Fear
 

"...still beside the ships or whether by now he has been hewn limb from limb and thrown before the dogs by Achilleus."

Blair paused and looked over to where Dayna was kicking idly in her cot. "You want to try drinking something now?" He wobbled out of bed and sat on the edge. Reaching down, he pulled Dayna up into his arms and pushed the bottle towards her. She scrunched her face and pulled away. Blair put the bottle to one side, concerned. "Jim?" he called.

Jim sighed and turned another page of the paper My first day off in ages. I didn't hear that.

"Jiiiiiim."

He sighed and got up off the couch. Blair had been sick for a week now, and Jim was starting to get a bit sick of it himself. He glanced up at the clock as he headed for the French doors. What time is Corrinne coming over?

"Jim? Are you ok out there?" He heard the creak of the bed and hastened his pace before Blair decided to get up to see for himself. He felt a flash of guilt. *Even sick, the kid is still looking out for me * Besides, Blair had really only called him when he'd been unable to do something himself. Unfortunately, with the flu, there was a lot he could do without falling flat on his face.

"What's up, Chief?"

Blair turned red rimmed, watery eyes on him. "It's Dayna. She won't take her bottle."

"Starvation protest because of those mouldy old books?" Jim teased.

"Jim, man, I'm serious. Check her out, please?" He held the baby up, transferring her into the Sentinels arms.

Jim nodded and carefully focused his senses on the baby. "Her temperature's up." he said, running a finger along a cheek. "Her face is a bit swollen too." He eased her back down into the cot.

Blair fell back with a relieved sigh that threatened to turn into a cough. "She's just teething, that's all. Man, I though she was getting my flu - you know, that can be bad for babies."

Jim put a hand on his partner's forehead as he leaned back. "*Your* temperature's up too." he frowned.

Blair waved a hand. "I'm just having trouble kicking the last of that flu, is all."

"You been taking those antibiotics the doctor prescribed?"

Blair grimaced. "Yeah. That's probably why I feel so crappy. I mean, the chemicals they put in those things..."

"Unfortunately don't stop you from talking so much. When are you due for the next lot?"

"Ummmmmmm." Blair hedged.

Jim nodded. "Now, right?" He moved into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Pulling out the medication bottles, he read the dosages on the side and then shook out the pills. Pouring a pitcher of water, he grabbed the aspirin and wet down a cloth before heading back into Sandburg's room.

"Here." He set the cloth on the desk, then refilled the glass on the nightstand by the bed. Helping Blair into a sitting position, he handed him the pills and the water.

Blair pulled a face, but Jim glared him down and he meekly pushed the pills into his mouth, followed by the aspirin, drinking the water to wash it down. "I hate being ill," he mumbled grumpily. "It really sucks."

"I thought you liked the pampering." Jim teased lightly. He put the cloth across Blair's forehead, then eased him back onto the bed as he shivered. "Take it easy." He pulled the blankets higher over his partner, then looked over to the cot. "You want me to take Dayna into the lounge?"

Blair shook his head slightly. "I want to finish reading this story to her first."

"Which story?" Blair flipped the book over so he could see the cover. "The Illiad?"

"It's a great story man, Gods, heroes...It'll help her get off on a higher level." Blair said defensively. "Anyway, it's not like she can understand the words." Reaching out one hand, he hooked the cot closer, then wiped his abused nose with a tissue. "We should get her a ring or something to chew on while she's teething."

Jim nodded. "I'll pick one up on the way back from the station." he promised.

"Thanks." Blair sighed, pulling his book into his lap. "Then in turn answered him the courier Argeiphontes: 'Aged sir, neither have the dogs eaten him, nor have the birds, but he lies yet beside the ship of Achilleus...' "

Jim shook his head as he walked out the door. *Now I've seen it all. Sandburg reading the Illiad to a three month old.*

Settling down on the couch, Jim pulled open the paper. Reaching out, he absently sipped at his coffee, then pulled a face. Stone cold. Tossing it out into the sink with a sigh, he made do with a glass of water from the tap, moving into the lounge and spreading out the paper again. Flipping to the sports page, he took a sip from his glass, then paused. There was something...odd about the taste of the water. It tasted, tangy, bitter, like some kind of...

