Like most (if not all) fans of "The Sentinel", I couldn't accept the fact that Blair died at the end of 'Sentinel Too - part one'. So, after I remembered how to breath and managed to slow down my heartbeat, I thought about a different ending; one in which Jim saves Blair's life, and everything is okay. And then I sat down and started writing my first fan fic story J I know that there are a lot of epilogues to this episode all over the net. But I like to think about my story as more than just an epilogue. I like to think about it as - Jim as to realize how much Blair means to him in order to save Blair's life; something that I believe has to happen in some point of the guys friendship. When I saw “Sentinel Too – part two” a year after writing this story, I have to admit that I was disappointed. The writers could have done so many things with that scene and they just chose to go past it and ignore the deep meaning that it could have held to both guys. So, even after watching the episode, I still think that all the stories that I read on the net, and hopefully mine too, are better than what the writers of the show did.

comments are more than welcomed (good and bad) –[email protected]

EPILOGUE

(sentinel too - part one)

by Osnat

“Let him go Jim; it’s over,” Simon’s broken voice somehow managed to penetrate the walls that Jim’s emotions were building in his mind.

‘No, it’s not over; it can’t be, not like this,’ Jim’s mind shouted. ‘It can’t be happening; not to Blair. It should be me lying there, not him.’

“Jim, calm down,” Simon whispered, holding Jim’s shoulders and trying to pull him away from the body; The body of the man that only a few hours ago was Jim’s best friend, and now lay dead on the ground of the Rainier university. “There’s nothing you can do now.”

“No,” Jim cried, collapsing to his knees. “What good are my senses if I can’t save him?” he asked Simon, anger filling his voice. “He taught me so many things about them, and now I can’t even save him with them. What do I need them for? What good are they?”

“Don’t do this to yourself,” Simon tried to comfort Jim, his hands still on the man’s shoulders, supporting him. “Blair wouldn’t have wanted you to blame yourself.”

Jim closed his eyes, seeing the wounded wolf turning into Blair. “But it is my fault. I should have understood. I could have saved him,” he told Simon. His mind was racing, ‘Maybe if I’ll open my eyes, I would find Blair smiling at me, telling me it was all a big mistake. Telling me he’s all right.’ He wanted to believe that, needed to believe, but he knew that it wouldn't happen. He took a few deep breaths, trying to think more clearly.

And suddenly he knew what he had to do. He didn’t know how the thought came to him, but it did. He knew the only way to save Blair.

Keeping his eyes closed, Jim tried to concentrate. He heard Simon’s voice, but he wasn’t listening to what he was saying. He held his hand up, signing Simon to be quiet and then slowed down his breathing, trying to concentrate and contact the animal spirit that’s within him; just like Blair taught him.

He didn’t succeeded the first time he tried. The thoughts about Blair wouldn’t leave his mind, disturbing his concentration. So he got up and moved closer to Blair. Kneeling down again, he put one hand on Blair’s chest. “Come on buddy. Help me here.” Feeling the stares that everyone gave him, he ignored them. Only one thing was important to him at that moment. He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath, clearing his mind, searching for the powers.

Jim heard a weak sound beside him and opened his eyes, seeing that his hand was resting on a gray wolf. The wolf was hurt, and the pain that Jim saw in his eyes was all too familiar. Looking at his surroundings, he realized he succeeded; the jungle was surrounding him, and he recognized the place from his dream

He also realized who the wolf was.

He looked down and saw the bow and arrows on the ground; a reminder of what he had done. “Hold on, Blair,” he whispered to the wounded wolf. Looked around, he couldn’t find what he was looking for.

“Where are you?” he shouted. “I need your help!”

There were a few seconds of silence and then he heard it; the deep voice he was waiting for. “You failed.”

Jim turned around and saw him, Blair’s last hope. It was like looking into a mirror; he saw himself dressed like a warrior - the image from his dream. ‘The dream where you killed Blair,’ his mind reminded him; as if he could ever forget.

“You failed,” the warrior said again.

“I know I failed,” Jim admitted, taking the responsibility. “But I want a second chance.”

The warrior staid serious, no emotional shown on his face. “You can not have another chance. You can not change what has already happened.”

