over his heart. "Scout's honour Chief.  I'll wake you around one.  That's when I go on duty."

"Great, great."  Blair leaned back, yawning.  "Dayna's diapers are in the bag on the desk."  he vaguely waved a hand in that general direction, pulling the blanket up. "The wipes and all that are in the front pocket."  Jim nodded and reached for the bag.  "Don't forget to use the cloth diapers, Jim."  Blair reminded him, voice sleepy. "They're better for the environment. You'll have to scrape the..you know, down the toilet, then rinse it out and put the diaper in some bleach.  Otherwise it.. mmphmm..."

Jim stopped his hand in mid-reach and carefully backed out of the room.  "I think you can wear disposables, for one day at least, huh?" he asked Dayna.  She waved her fists randomly in the air and he nodded.  "Yeah. C'mon, we'll go to the chemist down the street." He snuck out the front door, the baby tucked carefully in his arm.

Blair grinned and opened his eyes. "Gotcha, Jim."  He tugged a notebook out of the top draw of his night stand and leafed through.  Emergency names, friends he could count on.  Eyes flicking from the page to the phone, he dialled a number.

"Hi, Cheryl?  Yeah, it's Blair.  No, I'm fine, just a bit of a cold.  Look, can I ask a biiiig favour?  I need a sitter for today.  Sandy can't do it, she's gotta look after her mother.  When?  Umm, from two 'til about four." He listened for a moment, then nodded.  "Exam.  Today?  Oh man, I'm sorry, I forgot.  There's that Tech C one isn't there?  Nah, nah, I'm fine.  I can try someone else. Thanks.  Good luck."  he hung up and tried another number.

Ten minutes later he fell back with a sigh.  Three strikes, you're out. He scrubbed his hands wearily over his face. Looks like I'll have to take Dayna to class.  Speaking of class... he looked over at the LCD figures on his clock. It's only just after eleven.. his head was growing heavy  Think I might just close my eyes for a second....

Jim quietly closed the door behind him as he entered, wincing at the rustling of the plastic bag he was holding.  Depositing Dayna on the couch, he carefully stepped into Blair's room.

His Guide was curled into a ball under the bunched blankets, snoring softly through his open mouth.  Jim put a gentle hand on Blair's forehead, pleased that his fever was down.  Taking the change bag from the desk, he carefully pulled the door closed behind him.

Sitting beside Dayna on the couch, Jim cleared the laptop and notes away, stacking them on the chair, then fished through the bag. Change cloth...change cloth... he pulled it out and spread it on the coffee table. Picking Dayna up,  he held her out at arms length for a moment, viewing her critically.  She blatted at him, and he sighed and laid her on her back, unsnapping the fastenings on her jumpsuit.  He reached for the pins holding her diaper, then paused and visualised the dials.  Once he was sure he had his smell turned down, he unfastened the pins and pulled the diaper open.

Jesus! Jim almost gagged at the stench. Dayna burbled happily at him as he pulled the diaper away, gingerly holding it with his fingertips and dumping it into a plastic bag. I'll buy you a new one later, Chief. he promised.  Tying the bag shut helped, but not much.  The smell hung in the air like a visible miasma, and the sight wasn't too pretty either.

With a sigh of resignation, he reached for the baby wipes.  Dayna kicked her legs, happy to be free of the diaper, and he winced as the slight air currents wafted more smell at him. "Dayna, don't do that...please?" Look at me, I'm trying to reason with a baby.  Her legs kept getting in the way of his cleaning, so Jim finally grabbed them in one hand, holding them out of the way while he finished up.

Dumping the wipes in another plastic bag and tying that shut too, Jim pulled open the bag of disposables and viewed the guide on the side.  Slide 'em under, spread the flaps...seems simple enough.

Five minutes later he was ready to concede defeat.  Problem number one was getting the them  to fit under Dayna properly.  Problem number two was getting the stickable flaps to stick to the diaper, and not him.  Problem number three... he lifted Dayna up in the air and watched the diaper tumble onto the carpet.

Problem number three is getting the damn thing to STAY on.

After another five minutes and a lot of swearing he finally had it on.  Staying on.  He grinned in satisfaction, and put her back onto the couch.  His foot nudged one of the plastic bags of toxic waste and he viewed it with suspicion.  There was no way that was going in the kitchen bin. Jim picked the bag up and looked longingly towards the balcony. One good toss... He sighed and picked Dayna up.  "Come on.  Jim's gonna take you for a little walk down to the dumpster in the street."