Drug.

He spat the water out onto the couch, and jumped to his feet. "SANDBURG!" he bellowed.

"Jim?" There was a hesitant, pleading, fearful tone to the other man's voice. Blair was standing in the doorway to his room, shoulders slumped, hands shaking as he held out a bundle in his hands. "Jim?" The Detective's blood ran cold as he recognised the tiny form so still and silent in his friends hands.

Dayna.

"Oh, God." Jim leapt forwards and caught the anthropologist as his eyes rolled back into his head. He eased his partner to the floor, bushing back the suddenly sweat-soaked hair. Reaching down, he rested a hand on Dayna's chest, feeling the heart beating too fast below bones as fragile as a birds.

He pulled off his jumper and pillowed it under Blair's head. "Easy buddy, easy, you're gonna be all right."  Cradling Dayna in his arms, he was reaching for the phone when Blair stirred and choked.

"Blair!" Jim eased him up into a sitting position, gently wiping his mouth as he coughed. "Shh." He looked from Blair to Dayna to the phone, making a decision. "Chief. Chief?" He sighed in relief as the blue eyes opened. "I need you to put your arm around my neck. Can you do that?"

Blair nodded, still coughing and reached up to put an arm around Jim's neck. Nestling the baby between them, Jim rose to his feet and headed for the truck.

Corrinne was coming in the outer door, dressed casually in black jeans and a white T-shirt. She stopped short at the sight, then charged up the stairs to meet him. "Oh my God. What happened?"

Jim shook his head as he came down the stairs. "There was something in the water. I'm taking them to the hospital."

"Give me the keys." Corrinne demanded. He dropped them into her hand, and she ran back down the steps, blocking the door at the end open. By the time Jim got outside, she had already unlocked and opened the back, and helped him move into the seat. Shutting the door carefully, she ran around the car and slid behind the wheel.

"Which hospital? she asked, starting the car and moving out.

"Mercy." Jim shifted his arms slightly as Blair moaned. "Easy buddy, I got you. Shh." He looked up. "Use the siren."

"Siren? Where?"

"Up the front." He rested a hand on Dayna's forehead, wincing at the fever building there.

Corrinne's fingers fumbled across the dash until she found the switch. Blue and red alternated through the car as she pulled into the main road. "Are they all right?" she asked, looking in the rear view mirror.

Jim shook his head. "I don't know. Give me the radio." Corrinne pulled it out of its holder and handed it over her shoulder. Leaning back in the seat and cradling Blair and Dayna in his lap, Jim called the hospital, then requested a forensics team to check the loft.

Corrinne sat cross legged on one of the hard hospital chairs while Jim paced the corridor. Blair and Dayna had been whisked away at the hospital entrance and the two of them had been asked to wait.

Wait. They didn't say anything about worry, though.

A nurse came down the corridor. "Mr Ellison and Ms. Mathews?"

Corrinne stood beside the Detective as he stopped his pacing. "Yes?"

"How are they?" demanded Jim without preamble.

"I'm afraid I don't have have any news," the nurse said nervously, looking up at the big man. "I was asked to take blood samples from the two of you?"

Corrinne shook her head, confused. "Us?"

The nurse looked at the chart in her hand. "You were exposed to some kind of drug?"

"Yes, but -"

"That's all it says. I need to take blood samples to run tox screens." She opened a door to the side. "Could you please step in here."

Corrinne followed Jim's lead as he stepped through the door. "I don't understand, I mean, we're not the ones ..." Dying

The nurse busied herself opening a sterile package and a swab. "You were still exposed." she turned, needle in hand. "Who's first?"