Jim wasn’t going to give up so fast. “You can’t tell me that. I can’t and I won't accept that. If there is one thing I have learned during the last three years, it’s that everything is possible.”

“You cannot change what has already happened,” the warrior repeated.

“I can and I will. I won’t let Blair pay for my mistakes!” Jim turned and looked at the wolf. The wolf ‘s eyes were closed, his breathing slowing down and Jim knew he didn't have a lot of time left; He was going to lose his best friend. He turned back to the warrior, the pain in his eyes so strong that it can’t be ignored. “I failed. I accept that, but it’s not his fault. You can’t let him pay for my mistakes,” he pleaded. “For the past three years, he has been there for me, when ever I needed him. When ever I needed help, he gave it to me, even when I tried to push him away.” The pain in Jim’s heart grew as he spoke. “I always took him for granted, never realizing how much I needed him, and how much he has helped me. If that’s what you wanted me to learn by doing this, you have succeeded.”

The warrior still said nothing.

“If you want to punish somebody, punish me, not him,” Jim’s voice rose. “I was the one that failed. You said it yourself.”

“This isn’t about punishment,” the warrior finally spoke. “This is about you and him. You were warned about what would come but you chose to ignore it. You failed at your duty of protecting your Guide. He was your Guide, and you were his Sentinel, his protector.”

“You want me to be a Sentinel, but you take my Guide away from me. How am I supposed to be a Sentinel now?” Jim tried a different approach, not willing to give up.

“You can take another Guide,” the warrior answered.

Jim couldn’t even think about it. Nobody could ever take Blair’s place as his guide. He would never trust anyone else like he trusted Blair all the years that they have worked together. “It’s more than that,” he said firmly; but his voice softened when he kneeled down beside the wolf who was quiet now. “Blair isn’t just my Guide, he’s my best friend. No one can take his place; I won’t let anyone take his place!” His voice started to break, but he continued. “Sometimes he can be a bit naive, and too energetic. Sometimes he makes me crazy with all his questions and tests about my senses. But he always wants to help, and he always means good. I can always trust him with my life. I always know he would be there for me, when ever I need him.” He put his hand on the wolf and petted him, whispering to him. “I’m sorry Blair. I should have been there for you when you needed me. I should have trusted you more, and know that you would never hurt me on . I’m sorry.”

“You talk well for your Guide,” Jim heard the warrior say. He turned to him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“You talked about your friend, not about your Guide,” the warrior answered. “You understood how much he really meant to you, and how much you really needed him. Not just has your Guide but also as your friend. You tried to save your friend, not your Guide.” The warrior paused, as if to emphasis the meaning of his words, and then continued. “You can always find someone to help you with your senses, but you won’t have the same strong bond as you two have. You can’t find another Guide who you can trust like you trust him and you will never find another Guide who will understand you like he does. You two were meant to be together, forever. Remember that!”

Hope started to fill Jim, but he wanted to be sure. “What will all of that help me now that I have lost him?”

“You have a second chance,” the warrior said.

Jim was about to ask the warrior what he meant; he wanted to be sure that the warrior said what he wanted so much to hear, that his mind wasn’t just playing with him; but a sound that he heard behind him caught his attention. He turned around and looked at the wolf who was now standing, looking back at him, his eyes sparkling in that familiar way that Jim had learned to love over the past three years.

Jim who couldn’t believe what his eyes were showing him, turned back to the warrior; but he wasn’t there anymore. Looking back at the wolf, he started to laugh, tears in his eyes.

Jim felt a hand on his shoulder; turning around, he saw Simon. “Are you okay, Jim?”

Ignoring the question, Jim looked around and saw that he was back at the university; Blair still lying on the ground beside him, his eyes closed.

“Jim?”

He waited for a sign from Blair. “He has to be alive,” he told to no one in particular. “He told me I got a second chance.”

Simon shook his head in sadness, signing Megan to come and help him with Jim; but Jim wasn’t paying attention. He closed his eyes, listening.

And there it was. Weak and very slow; but still, it was a heartbeat.

“Simon, he’s alive!” Jim cried to Simon with excitement. “Come here and help me.”

“He’s dead,” Simon said firmly. “You have to...”