"Wakey, wakey, Chief."

Blair cracked his eyes open.  After the sleep, he felt a lot better.  Jim held out a cup of chamomile tea. "Thanks, Jim."  He sat up and took a sip, looking at his clock. 12:30. "Man, I haven't slept this late in ages."

"You needed it.  You've been running yourself ragged, Chief."  There was a mild reproof in his partner's eyes.

Blair sighed and briefly closed his eyes.  "How'd you do with Dayna?"

"Fine, fine."  Jim waved his hand.  "She's on the couch, I put the tellytubbies on."

"Tellytubbies? Jim, you can't let her watch that.  That stuff could retard her growth. I mean, those things are moronic."

Jim shrugged. "She seems to like them."  He stood.  "I have to get going.  Do you want me to drop Dayna off at Sandy's for you?"

Blair shook his head. "No, it's ok, I'll do it." he said quickly.

Too quickly, he realised - Jim was looking at him oddly.

"I just want to spend some time with her, you know." He switched in Anthropologist Mode.  "Her mind's at its peak development wise at the moment.  I mean, everything that she sees, hears, all the sensory input she gathers, shapes who she's going to be.  I just want to be with her."

Jim shrugged.  "Whatever, Darwin."  He stopped at the French doors and pointed a finger at Blair.  "I want you to take it easy today. Do your classes, then I want you back in bed."

"Yes mummy."  Blair said meekly. He eased himself out of bed and stretched.  "I'll see you when you get home then. I'll pick up Dayna on the way back."  Jim watched him for a moment, senses cataloguing his well being.  Something must have met with the Sentinel's approval, because he nodded and headed out the front door, grabbing his jacket on the way.  "See you later, Chief."

"Yeah, 'bye."  Blair said absently.  He was already trying to figure out what his class' reaction to Dayna would be.

"And, um, it looks like that's it.  See you all next semester."  Blair lifted his glasses up a fraction and rubbed the bridge of his nose as his students filed past him. A couple stopped to ask a few questions, and smile down at Dayna.  Luckily, she'd fallen asleep in the car ride to the U, and had slept through the entire class.

Blair yawned, then winced. He could feel a headache growing along the back of his mind.  At least Dayna's been quiet.  He peeked  down into carrier on the seat beside him. Still sleeping.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Blair?"  He looked up into the soft blue eyes of one of his students.  "Corrinne.  Yeah, sure." he cast a quick glance up at the clock. "I've got a couple of minutes.  What's up?"

"Uh, Blair?"  Corrinne gestured to his face.  Blair pulled off his glasses and surveyed them in dismay. One arm hung by the clip. "Oh man.   I lost my screw."  he ran his fingers over the desk.  "I need that to hold the arm on. I can't see for my class without my glasses.  Can you see it, Corrinne?"

She laughed.  "Another test? I thought we were done with that."

Blair smiled. Corrinne had been one of his first test subjects. He had discovered her enhanced eyesight after she helped him find another lost screw, five years ago, in a comparative mythology class he'd subbed for. "You know what my handwriting's like without them."  he turned the baby blues on her.

Corrinne focused on the floor for a moment, carefully scanning.  She took a few steps left,  then knelt,  coming up with the screw in her hand.  "Thanks.  Blair screwed it in halfway with his fingers, then pulled out his pocketknife to screw it in the rest.

There was a tap on the door and he stuffed his glasses into his pocket as the next class drifted in.  "Uh, can we talk on the way to my office?"

"Sure."  she looked at him in concern as he sneezed.  "Are you ok?"

Blair waved a hand. "Just got a cold, that's all."  Corrinne helped him shuffled his notes back into his bag, and he slung it over his shoulder.

"Do you want me to take anything?"  she offered as he bent to pick up the carrier.

Blair shook his head. "It's okay, I got it."  They headed out the door, nodding slightly at the next tutor.  "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I won't be coming back next semester."

"What?" Blair asked in surprise as they walked down the hall to his office.  "I mean, why? You're good at this.  You're a A-grade student, Corrinne."

She spread her arms out helplessly.  "They've raised the rent on my apartment.  I don't earn enough to pay for that and a full semester's tuition." she paused, looking at him hopefully.  "I was thinking that maybe I could do it part-time, or maybe have a private tutor and just take the assessments?"