Jim stepped forward, rolling up his sleeve. "Me." He turned the dial down, expression stony as the nurse took the sample, then opened a fresh syringe for Corrinne. "What are we dealing with?"

The nurse shook her head. "We're not sure. It looks like a chloryl derivative of some kind." she finished with Corrinne and took the samples out, labelling them. "The doctor should be along to speak to you soon." She ushered them back into the waiting room and moved down the corridor, shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor.

Corrinne sat down and watched Jim resume his pacing. After a while, he turned to face her. "You should go home, get some rest. I'll call if - "

Corrinne held up a hand. "I think I'll stay."

Jim nodded. "Thank you."

Half an hour later, a doctor appeared. "Mr. Ellison?" she looked to Corrinne. "Ms. Matthews?"

"Yes?"

The doctor introduced herself. "Emily Collins." She took a seat and opened the chart in her hand. "The tox screens on the two of you came back fairly clean. I don't think you have anything to worry about. I am surprised that the amounts were so low, though."

"With the crimewave, I've been working late shifts the past week," Jim explained. "Ms. Matthews lives in her own apartment."

Collins made a note on the chart. "It's my understanding that Mr. Sandburg was ill recently?" She asked.

Jim nodded. "He had the flu a week ago. He's still trying to shake the last of it off."

"That's what I was afraid of, " Collins sighed. "Mr. Sandburg's immune system was already weakened by the virus. That was why his reaction was so bad." "How bad is he?" Corrinne asked quietly.

The doctor smiled reassuringly. "We're flushing the drug out of his system, but I think we caught it in time. He should be all right in a couple of days. Any longer, and it could have been much worse. "

Jim clenched his jaw. "Dayna?"

Collins sobered. "I'm afraid the news isn't so good. It appears that Dayna was only exposed to a small amount of the water, yes?"

Corrinne nodded. "Blair wanted to try her on some solid food. I made up some mashed peas." her face crumpled as she realised. "Oh my God, I poisoned her."

Jim put a hand on her back in support. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know." It's mine. I should have spotted it sooner.

The doctor held up a hand. "No one is assigning any blame. However, we've had some luck on that point. Apparently boiling the water dispersed some of the drug. Dayna seems a strong child. With luck, she should recover completely." She paused. "However, we won't know until she wakes up"

If she wakes up. Jim got to his feet. "Can we see them?"

"Of course." They followed the doctor down the corridor to the ICU unit. She stopped them at the door to Blair's room. "I'm sorry. One visitor at a time."

Corrinne smiled softly at Jim. "I'll go check on Dayna."

"She's in our children's section." Collins said. "I'll show you." They walked slowly down the corridor as the Jim entered the room.

"Hey, Chief." Jim pulled up a chair as the blue eyes slid open.

"Jim." Blair sighed in resignation as he started up at the ceiling. "Hospital? Again?" he smiled weakly. "Man, they should charge me rent. Or give me a frequent flyers card. What happened?"

"Someone drugged the water in the Loft." Jim explained. "Don't worry, they got it in time." He rubbed a hand over his partner's knuckles, mindful of the IV. "You're gonna be fine, Chief. The doc says a couple days and you'll be annoying everyone again."

Blair gave a weak chuckle. "Dayna?"

Jim hesitated. "She's fine." he lied. "They just want to keep an eye on her."

But Blair had seen the hesitation. "Jim? Aw, man. Not her. Tell me she's gonna be ok, Jim. Please."

Jim held him down as he tried to get up. "Shh."

"Jim? Tell them to look after Dayna. Tell them it doesn't matter what happens to me as long as she's ok. Tell them. Please."

"Calm down, Chief. Corrinne's with her. She'll make sure they know." He pushed back a stray curl as his partner's eyes slid closed. "She's gonna be all right, you'll see, Chief." he murmured. "She's gonna be fine"

Corrinne wrapped her arms around herself as she looked down into the glass incubator. Dayna was lying there, so still... she bit back a slight sob that threatened to escape. God, she's only a baby..