“No, he’s alive!” Jim shouted back. “I can hear his heart beating.” He saw the look of disbelief in Simon’s eyes and realized that there is no way that he will believe him. “Look, I don’t have time to explain right now,” Jim told him. “But trust me, he is alive!”

Simon looked at him for a minute, not saying anything, and then nodded. “I believe you.” They both kneeled beside Blair, starting CPR again. For a few seconds, that seemed to last forever, there was no response from Blair. But then it happened; Blair took a deep breath and started to cough up water.

Finding it hard to believe, but not really caring about how it happened, Simon shouted at the gathering crowd, “don't just stand there, bring the paramedics back here, now!”

Jim gently turned Blair to his side so he wouldn’t swallow the water he was coughing out. After a few seconds, when Blair’s cough stopped, he turned him on his back again. “Blair, can you here me?” he asked , worried that Blair may have suffered trauma or even brain damage from his drowning.

Blair slowly opened his eyes and looked at him. “Jim?” he managed to asked before another attack of coughs began and he couldn’t speak.

Jim supported him until his cough stopped. “It’s me, Chief. Don’t worry, everything is okay now.” Blair tried to speak again but Jim silenced him. “Not now Chief. Later, not now.”

The paramedics arrived again. Pushing Jim and Simon away from Blair, they started taking care of him. Megan approached the two men who were staring silently. “Would somebody please explain to me what just happened?”

“To tell you the truth, Conner,” Simon answered her. “I have no idea. When I’ll know, I’ll tell you.” He looked at Jim, putting a supporting hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know how you did it, but you saved the kid’s life.”

“Yeah, but I’m also the reason why he lost it in the first place.”

The paramedics took Blair on a stretcher into the ambulance and Jim followed them, not even saying a word to Simon. He entered the ambulance and took a seat next to Blair’s stretcher. Taking one of Blair’s hands in his, he squeezed it hard, letting him know he was there with him, that he wouldn't leave him.

Blair opened his eyes, saying something very quietly. A regular man wouldn’t have heard what he said because of the oxygen mask he had on, but Jim heard the short name that caused his anger to rise. He calmed down, not wanting Blair to see his anger. “Don’t worry about Alex now. We’ll get her. The most important thing right now is that you’re okay.”

Blair smiled weakly and closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

Only after Jim listened to his friend’s breathing and heartbeat, verifying he was only sleeping, did he let himself calm down, and watch his friend sleep.

“Don’t worry, Chief,” he whispered to the sleeping man. “I won’t leave you again. I'll always be here for you. Always protect you.”

“How’s he doing?”

Jim looked at Simon who entered the hospital room. “Still asleep,” he answered, the tiredness obvious in his voice.

“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep. I’ll stay here with Blair and call you when he’ll wake up.” Simon knew Jim would never do it, but he still asked him.

“No thanks, Simon. I want to be here when he wakes up.”

“The doctor said it may take a while before he’ll wake,” Simon tried again. “His body needs the rest; and so do yours.”

Jim looked at Simon. “I’m fine, really.”

“I know you are.”

Handing Jim a file, Simon’s face turned serious. “Alex was identified boarding a plane to Mexico...” The ring of his cellphone interrupted him and he answered it. “Are you sure?” he asked the man on the other side of the line. “Fine, thanks.” Closing the phone, he looked at Jim; the look on the other man’s face said it all. “You heard what he said?” he asked him, already knowing the answer to the question.

“You mean the part about how Alex managed to disappear, and the police can't find her. Yes I did.”

Simon couldn’t look Jim in the eyes; instead, he looked at Blair. “I’ll go make a few calls and see if there's something we can do.” He looked again at Jim. “And you, get some rest.” he said, taking the file from Jim’s hands. “It’s an order,” he added before leaving the room.

Jim got up from his chair, walking to the window. Staring at the rain, he tried to calm himself. ‘She won’t escape without punishment,’ he kept telling himself. ‘I won’t let her. Not after what she did to Sandburg.’ He kept on staring at the drops of rain that fall on the streets, until a sound behind him pulled him out of the zone out that threatened to send him into unawareness. He turned around and saw Blair waking up.

Blair coughed a little, trying to sit up, but Jim hurried to the bed, and gently pushed him back. “Take it easy Chief,” he told him quietly.

