I've started to write this story so long ago that it's hard to remember what started the idea in my head....but I do believe that it was my kindred spirit's fault (yet again). We talked about Jim and came to the conclusion that he needs to take a seminar to help him get in touch with his feelings - and walla - we had a story. The problem with this story is that I've started to write it a long time ago and since then - well, I guess you can say that real life has taken over. I found myself less in "The Sentinel" world and more in "The Osnat" world. But the little that I did manage to write was good (at least that's what I think) and it was a pity not to put it where other people can read it. I mean, just because it doesn't have an ending...it's actually only the beginning when I think about it.

DISCLAIMER - "The Sentinel" and all relaated things, belong to UPN, The Sci-Fic channel, Paramount and Pet Fly (and not to me).

My thanks here should go to my good friend Maya (who I've made an addict to "The Sentinel" <proud smile>). She was the one who read this "start of a story" and her laughter convinced me that other people see it as funny and that it's not just all in my head.

One last thing - this story wasn't beta read, so all complaints should be addressed to me :)

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

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FEELINGS

by Osnat

"I can't believe you did that!"

The elevator's doors opened and the two men exited it, heading for the bullpen of the major crimes unit. Jim looked at Blair, an innocent smile on his face and Blair's finger went up into Jim's face in an accusing point. "Don't give me that 'I don't know what you're talking about' smile; I saw the looks that you gave her. She's a student, man."

"Give it a rest, Chief," Jim said, the smile on his face turning into an amused one. They entered the bullpen and Jim fall into his chair and looked at Blair, the smile still on his face. "We just talked."

"She gave you her phone number," Blair wasn't about to give up. He sat on the edge of the desk, facing Jim.

"Look Chief, it wasn't me who invited her to the loft, it was you; and it sure wasn't my fault that you were late and that I had to sit with her and talk to her for half an hour. I couldn't just ignore her, could I?" He opened the computer and turned back to Blair. "It's also not my fault that she gave me her phone number. What was I supposed to do, refuse?"

"Yes!"

Jim shook his head. "You're just angry that she was interested in me and not you," he said, looking at his friend. The minute that Blair opened his mouth to reply, Jim raised his hand, pointing his finger at Blair. "And while we're on the subject," he started, "is this going to be the drill from now on? Students coming and going through the loft. This isn't something that I agreed on, and I do live there too you know."

"Hey man, I can't turn those kids down. I'm just happy that my students still have faith in me after all the thesis thing; that they come to me when they need help with their studies. I can't turn them down, I just can't." He looked away, avoiding Jim's stare. "Besides, it feels good to teach again and to do something that has to do with Anthropology."

"I'm not telling you to turn them down, Chief," Jim said more quietly. "I'm just asking you to check with me first. Okay?"

"Yeah, I guess you've got a point." Blair said, shrugging. After a minute of silent, he turned back to Jim, a teasing smile on his face. "Don't think that you can change the subject; I'm not done with you yet."

Jim rolled his eyes, preparing himself for the lecture that his young friend was about to give him, but the noise of their captain's office door being brutally open saved him. They both looked at Simon who stood in the doorway of his office for a few seconds, scanning the bullpen with his eyes. When his eyes rested on Blair and Jim, a somewhat wicked smile appeared on his face for three seconds before turning serious again. "Ellison! Sandburg! My office. Now!"

Jim and Blair looked at their captain as he disappeared back into his office, and then at each other. Raising his eyebrows, Jim got up from his chair and walked around the desk, joining Blair who already started the walk to the office. Half way to the office, Blair hit him on the arm. "I told you not to block his car."

"There's no way that he can know that, he 's been in his office since we got here," Jim whispered to Blair just before entering their captain's office. Closing the door behind him, he stood next to Blair in front of Simon's desk. "Sir."

"Stop looking at me as if I'm about to take your heads off," Simon said, taking out a cigar from the kit. He gestured to the chairs, "please, have a sit." After his two detectives took the offer, he looked at them, playing with the cigar in his hands. After about half a minute, he finally spoke, "the latest trend, if you want to call it that way, of the big companies is to send its employees to a seminar that's called "Get in touch with your feelings". It's a one-week seminar that's being held in an isolated place in the mountains near cascade. From what I hear, it's a wonderful experience and all the people who came back from there are more...I guess that balanced is the right word here." He put the cigar on the table, looking at his detectives with a wide smile on his face.

"I'm not going to like this; am I, sir?" Jim shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

"Our dear chief of police decided that since it's been working so well in all the big companies in cascade, it can also work out to the benefit of the police men and women of our city. I believe that "helping them to relax a bit" was the way he phrased it."

"Simon, don't do this to me..."

"Starting from tomorrow, every week a different pair of partners from the cascade police force will be sent to the seminar, starting with the fine detectives of the major crimes unit." Simon's smile widen. "I am happy to tell you that you are the lucky ones that get to be the first from this unit to go on this seminar. You can get all the details from Ronda. That would be all."

"Sir..."

Simon held up his hand. "Have a nice time detectives. I'm looking forward to hear how it went."

Blair chuckled and got up from the chair, pulling the shocked Jim by the arm. "Thank you sir, I'm sure that we'll have a great time," he told Simon, an amused smile on his face. He went to the door and opened it, looking at Jim as he moved slowly towards it, as if someone put stones in his shoes. When Jim finally got to the door and they exited the office, the wide smile was still on Blair's face, and so was the shocked look on Jim's.

"Oh, and Jim," they heard Simon's call after them. "Would you please do me the honor of moving your car? It's blocking mine!"

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Jim grumbled as he drove the truck on the dirt road, Blair in the sit next to him, a pleased expression on his face.

"Give it a chance, man," Blair tried to convince his friend, not for the first time since they heard about the seminar from Simon, less than a day before. "You don't even know how it's going to be, and you already made up your mind that you're going to suffer. You might be surprised, you know."

"There is no way on this earth, no way Chief, that I'm going to get out of this in one piece." Jim didn't withdraw from his stand.

Blair looked at his friend and smiled. "You're always like that when it comes to talking with other people or trying to talk about emotions. What ever happened to harmony, peace, tranquility..."

"There's no way you're going to come out of this in one piece."

"Respect, understanding, friendship..."

"It went out of the window, Chief. The same way you're heading if you don't shut up."

"Man," Blair laughed. "You need this seminar more than you realize."

"Let's get one thing straight, Chief," Jim started to lose his patience. "The only reason I'm driving this truck right now instead of watching a football game in the loft, is that I was forced to do this. I don't have any intention of taking this seriously enough to learn anything. Now, is that clear?"

"You do realize that you're only giving me good examples of why you do need this thing..." Blair didn't back down. But the look that Jim gave him a moment latter caused him to shrink in his sit. "Okay, okay, don't bite my head off. Here, I think this is the place."

"Thanks God," Jim mumbled while stopping the truck. He and Blair exited it and closed the doors, Jim slamming his a bit too hard. "You're going back by foot, you do know that, right?"

NOT THE END...