The nurse put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry about what happened to your daughter. I have two children myself. I can only imagine what you're going through."

Corrinne looked up, confused. "Oh. Dayna's not my daughter."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I assumed..." the nurse trailed off. "Extended visiting hours are for family only." She looked around, making a decision, then leaned forwards. "I think that you're her mother," she said meaningfully.

Corrinne nodded her gratitude. "Thanks," she stopped as a thought occurred to her. "Jim? I mean, what about Detective Ellison?"

The nurse smiled. "The staff at this hospital learned long ago not to mess with Detective Ellison where his partner's concerned."

Corrinne nodded, then took a deep breath, before walking out of the room. She sank into a chair out in the corridor and put her head in her hands. How could life be so cruel?

Simon entered the ICU area, Rafe close behind. He moved the nurses desk, asking about Blair. Rafe looked around and noticed Corrinne. Moving over, he squatted beside the chair. "Corrinne?"

She looked up. "Rafe." She knew him from the hostage situation at Rainier. One of the cops that *didn't* freak her out.

Rafe looked at the ward, then back at her. "Dayna?" he asked softly. She nodded, and he took the chair next to her, sighing as if someone had punched him in the gut. "Jesus."

Simon came back from the information desk. "How's the kid?" asked Rafe.

"Sleeping. Jim's in there with him. He was pretty shook up by the whole thing. How's Dayna?"

"No change." Corrinne replied dully.

Simon looked over at her. "Ms. Matthews, right?" He vaguely remembered Jim saying something about her being a babysitter.

She nodded, offering a hand. "Captain...Banks?"

Simon took it, giving a firm shake. "Pleased to meet you again. I wish it was under better circumstances." Releasing her hand, he turned back to the Detective. "Rafe. I want you to help Brown go over the forensics scan on the Loft. See if you can pick up anything. " Rafe nodded "I also want you to pull past case history, see if any of the sickos Sandburg and Ellison put away are out on parole." he put his hands on his hips and sighed. "I hate cases like this. It's always the innocent one who end up taking the brunt."

He looked over his shoulder as Jim walked up. "How's Sandburg?"

"Still sleeping."

"Jim. Rafe and I are going back to the PD. We're gonna get this guy."

Jim nodded his thanks. "You'd better take Corrinne with you. She looks wiped."

Corrinne shook her head, then relented. "Give me the keys. I'll check the Loft is secure, then."

Jim handed them over and she followed the two cops out of the room, pausing in the door. "They're gonna be ok, Jim." *I hope.*

Jim nodded and entered the childrens section, eyes fixed on the incubator.

Rafe drove Corrinne back to the Loft, accompanying her inside. "Are you ok?" he asked when she stopped, staring out the balcony windows into the night sky.

"Yeah." Corrinne shook herself. "I just, it kinda got to me. Seeing Dayna there..."

Rafe came up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey." he said softly as she began to cry. Turning her around he pulled her into a hug. "They're gonna be all right. The doc said she's strong." he murmured, holding her. Fighting back tears of his own.

After a while, she pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Thanks." She moved over to the couch and sat down, feeling the couch shift as he sat next to her. "Have you got any children?" she asked softly.

Rafe shook his head. "No. My father was an alcoholic. I, I used to take care of my sister a lot. I just got worried about the kid. Sandburg, I mean. Dayna too. Who would want to poison a baby? And Sandburg? I mean, the guy would never hurt anyone in his life, ever." he shook his head in disbelief. "There are some sick people in this city."

Corrinne nodded. "Yeah." It seemed so inadequate. After a while she pushed herself off the couch. "We'd better get going."

Rafe followed her out as she locked the door. "Need a lift anywhere?" he asked as they came down the stairs.

She shook her head. "No, I'll walk home. I need some time to myself."