Blair opened his eyes, focusing them on Jim. “Hey,” he said, smiling.

Jim smiled back. “Hey yourself.”

“What happened?” Blair asked, pushing his loose hair away from his eyes.

“Don’t you remember?”

“It’s vague. I remember most of it, or at least I think I do.” Blair closed his eyes, trying harder to remember. “I was in my office when Alex came in. We said some things and then she took out a gun.”

“You don’t have to tell me this right now,” Jim told him quietly, seeing the expression of pain on his face.

“No, I want to.” Blair replied. “She was going to shoot me, but the phone rang and distracted her. I took something that was on my desk, I don’t even know what it was, threw it at her and ran out. I could hear her running after me, but I didn’t look back. I got outside, near the fountain, and I thought I had gotten away from her, but then I felt something hit me on the head. That’s all I can remember.” Blair took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked at Jim, asking him without words to tell him what happened next; what he couldn’t remember.

Jim looked out of the window, avoiding Blair’s glance. He couldn’t look into his friend’seyes; he felt too much guilt. “When we came, we found you in the fountain, face down,” Jim started, the memory so painful that he had to pause for a few seconds before continuing. “We took you out and tried CPR, but nothing seemed to work. We all thought it was over, when I suddenly knew how to save you. I don’t even know why I thought about it; the thought just kind of appeared in my mind. I concentrated hard, and had a vision of the jungle. I faced a mirror image of myself as a warrior. He was there, telling me I had failed, and that this is why you died. I tried to convince him to give me another chance. At first, he told me that I couldn't change the past; but after I told him how important you are to me, he told me I had a second chance. Then the vision ended, and I was back at the university. At first I couldn’t see a change, but then I could hear your heart beating.”

Jim finished the story but didn’t look at Blair. He was too afraid of what he might see in his friend’s eyes. But when he felt Blair’s hand on his shoulder, he turned and looked at him.

“You saved my life,” Blair told him, his eyes sparkling.

“Maybe I did, Chief,” Jim answered him. “But I was also the reason why you died.” He could see the confusion on Blair’s face. “I was supposed to protect you. I was supposed to be there for you when you needed me; but I wasn’t. You shouldn't have ever met her and you wouldn't have if it wasn't for me.”

“First of all,” Blair said, “I would have probably met her any way. Come on man, you remember how I found you?”

Jim nodded his head as Blair continued. “After I found you, I stopped looking for a sentinel. But if things were different, if you wouldn’t have accepted our partnership, then I would have kept looking, and probably ran into Alex. And then you wouldn’t have been there to save me. I would have been just another dead person to you. Another case.”

Jim knew Blair was right, but it still hadn’t taken away from his guilt. “But I should have been there to stop her from hurting you,” he insisted. “Instead of hearing and helping you, I pushed you away.”

“You had no way of knowing,” Blair insisted.

“That’s the problem,” Jim finally said what bothered him since the moment he arrived to the university and found Blair in the fountain. “I knew it. I just didn’t listen hard enough to what my heart was telling me.”

Now Blair was really confused.

“I had a dream; it was actually more of a vision than a dream,” Jim explained. “It was just before I kicked you out of the loft. I was the warrior in the jungle and I saw a movement in the trees, so I fired an arrow at its direction.” Jim got up of the bed, where he was sitting next to Blair, and moved closer to the window. He stared out at the rain, seeing the dream in his mind. “I heard a cry of pain, so I got closer and saw a wolf lying on the ground, hurt and suffering. I saw something familiar in the wolf and looked closer at it. And then, he changed into you.” Jim turned to Blair and looked into his eyes, wanting to see what his friend was feeling. “That's why I came to the university to look for you. Alex tried to kill me, and I knew you were probably next on her list.”

“Look Jim,” Blair said. “You can’t take all the responsibility for this on yourself. Sure, you made a mistake, and I do think that we have to work on your listening abilities. God knows that you have hears that can hear something that’s happening two blocks away, but you don’t listen to what people that are standing beside you tell you. What I’m trying to say here is that I also made a mistake, when I didn’t tell you about Alex. You might have been able to stop her, and prevent all of this.”