Blair nodded as they stopped outside his office.  "Yeah.  I'll have to talk to the advisor, but I think you could do that, yeah." He was reaching for the door handle when Dayna made a irritated noise as she stirred, wide green eyes almost glowing against her olive face.  He brought his free hand down to soothe her, and his bag slipped off his shoulder, hanging on the crook of his elbow.  Arms effectively trapped,  Blair looked beseechingly up at Corrinne, who took the carrier out of his arms with a smile.

"Hello!"  She wrinkled her nose. "Urg.  Someone's been busy, hasn't she?"

"Oh, man."  Blair pushed the door open and tossed his bag on the desk.  "Not again."  He fished in the bag for a clean diaper, looking up at the clock.  "I have an exam starting...now."  He pulled the cloth out and cleared some space off his desk.

Corrinne took the diaper from him. "Blair, I have a two hour break now.  Do you want me to look after her for you?"

Blair hesitated. *That would be fantastic, but...* "Are you sure?  I mean, it wouldn't be too much trouble..."

She smiled.  "I can look after her."  She laid Dayna on the desk and unsnapped her jumpsuit.  "I know what it's like - I went through all this with my sister." She nodded her thanks as Blair handed her the baby wipes. "Where are her bottles?"  she asked, doing up the clean diaper and resealing the jumpsuit.

Dayna kicked her legs idly in the air as Blair pulled the insulated pack out of the bag.  "You can heat them in some water from the kettle" he advised.  "I'll be in lecture 212, just down the hall if you need..."

"If there's an emergency, I'll come and get you."  Corrinne soothed, pushing his folder into his hands. "Go.  Shoo!"  she ushered him out the door.

Blair stopped and smiled at her.  "Thanks.  I really appreciate this."  He kissed Dayna lightly on the forehead. "Be back soon."  He looked up into Corrinne's eyes.  "Thanks, I really.."

"Shoo!"

"I'm going, I'm going!"  with a final wave, Blair darted down the hall.

"Don't forget to turn your cell phone off!"  She called.  Blair tugged it out with a wave and pressed the power button as he pushed the door to 212 open.

Corrinne looked up at the tap on the door.  "It's open," she called.

A tall, thin student walked in, rough spiked blond hair topping a long grey coat. "Is Blair Sandburg here?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry.  He's got a class in lecture 212.  Maybe I can help?"  she picked up Dayna, cooing softly as the baby squirmed.

"Cute kid,"  The student said, leaning forwards to chuck Dayna under the chin. "Sandburg's?"

Corrinne's eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of the sawn-off shotgun under the coat. "No," she lied quickly, "Dayna's my baby.  Blair just let me use his office to put her down for a bit."

"Aw, wasn't that nice of him?"  He chuckled and she smelled the faint tang of cannabis on his breath Oh no.  Stoned and armed. This is not good.

The man tickled Dayna, then headed for the door.  "Lecture 212, did you say?"

"No, um 214.  He's in 214." Sandy called out as he walked down the hall, sneakers squeaking on the floor.  Once he was gone, she closed and locked the door, then leapt for the phone. Please pick up Blair, oh please.

'The number you have called is either disconnected or out of range.  Please check -'

Corrinne slammed the phone back down into its cradle in frustration. "SHIT!" she yelled. Dayna jerked in her arms and started crying. "Shh. It's ok, it's ok."  Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone again and dialled campus security, then the Cascade PD.

"Uh, I'm a student at Rainier.  I'm calling from Blair Sandburg's office. This guy came in looking for Blair and he had a shotgun."  she watched the door nervously. "I gave him the wrong room number, but I think this guy is REALLY bad news.   My name?  Corrinne.  Corrinne Matthews."  A door banged down the hall and she jumped, dropping the phone.  Pulling the chair out from the desk, she slid into the small leg space, cradling Dayna to her chest.

"Shh. I need you to be quiet for me.  Can you do that baby? Shhhh."  She huddled tightly, pulling the chair in slightly to cover them.  Please be all right Blair, please...

Blair sighed and rubbed his forehead. He felt like hell. Maybe coming in wasn't such a good idea after all...I can't think...I really need some fresh air...  he was just pushing to his feet as the door swung open.

Someone screamed, and the sight of the shotgun blew away the heavily line of fatigue in his brain.

Jim poked his computer moodily.  He almost wished there was a good crime, or a hostage situation.  Something to rescue him from the boredom of fifteen million reports.

"How's the kid?" Rafe offered him a cup of coffee.

Jim took it with a nod of thanks.  "Which one?"

Rafe laughed. "Take your pick."

"Dayna's fine. Sandburg, on the other hand, is running his way to exhaustion." Jim took a long sip of his coffee.