Rafe nodded in understanding and patted her on the shoulder as he opened the car door Fishing in his pocket, he handed her a card. "Call me if anything happens."

"Thanks" Corrinne tucked the card in her pocket and watched him drive off. She rubbed her forehead as the car disappeared around the corner, feeling the headache that had been threatening ever since she entered the hospital start to grow. The bright lights and air conditioning always played hell with her.

Not to mention the worry.

God, Blair, be all right, please. Dayna needs you. He had looked so pale and tired. And Dayna...

Dayna* Corrinne scrubbed her hands over her face. The thought of someone wanting to hurt a baby...

She was halfway across the parking lot when someone grabbed her around the neck. "Hello, " a voice breathed wetly into her ear.

*Male.*

She twisted in his grasp, slamming an elbow into his nose and ran for the bright lights of a convenience store across the road. Looking wildly over her shoulder, she caught a glimpse of him following her.

*Black hair. Jeans, blue shirt.*

She skidded on a can someone had left, going down on her knees. Shit! She felt the arm go around her again, then something slammed in the back of her head and there was nothing else.

Jim looked down into the glass enclosure of the incubator. She looks so small. What will Sandburg do if he loses her? He knew that even if the father did show up, Blair wouldn't let Dayna go.

Neither will I Jim suddenly realised that Dayna was his family. Somehow this smelly, noisy little temporary lodger had worked her way into his heart as deeply as her adoptive father. What will I do if I lose her?

His heart lifted as Dayna stirred slightly, moving her legs. Her eyes opened and she moved her left leg again, the movement hampered by the IV line. Balling her hands into fists, she screamed in indignation, kicking her legs angrily.

Jim pressed a hand against the glass wall. That's it, Dayna. Fight.

He turned as a nurse entered the room. "Detective Ellison? There's a phone call for you."

Jim followed her out into the corridor and picked up the phone. "Ellison"

"Helloo Detective."

"Who is this?" Jim asked in annoyance

"Doesn't matter. Did you like the little cocktail I put in your pipes? I bet it made the water just yummy."

Jim clenched the phone in his fist. "You bastard. When I track you down - "

"Ah, but you don't have to. I'm waiting right here with a friend of yours. The blonde one with the nice, perky tits."

Corrinne Jim gripped the phone tighter, knuckles turning white. "Let me speak to her."

"Well, I would, but she's kinda busy right now. Not up to much talking."

"You son of a bitch." Jim hissed, hearing the plastic handle of the phone crack under his grasp. "If you've hurt her - "

"Threats later Ellison. I want you at pier 47. The fish warehouse. Now. Alone. We have a score to settle."

*click*

Jim slammed the phone down, ignoring the startled looks from the nurse on duty. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself, he picked the phone up again and dialled the number for the Cascade PD.

Jim pulled up outside the dark warehouse, gun at the ready. He stretched his hearing out, scanning the area. Two heartbeats, nothing else. Pushing open a door, he was blinded by a set of floodlights.

"Nice of you to drop in, Ellison." He swung his gun around to the source of the voice. "Don't point that gun at me. You might hit this nice little piece of work over here."

Another floodlight lit, illuminating Corrinne, hands and feet tied, straining slightly against something around her neck. Jim sighted in, looking up from the thin metal wire around the womans throat, to a pulley array, to a matching silver gleam in the darkness.

"Who are you?" Jim asked, eyes probing the darkness, buying for time.

"Don't you know? I thought you had the best ears on the force, Ellison. And as for reason, payback. For my father." A figure stepped into the light. Black hair fell sloppily over a broad face, topped with narrow set eyes. "Do you remember me now, Ellison?"

Jim nodded. "Simon Bradley. You're the son of Davis Bradley, that psycho I put away last year."

Bradley's eyes narrowed in anger. "My father was a soldier. He risked his life and you hunted him down like a dog. He was a hero. He was a great man. He was the man I look up to, the man I try to be. And you left him to rot to death in a cell."