Jim still wasn’t convinced. “I can’t believe you’re taking this so easy. You died because of me.”

“Believe me Jim, I’m not taking this easy. I died, man; but I didn’t die because of you. I died because of Alex. I came back because of you.” He breath deeply, gathering his thoughts. “I think all this was meant to teach us something.”

“And that would be?” Jim asked, coming back to Blair's bedside.

“That our partnership is more than just Guide and Sentinel; that we have to have complete trust in order to really help one another. You’re more than just a thesis subject to me, Jim, you’re my best friend; the only one I trust my life with. I really want to believe that if one day, you wouldn’t need me as your Guide anymore, you’ll still want me as your friend.”

“Of course I will. You’re my best friend, too,” Jim said. “But could you ever trust me again?”

“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll forgive you if you forgive me. Deal?”

Jim laughed. “It’s a deal.”

Blair joined his laughter, and Jim squeezed his hand, afraid that if he’ll let go, Blair would disappear. But he knew it would never happen. And he knew that from that moment on, he would never leave Blair.

“You’re cutting off my circulation,” Blair said laughing, and Jim released his tight grip.

“Sorry Chief.”

They set quietly for a few seconds, and then Blair said, his eyes sparkling again “You know what else your vision mean?” Jim knew he wasn’t waiting for an answer. And just as he thought, the answer came from Blair. “It means that my Spiritual Guide is the wolf,” he said, excitement in his eyes. “You’re the black jaguar, and I’m the wolf. Isn’t it cool?”

Jim smiled at his friend’s excitement. “Yeah, it’s cool,” he said. “We can open a zoo.”

“Very funny, Jim.”

“Am I interrupting something?” they heard Simon’s voice and looked at the door of the room, seeing Simon standing there, smiling. “It’s good to see you’re okay, kid,” he told Blair and came to shake his hand.

“Thanks, Simon. It’s good to be back.”

“So, what’s up?” Jim asked his captain.

The sm8ile disappeared from the captain’s face. “Let's talk outside,” he told Jim.

Jim began to stand up, but Blair caught his arm. “Wait, I want to hear it, too. It’s got to do with Alex, right?”

Simon smiled at Jim. “The kid’s a mind reader now?” He gave Jim the file he was holding. “The police couldn’t find her in Mexico.”

Jim opened the file and looked at it, obviously not pleased with what he had heard from Simon. There was a minute of silence, and then Blair suddenly said, “I know were she is.”

Jim and Simon looked at him, asking at the same time, “how?”

“There's only one place I can think about, but it has to be it.” He turned to Jim. “You remember when you told me you dreamt about an old temple?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Alex told me she dreamt about the same place. It’s some ruins of a temple in Mexico. It’s believed to be a place where the Sentinels came to have a strong mystical experience.”

“So, she went there, and invited me to a duel,” Jim told Simon.

“What do you mean she invited you?” Blair asked, confused.

Jim looked at him. “You were the invitation. She knew I would never let her go without paying for what she did to you. I guess she thought I knew about the temple and thought I’d understand she went there. That’s why she let us know she was flying to Mexico; so I could track her down.”

Blair shrugged. “Happy I could help.”

“That’s not funny, Chief.”

“Who’s trying to be funny?” Blair said, half serious. And a second later he added, all excited, “so, when do we leave?”

“Now wait just one minute, Chief,” Jim said. “Nobody said anything about we. You’re staying right here. The only place you are going to is dream-land. Right Simon?”

“Right.”

“No way, man. You’re not going there without me. You need me on this; it’s the only way you can win. You have something that Alex doesn’t have,” Blair tried to convince Jim.

“And what will that be?” Jim asked, already knowing the answer.

“Me,” Blair said with a smile. “Remember, I worked with her for a while; I know her vulnerabilities. And I can help you if you’ll have problems with your senses.”

“Sandburg's right; even if we don’t like it,” Simon said. “You need him on this.”

Jim thought for a few seconds before answering. “Okay Chief, you can come with us. But you have to take it easy, and do what I tell you. Understood?”

“What else’s new?”

“Chief…”

“Okay, okay, I understand,” Blair said, smiling. “So, when do we leave?”

THE END

or is it just the beginning?