"What good is all this constant rehashing of the same points over and over and over again?" Jim shut off the TV and sighed wearily, knowing that Blair would tell him in excruciating detail.

Blair surprised him.  He simply cocked his head to one side and looked at the strain in Jim's face.

"You really are having difficulty with this aren't you?"

"Wasn't it hard enough to experience it the first hundred times?  Do I have to listen to it discussed to death in the media?  Do I have to discuss my feelings with a therapist provided by the department?"

"Jim, grief counciling is standard procedure for the department and you
know it.  As for the press -- give them time.   They will calm down  --
eventually.  Our lives will get back what passes for normal for us.  We'll deal with the future as it comes."

"I hate feeling helpless."

"Relax, Jim.  You are the least helpless man I know.  Do what you do so well. Catch the bad guys in Cascade.  Take it one day at a time.  Take care of the people who love you.  Let them take care of you."

"The people who love me?  That would be you?"  Jim pulled Blair into his arms.

"You know it."  Blair decided that a little pounce therapy was in order.  He pushed the Sentinel back onto the couch.  Jim let out a little "ooof" of surprise.

"Hey!"

"I thought you were supposed to some sort of big, bad Ranger."

"That was a long time ago,"  Jim excused his vulnerability to Blair's attack.

"So you can be had by ex-teaching fellows?"

"Never!"

"Never?" Blair pouted.

"Only by one ex-teaching fellow."

"Oh, and I suppose that would be me?"

"Only you."  Jim raised his head for a kiss.  Blair happily obliged.
 

September 18, 2001