Jim moved slightly closer. "Your father shot fifteen people. And you follow his example by poisoning a student and a three month baby?"

Bradley shook his head. "I was only after you. The hippie and the brat were just a bonus." He jerked his hand slightly and Corrinne gritted her teeth as the wire bit in. "Just like Madame Perky over here."

"If it's me you want." Jim holstered his gun and spread his hands. "I'm here. Just let her go."

Bradley shook his head. "No. When I saw you at the hospital, I decided it might be more fun to watch you suffer, like I did. Now I'm gonna give you ten seconds, then I'm gonna shoot you - low, I think, in the stomach. So you die slow and painful. Then I'm gonna kill her, right in front of your eyes." he leered over at Corrinne. "Maybe I'll have some fun first." She spat in his face and he grinned. "Oh yeah, this one will be fun."

Jim took another step forwards. "You son of a bitch," he snarled.

"Uh-uh Ellison." Bradley waggled a finger. "Now, you have a choice. You can sit there and die slowly, and watch the fun. You can try to shoot me, but well, with this wire..If I fall, Madame Perky can start auditioning for Highlander. Or you could shoot her in some attempt to protect her honour, but I don't think that would go down too well with the press." he laughed. "Interesting problem isn't it? he waved his gun slowly through the air as Jim pulled his sidearm back out. "Which one will the Detective choose?" He brought his hand down to scratch at his head, and Corrinne rose up on to her toes, wincing as the wire bit into her neck. "I guess we'll find out."

Corrinne looked up at the wire, then at Jim. Dammit, if he could only see with my eyes... She moved her neck slightly, watching the wire echo the movement. Maybe if I can catch his eye... She moved again, a small sound escaping her lips as the wire bit in deeper. From across the floor, she saw Jim look up, then nod slightly.

"Well, your ten seconds are up." Bradley sighed, raising the gun. "What's it gonna be, Ellison?"

Jim raised the gun and fired, slicing through the wire above Corrinne's head. She immediately dropped to the floor, bringing her bound legs around in a desperate sweep, knocking Bradley's feet from underneath him as Jim lunged forwards.

Corrinne swung her legs around again, trying to get another kick in, but Bradley brushed her flailing feet aside and lunged left, grabbing and raising his gun just as the Sentinel reached them. Jim grabbed the barrel of the gun as Bradley pulled the trigger, feeling the bullet crease his cheek, screeching through the air past his right ear. With a savage growl he jerked the gun up, slamming the heel of his left hand into the other man's face, hearing the satisfying crunch of cartilage breaking.

Bradley howled, the fingers of one hand scrabbling for the Detective's face. The gun fell free and Jim kicked it out of the way, bringing his fist around in a backhand blow, slamming it into Bradley's face and knocking him out. Rolling him onto his back, Jim quickly cuffed him and moved to where Corrinne was sprawled on the floor.

"Corrinne?"

She rolled over and groaned. "Jim?" her eyes widened "Jim!"

"Easy, Easy." Jim untied her hands and feet, then inspected her neck as she sat up, sensitive fingers following the wire. "I'm going to get this off you. It might hurt."

"I don't care. Just get this damn thing off." She gritted.

Corrinne tensed, but the Sentinel was gentle, carefully loosening the slipknot until he could pulled the wire over her head. He ran his fingers around the bloody line, satisfied that the bleeding was minimal. "You'll be ok." he said, helping her to her feet.

Corrinne steadied herself against his shoulder for a few minutes, then looked over to where Bradley was cuffed on the floor. Pushing free of the Detective, she staggered a few steps forwards, then kicked him hard in the side. "You fucking BASTARD!" she screamed

"Easy, easy." Jim moved forwards and pulled her away.

"Jim? That son of a bitch poisoned Blair and Dayna." She broke free and drew her leg back again.

Jim grabbed her around the waist and bodily hauled her to the other side of the room. "Corrinne." he said sharply.

