Summary: Some old friends of Blair have come to town and can�t believe the change in him.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Sentinel or it's characters.
Rate: PG
Category: General
"Come on man, "Blair Sandburg said to his roommate, Jim Ellison.
"NO! "Jim said once again.
"Jim, it [will be] only 3 people and only one night! Besides I haven't seen them since their senior year," Blair said.
"Of High school?" Jim said trying to change the subject.
"No college," Blair said understanding that his three friends couldn't stay even though it was his loft too.
Jim looked at Blair and felt sorry for him. Out of all his years at college he's only made three close friends, four if you count him. He had to take pity on him, even if it did cost him his sanity.
"Ok, but I'm staying somewhere else", Jim said.
"Thanks, man," Blair said smiling.
Air Port
"So how do you think he will look?" Max asked.
"Lets see: long curly hair, deep blue eyes and as cute as ever," Kat said fixing her skirt.
"Come on sweetie stand up he'll be here any minute.", Sarah said looking at Max who was still sitting in the chair.
"Kat why did you break up with Blair anyway?" Max asked.
"His work came first everything else came in last, probably still is," Kat said.
"Hey, Kitty Kat," Blair said from behind her.
She turned around to see who she thought was Blair. He stood before her in blue jeans with a white dress shirt; over it he wore a plain black vest. His hair was cut short, and his blue eyes were bright.
"Blair!" Sara said running over to him and gave him a hug.
"What happened to you?" Max asked getting up and grabbing their bags.
"I could ask the same about you,� Blair said glancing at his and Sara's wedding band.
Max smiled, and gave him a hug. Kat was still trying to over the shock of his hair and clothes. Sara went to stand next to Max when Blair went to look for someone.
"Sandy!" Megan said from a distance.
"Megan, I'm over here," Blair said.
She walked over and stood next to Blair; she had on a blue tank top with black slacks and pumps. Her burgundy hair was up in a ponytail, but still showed its natural curl.
"Max, Sara, and Kat, this is Megan Connor. Megan these are my old friends, Max and Sara Carter, and Kathryn Sullivan." Blair said and they all shook hands.
"So, Miss Connor, how do you know Blair?" Kat asked showing a little jealousy.
"Please, Call me Megan," Megan said smiling as they all noted her accent.
"Only if you do the same for us," Kat replied looking at her.
"Well I know Sandy from work," Megan said and they all left it at that.
Loft
"It's to bad you guys could only stay for one night,� Blair said, putting their bags on the floor.
"I'd love to stay Sandy, but I got that report to finish, and if another one's late Simon will have my head," Megan said and Blair nodded.
"Tell Jim he doesn't have to stay away, we promise to be good," Blair said in a child's voice.
She smiled and he gave her a quick kiss and than she left. At this point Kat was really jealous, and Sara could see it. And Max found it funny so he couldn�t help but ask about her.
"So how long have you two been dating?" Max asked as Blair closed his eyes to think.
"Six months," Blair answered back.
"She doesn�t sound American" Kat said and Blair looked up at her.
"No, she's from Australia on an foreign exchange program," Blair answered back.
�I like her,� Sara said.
" I'm starved and I know this good caf� Jim and I go to a lot." Blair said changing the subject.
"Sound good Blair," Sara said also trying to get off the Megan subject.
Restaurant
"Hey, Blair you want the usual?" A waitress in her late 20's with blond hair said as she came out and smiled.
"Sure Sally," Blair said as they settled into a booth.
" And your friends will have?" Sally asked.
"They sure are your friends," Sally said as she smiled at him.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Max asked a little curious.
"Oh it nothing bad you ordered what I ordered on one of our dates," Blair assured Max.
"You dated her," Sara asked.
"We only went out about�four times, then she said she didn't like my life style, but we could be good friends." Blair said.
"Which means she met someone who was way cuter than you," Kat said as Blair just smiled.
"Maybe but I got Megan now, so I really don't think about my past girlfriends," Blair said as his response.
Kat had the salad with a glass of skim milk. Max and Sara had the same, soy hamburger, with a small salad and a glass of 7-up. Blair had the Big Hamburger, with large fries and a glass Pepsi.
"That is not a soy burger is it" Kat asked as Blair looked at her and smiled.
"No, all beef and grease," Blair said taking a bite.
They looked at each other and wondered how else their friend had changed. If he was actually eating meat something he never ate when they knew him those years before what else had changed about him.
"Look, I spent my whole life worrying about what I ate that I never really lived, and besides I make sure I exercise it off," Blair seeing their looks and with that they finished eating and Max and Sara talked about their wedding.
Walking Home
"This place doesn't look like a place you would want to stay in," Max said.
"It has it moments," Blair said.
As Sara and Kat talked about the newest teaching method, Blair saw a guy trying to break in to someone's car. He at first tried to get a look with out them noticing but it just didn�t work that why.
"Hey stop that," Blair yelled as he ran over to him.