The young detective nodded in understanding. "Let him know I'm there if he needs, ok?"

Rhonda walked in the bullpen, quick, nervous steps.  Jim looked up. Something's going on.

"There's a hostage situation down at Rainier." she began.  Jim's heartrate spiked as she looked worriedly at him.  "Called in from Blair's office."

Damn  Jim grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

"Hellooooo Sandburg. 'been looking for you."

Blair eyed the shotgun nervously.  Derrick Clayton.  An ex student of his.

Worse.

An ex-student he'd failed. "Hey, Derrick, what's with the gun?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual

"Payback time."  Clayton swung the gun around to cover the entire class.  "Everyone shuts up, and no one gets hurt."  he laughed. "I always wanted to say that."

"Payback?   What for?  What's with you?" Blair pressed.

"With me?" asked Clayton in astonishment. "Not with me, with you, man."

"Look, if it's just me, then let the others go, ok?  They don't have to be here."

"Why not?" Clayton shrugged.  "Got enough here for a pretty decent party, man."

Keep him talking.  Keep him talking until Jim drags his stoned ass into a cell. "C'mon man, let them go."

"Shut up!"  Blair flinched back as the gun barrel swung around into his face.

Jim sealed the shoulder straps on his vest.  "Ok, we have at least thirty people in the class, plus other personnel." Simon was saying.  "Now I want everyone else out of that building.  I want it cleared.  Brown - I want you to set up the barricades.  No one comes within a hundred feet of that building.  Jim, Rafe - I want you to check the rooms, especially Sandburg's office."  The men nodded and moved off.

"I mean, I sat through every one of those boring classes of yours.  You going on and on and on about some boring old fart that's been dead for about five hundred years.  I showed up, I was there, and you failed me." Clayton shook his head in disbelief.  "What was with you man?"

Blair shook his head. "You didn't do the work, Derrick. I can't pass you if you don't do the work."

"Work? Come ooooon Sandburg.  You call that work? 'Write an essay on the development of Homo Sapiens Sapiens.'  Why?  I mean, the guy doesn't even exist."

Blair winced.  "Why did you even take my class?"

"Points, man."  Clayton made an expansive gesture. "I needed to do the Uni gig, blow off for a couple of years.  I took your class 'cos it looked like an easy slide. Well, looks like I picked the wrong one there, huh?" He brought the gun back around. "I mean. You failed me.  I was bummed out, but when I went to have a couple of cones, it all came clear. It's all your fault."

Corrinne started at the knock on the door. Oh no.  "Get  out of here, you psycho." she yelled out, then cringed. Great move.  Just insult an armed pothead.  she viewed the windows speculatively. Maybe we can fit out...

"Ms. Matthews? This is detective James Ellison of the Cascade PD.  Please open the door."

Corrinne carefully crawled out from under the desk. "Jim Ellison?  Like that TV article Don Hass did?"

There was a pause on the other side of the door. "Yes."

"I wanna see your ID."

"Ms. Matthews - "

"Push it under the door." she ordered.

There was a scraping sound, then an open leather wallet appeared.  From the other side of the room, Corrinne easily focused in on the name and photograph and sighed in relief.  He was telling the truth. Running over, she opened the door and flew out. "Oh God, I am so glad you're here."

Jim held her by the arms, scanning her. He stopped short at the sight of the baby in her arms. Dayna?? Pushing it aside, he asked a question.  "Are either of you hurt?"

Corrinne shook her head. "No, no, we're fine.  Just a little shook up.  Where's Blair?"

"He's being held hostage with the rest of the class.  We're clearing the building for the negotiation team."

"You mean he's still in there?"  Corrinne asked in alarm.  "Well, is he all right?  Is he alive?"

Jim's eyes softened. "He's alive."

"You keep it that way." Corrinne said fiercely.  "You take care of him."

"I will," he promised. "You look after Dayna." Corrinne allowed Rafe to put his arm around her shoulders and guide her from the building as Jim moved stealthily down the corridor.

Blair stifled a yawn as Clayton strutted up and down the floor in front of them God, since when have I become so blase I can be bored with a hostage situation? he wondered.

"I'm telling you Sandburg, it took me a while,  I mean, you go from class to class to class.  I thought I'd never find you.  Luckily I had some 'help'" Clayton smiled.

Blair stiffened as a horrible thought occurred to him. "How did you know where to find me?"