She twisted in his arms to face him. "He..How can you just..."

"I'm a police officer." Jim said softly under his own anger. He was actually glad she had gotten a few decent kicks in. It saved him from wanting to do it himself.

But Corrinne wasn't really expecting an answer, her mind was bouncing off on tangents, speeded up by adrenaline. "I can't believe you made that shot. I mean, I was looking up, and I had to focus really hard to see the wire, and you were on the other side of the room, and -" She grabbed hold of his shirt. "Ohmigod. You're one of us, aren't you? Like me?"

Jim opened his mouth to feign ignorance when she looked up at him. He gasped in shock as her eyes widened, pupils expanding impossibly large. 'Spooky eyes' was how Sandburg had termed the look the one time he tried to describe it. "You're a Sentinel?"

She grinned and nodded in excitement. "Enhanced eyesight. That's how I know Blair. I was one of his test subjects. You're a Sentinel? All five? Oh wow, that must be so cool. Just wait until the other guys hear about this."

Jim caught her as she beetled past, and dragged her to the floor. "Sit down for a minute." He waited until she was calm, than paused, sorting his words. "Corrinne. No one but you, Blair and my police Captain knows. I'd like to keep it that way."

She nodded. "Yeah. We're all like that. Too many X-files episodes, I guess."

"We?" Jim asked.

She looked up at him, chewing her lip, then sighed. "I guess I can tell you. I mean, it's not like you're going to turn us over or anything. There's about five of us, kind of our own little club. We all met through Blair. He's helped us all a lot - that's why we agreed to the tests. I mean, when he first found me, I used to get these headaches. The lights were always too bright, everything kept going in and out of focus. I used to wear sunglasses almost all the time. He helped me get it under control. He's helped the others too. There's me with my eyes, John, um, he's a perfumier, he's got the nose, and there's Gary over at the U, he works at the geology department - he's got the touch. There's a couple of others too, but none of us have the full set like you."

She looked over at Bradley "I still can't believe that guy did that. Blair would never, ever hurt anyone, but this....he just .." she put a hand to the side of her neck. Grimacing at the slimy feel of blood, she pulled her hand away, then pressed it back, keeping pressure. "How long until the others get here?"

"I called for backup before I left. They would be about ten minutes behind me."

Corrinne nodded, then blinked at the blood sheeting down his cheek. "Oh no, I should have realised. Gary freaked out when he got cut by a knife last year, this must be hell for you, with your enhanced touch." She reached out with her left hand, then pulled it back at the sight of the blood covering it. Reaching forwards with her relatively clean right hand, she clumsily pressed the sleeve of her sweater to his cheek. "Are you ok?"

Jim nodded, pressing his hand over hers. "I've got it under control, with the dials." his ears were picking up the wail of sirens. "The others are coming."

"Dials, huh?" Corrinne laughed. "Blair tried that one with me. I told him he was outdated, so he said to visualise slide controls."

The intern fastened the final piece of tape. "How's that?" he asked. "Can you breathe all right?"

Corrinne nodded, bringing her hands up to gingerly finger the bandage encircling her neck. "Yeah, yeah, I can breathe fine, thanks." The intern pulled the curtain away and she chuckled at the sight of Jim. "You look like a pirate!" she gestured to the row of stitches on his cheek.

The Sentinel grinned easily back at her. "White scarves are in this season, I see." He helped her down from the gurney. "How are you?" he asked, voice gentle.

"Fine." She looked briefly at the floor, then back up. "Let's go check on Blair and Dayna."

Corrinne stopped short at the door when they arrived at the children's section. "Jim." she breathed, almost silently. "I can't - " Turning, she buried her head in his shoulder "Oh no."

The room was empty.

Jim turned to a passing nurse. "Dayna Sandburg," he demanded, feeling hollow inside. "Dayna Jackson-Sandburg. What - "

The nurse smiled. "She's been moved into a regular room with her father." she reassured. Chuckling slightly, she continued. "I'm afraid we had to move her. Mr. Sandburg kept trying to sneak out of his room to see her. They're both in room 314, down the hall."