As he came face to face with him, the man went to hit him, but Blair blocked it and tripped him. It was clear the man was high or drunk, since when he hit the ground he passed out. Blair called the station and Jim was down there in less than five minutes. Blair's friends couldn't believe what had happened Blair had stopped a man from stealing a car than hit him. Then a cop came over and acted as if he knew him calling him Blair and motioning him over. Blair went over to his friends when Jim was done asking him questions.
"Let's get back to the loft, there nothing more I can do right now," Blair said pointing to the direction they should go in.
They didn�t know what to do or say about what happen. It wasn�t everyday you see your friend be a hero and stop a man from being a thief. So they all walked in silence to Blair and Jim's loft.
Loft
"Blair, what just happened there?" Sara asked still a little shaken up from the event.
"Nothing much just your every day street junky who was looking for either a car to hot wire, or loose money," Blair said getting him and Max a beer.
�Thanks,� Max said.
"You two want one?" Blair asked.
"No, I'm pregnant," Sara said as Blair looked at her, and gave her another hug.
"You two are married and going to be parents�Wow! Man, how we all changed over the last 5 or 6 years." Blair said and Kat looked at him.
"We have not changed Blair you have,� Kat said.
"Yeah I have, but a lot has happened to me since I met Jim," Blair said.
"Who?" Max asked.
"Jim, my roommate and officer I was talking to," Blair said.
"Blair what has happens to you. I mean why did you get your self nearly killed�to prove something, or was it just a death wish," Kat said really worried.
"Don't worry that guy was to high or drunk he didn�t know what he was doing. I'm surprise he knew where to pick the lock." Blair said.
�Blair,� Sara said and he looked at her and he realized he forgot to tell them he was a detective.
"I forgot to tell you didn�t I�I'm a detective, not only am I Jim roommate and friend, but I'm also his partner," Blair said.
"No way!" Sara said leaning against a wall.
"It's not possible, Blair you hate guns, plus you could of never made it through the academy," Max said.
Blair smiled, knowing he would have to prove it to them. He grabbed his wallet and showed him his badge, which had a picture of his before the academy.
"So you are a cop�I mean detective," Max said still a little unsure.
"What about your doctorate?" Kat asked
"I got it, then I decided to become a detective," Blair said as he changed his position on the couch so they could sit down.
�I don�t understand,� Kat said.
"See I was doing my thesis on police behavior and the comparison to ancient cultures and I became Jim's unofficial partner. I was strictly an observer, until about a year ago when Captain Simon Banks said that if I didn't go through the academy I would have to give up my status on the force, so went through the academy. The commander at the academy thought he'd be a wise guy and told me to got through the final simulation after only being there a week�he'd heard I was an unofficial part of the Cascade PD and thought he teach everyone that observers didn't learn anything about being a cop. Well I did and passed. So after only a month there I graduated, but stayed the whole 12 weeks as a TA for one of the constructers, Blair said.
Don�t you mean, instructors,� Max said.
�Yes same thing. The only thing I had trouble was with was wearing a gun all the time,� Blair said.
�So, you went through the academy, after 3 years of being an observer, then for the last year and half you been an official detective and partner of Jim,� Kat said.
�Yeah, that's about it man," Blair said.
"So why do you live here," Kat said still a little upset.
�When I met Jim, I needed a place to live and he needed a roommate. You see, at my old place�the people next to me made drugs so I had to move out. He let me move in out of pity and let me stay because of friendship,� Blair said.
They seemed ok with his story, he was glad because he could not tell them the truth. What he said was true so far as it went--it just wasn't the whole truth. But he had learned that sometimes the truth is worse then the lied and it was very true in this case.
That Night
"Has Blair changed or what?" Sara asked Kat.
"Yea�and I don't like it," Kat said.
�Kat,� Sara said softly.
"I mean in some ways he still the same old Blair Sandburg, but in other he not," Kat said and Sara looked at her and smiled.
"He couldn't wait for you forever," Sara said.
"I know, but he didn't have to flaunt it," Kat said.
"He didn't, they barely kissed and held hands for only a few seconds. Face it, you hate that you broke up with him for an older guy that just crushed your heart," Sara said.
"Good night," Kat said upset knowing that her best friend was right.
�Night Kat,� Sara said.
The Next day
�It too bad you guys have to leave so soon,� Blair said as helped Max gather the last of their things.
Max looked at his friend and really noticed the difference in his body language and tone of voice; it still had that calm innocence, yet had a toughness and strength to it also.
"We feel we've seen enough of the new you to last a while and besides Sara parent expect us there tonight," Max said.
"You better call, write, or e-mail especially when the baby's born," Blair said as Max nodded at his friend and Kat noticed he carried a gun.
"Did you carry that thing last night?" Kat asked as he looked down at his side.
"Yes, I usually carry it everywhere�it a habit," Blair said.
"Blair you're not cut out to be a cop or detective, you studied to be an anthropologist, not to go on the force!" Kat said.
"Kat we don't know what our fate is until it shown to us, that what Naomi used to tell me, and I never understood, until I met Jim and Megan," Blair said as kissed her on the cheek and went to the other room.
*How could he do that? All the time we dated he told me it was his destiny to be an anthropologist, now it's to be a cop. I can't believe that--I won't believe that, * she thought.
The End