Clayton shrugged. "I stopped by your office.  You know, I don't think they'd approve of you using campus facilities as a daycare centre Mr. Sandburg."

Oh God, Dayna, Corrinne. "What did you do?"  Blair grated.

Clayton looked surprised. "Me? Oh," he grinned and swung the shotgun over his shoulder. "Blondie there was lying, wasn't she?  It was your baby, wasn't it?"  he laughed goofily.  "Whoops!"

"You son of a bitch!" Blair launched himself forwards, pushing the sawn-off up and out of the way as he knocked the taller man to the ground.  The  gun went off, blasting a hole in the whiteboard behind them.

"This is detective James Ellison of the Cascade PD. Put your weapon down and come out with your hands up." Jim heard the gunshot and tore the door open, charging in.

Blair rocked back slightly on his heels. "Jim."  he handed his partner the rifle.

Jim pushed it to the side and cuffed Clayton.  "Are you all right?"

"Am I all right."  Blair was shaking.  "I wanted to kill that little bastard."  Jim came up behind him, placing a hand on the smaller man's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "It's ok, Chief." he soothed.

Blair twisted free. "No, it's not. I mean he..." He grabbed a frantic hold of Jim's shirt.  "Where're Dayna and Corrinne?  Oh man, Jim, please tell me they're ok, I- "

"Chief."  Jim gently disengaged himself.  "They're fine.  They're ok." he draped an arm around his partner's shoulders and steered him down the corridor.  "They're ok."

Blair sighed in relief. "Oh, man. When Clayton said he'd been by the office, I thought...." He didn't want to remember what he'd thought.

"I know." Jim moved his hand from Blair's shoulder to softly cuff the back of his head.  "Now do you mind telling me what the hell Dayna was doing in your office? I thought I told you to take it easy."

"I know man, but Sandy cancelled at the last minute, and everyone else is cramming or sitting exams.  I couldn't do anything else."

"I told you  I'd help you , Chief." Jim reminded him.

"You had work Jim.  I mean, I appreciate the thought, but I don't want to dump this on you.  This is my problem, not yours.  I mean, we already wake you up at all hours, we smell out the Loft, we..."

"Chief, "  Jim interrupted softly. "You're my friend.  You're my partner.  That makes it my problem.  When I said 'let me help', I meant it."

Blair looked up at him, open mouthed.  "You sure?"

"Yes."

"Oh, wow.  Great, Jim.  I was thinking that we were maybe starting to piss you off or something."

Jim pulled the door open and pushed Blair through ahead of him.  "Nope.  But you still have to change the diapers."
 

Simon sighed in relief as Jim walked out of the building, Blair at his side. The kid looked wiped. "Are you ok, Sandburg?"

Blair waved a hand. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just thought he'd..Dayna.  Where's Dayna?" Simon nodded towards the knot of police vehicles and he pushed his way through.  Corrinne was jiggling the squalling baby in her arms.

"Blair!" she smiled in relief and held the baby up slightly.

He moved forward and took the baby in his arms, holding her in a tight hug. "Shh. it's ok, he's gone, I'm here, Jim's here, it's ok."  Dayna quietened and looked up at him with wide eyes.  Blair reached over and put a hand on Corrinne's shoulder.  "Are you ok?"

She nodded.  "Yeah.  Just a bit frazzled.  Dayna's got lungs on her like you wouldn't believe."

"Yeah, don't I know it." Blair staggered slightly as the day caught up with him.

"Blair?"  Corrinne's concerned face swam into view.  "You ok?"  she looked over his shoulder "Jim?"

"I'm fine."  Blair got out.  His head was spinning wildly.  "I just..."  Jim lunged forwards and caught him as he fell.

[Three days later]

Soup.

Chicken Soup.

Blair opened his eyes.  Corrinne was holding a steaming bowl under his nose.   "Corrinne?  What're you doing here?"

"I dropped in to give Jim a hand. Hungry?"

"Thanks."  he propped himself up on the pillows and pulled the bowl into his lap.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I've had the flu."  Blair surveyed the noodles floating in the liquid and debated throwing up.  "Where's Dayna?"

"Jim took her to the park. I thought I'd have to use a pitchfork to get him out of the house, though."

Blair chuckled "Yeah, Jim's like that."

"Funny.  He doesn't really strike me as the maternal type."

"Mm."  Blair took a cautious mouthful of the soup. It stayed down.  "This is good.  You make it yourself?"