Jim focused on the familiar twin heartbeats and moved down the corridor. Stopping outside the room and peering through the window, he let a smile play across his face. Blair was sprawled across the narrow bed, one arm slung protectively across Dayna's cot.

He opened the door and Corrinne followed him in. "Chief?" he called softly.

Blair snuffled slightly, then twisted in the bed and sat up, blinking owlishly, glancing at the cot, then over at the other two. "Jim. Corrinne." Then his brain kicked in and his eyes widened. "What the hell happened?" he gasped. The other two looked at each other. They both looked like refugees from a war zone.

Corrinne rubbed the back of her neck. "We caught the bad guy?" she offered sheepishly.

"Jim?" Blair looked his partner over. "Oh man, what happened? What did he do? Are you ok? I didn't think before, that drug you said was in the water could have really spun you out with your -" he caught himself. "Allergies." he finished.

Jim smiled as he sat down on the end of the bed. "Relax Sandburg. She knows," he gestured to Corrinne,who pulled a chair up to the bed.

Blair and sighed in relief. "And you know about her - "

"Yeah."

There was silence for a minute, while Blair looked down into the cot. Dayna stirred, crying slightly and three sets of hands reached out. They all laughed as Blair scooped her up. "We make a good family, don't we?" he grinned.

"Yeah, the bombed-out Brady Bunch." Jim reached out and tousled Dayna's hair softly. "You had us scared there for a minute, kid" he murmured.

A nurse entered the room, smiling at the group around the bed. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave for a few minutes while I change Mr. Sandburg's IV." she said.

Blair groaned theatrically and eased Dayna back into the cot. "Don't go man, I feel like the human pincushion." he called as they left.

Outside the room, Corrinne flopped into a chair, leaning her head back against the wall and closing her eyes.

Jim took the seat beside her. "You ok?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Just tired."

"I think you should go home and sleep then." They both looked up at Dr. Collins. "Dayna and Mr. Sandburg will be fine. They should be able to go home day after tomorrow." she smiled. "And I think it's time that you got some rest. I heard about today's little debacle." she added, turning to Corrinne.

Corrinne shook her head. "I'll be all right."

Jim got to his feet and escorted the protesting woman to the elevator. "I think you should listen to the doctor. Get some sleep."

"You too, Detective Ellison." Collins called. "I don't want to see either of you until tomorrow."

Jim opened his mouth and Corrinne pulled him into the elevator with a vengeful chuckle. "Got you!"

Jim opened the door to the truck. "Can I give you a lift?" he offered.

Corrinne shook her head. "Nah, thanks. I only live down the road." she gestured.

"Are you sure?" Jim viewed the bandage around her neck again. "Do you want to stay the night at the Loft?" Do you want to spend the night alone? He knew about PTS.

She considered it seriously for a moment, then shook her head. "No. I'd better get home. When it comes to food, my cat waits for no man." She laughed and started down the road, turning after a few steps to wave goodbye.

Jim watched her walk away. He put a hand on the door of the car, then turned and walked back into the hospital. He wasn't leaving until Sandburg and Dayna were.

Corrinne looked over her shoulder and smiled softly as the burly figure disappeared through the doors.

She made the rest of the trip home safely, and tugged her keys out of her pocket as she trudged up the steps. Once inside, she bolted the door and pulled the bottle of painkillers out of her pocket. Reading the label on the side while her cat circled her ankles, Corrinne tossed the contents down the toilet with a snort. She had her own ways of dealing with pain. Wandering into her bedroom, she fell on her back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

Funny, she'd expected to be scared, angry...anything. Not this terrible emptiness, like a storm about to break. Sneezing suddenly, she rolled over, pulling the comforter over her.

It could wait until tomorrow.

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