She shook her head. "Nah. Jim did.  That's one of the reasons why I got him to go to the park.  I got the feeling he was going to spoon feed you."  Blair chuckled.  "Well, that and the fact that his pacing was driving me nuts.  Eat up.  You're gonna need your strength for next week."

He paused, spoon at his lips.  "Next week? he asked warily.  "Why?"

"That's when they rescheduled your exam to."

Blair swallowed another mouthful of soup. "Greeaat," he sighed.

"I have worse news." Corrinne said carefully.

"Huh?"

"It looks like you and Jim are now a Gay Icon."

"WHAT?!"  Blair sprayed the soup over his bed.  A noodle got caught in his throat, and he choked, coughing hard.   Corrinne rubbed him on the back and handed him a glass of water.  He nodded his thanks and drank.  "*Gay Icon?*"

She grinned and held up a copy of a campus magazine,  'Revel.' Sprayed across the front cover was a picture of Jim holding Blair, Dayna trapped between them. "The trials of Gay parenting." she snickered.

"Gimme that."  Blair grabbed the magazine and flipped to the article. "Blair Sandburg, doctoral candidate in anthropology is currently juggling the stresses of study with the parenting of his child.  He shares this task with his partner, Detective Jim Ellison of the Cascade PD!" He spread the magazine over his face and fell backwards with a groan. "Oh, no"

Corrinne chuckled.  "I don't know, Blair, I mean, you gotta admit, Jim's well built.  And you two look so cute there hugging..."

"Hugging?"  Blair peered at the photo.  "Nonononono. That was not a hug."

"I thought it was a hug." Corrinne surveyed the picture. "Yep.  It was a hug. " she tapped the skin under her eyes.  "Super sight, remember? I can pick these things up."

"I passed out!  He caught me when I fell."

"So, we agree there was some  definite 'holding' going on then?" She asked evilly.

Blair waved his hands in the air. "I don't even know why I'm having this conversation."

"I'm preparing you for the piles of flowers and chocolates on your desk."

"Flowers?! They sent flowers?? Oh, man." He caught the look on the woman's face. She was smiling.  No, grinning.

Finally the smile cracked and she howled with laughter. "You should see your face!"

"Oh that's funny, Corrinne. Real funny.  Tease a sick man."  he folded his arms across his chest.

"I'm not teasing. There's a pile about a foot high!"

Blair heard the click of the door as Jim entered the Loft. "Oh, no.  I gotta hide this."  he hurriedly stuffed the magazine under his pillow as Corrinne leaned back on the bed.

"Hi Jim." she called. There was a muffled greeting from the next room and Blair worriedly rearranged his pillows.

Corrinne patted his leg through the blanket.  "I have to go.  I have work in a couple of hours.  Call me if you need any help with sitting, ok?"

Blair nodded.  "Will do.  Thanks.  Oh, hang on," he fished in the top draw of the nightstand for his wallet. "How much do I owe you for the sitting?"

Corrinne stopped short, open mouthed. "What?"

"The sitting, that afternoon.  How much?  Look, a twenty ought to cover it, huh?"

"Blair." she shook her head. "Consider it a freebie, ok?  But let me know if you need me to sit in future."  She smiled wickedly. "WITH pay."

Jim poked his head around the doorframe, then walked in.  "Hi Chief. How're you feeling?"

"Oh, hi Jim, I'm fine."  Blair answered as Jim sat on the end of the bed. "How's Dayna?"

"Sleeping."  Jim nodded at Corrinne as she stepped past him, waving a farewell.  He waited until he heard the door close, then grinned.   "So, " he said, reaching under Blair's pillow and pulling out the magazine. "What's this? Porn mags?  You holding out on me here, Chief?"

"No! No, Jim, man, you don't wanna read that.  It's just a campus rag, you know, students put them out...." he swallowed nervously as his partner surveyed the contents.

"Gay Icon?" asked Jim, face carefully blank.

"Yeah, I know, can you believe it? I mean, I can handle being used a role model, but the flowers and the candy is going a bit overboard." He smacked Jim on the arm as he chuckled. "Come on man, this isn't funny.  What if the guys at the station hear about this?"

"They already have. Simon said he 'hopes we're very happy together.' "

"Oh man."  Blair buried his face in his hands.

"Blair."

"What?"  Blair didn't move his head.

Jim reached forwards and brushed back a sheet of his partner's hair. "Come on, honey," he said in a husky voice. "Give me a kiss."

"Jim!"

All Content Copyright © 2001 Taleya Joinson
Last modified: November 12, 2010