Jim leaned back against the elevator wall and closed his eyes. It had been a long day that had turned into an even longer night. He was looking forward to his bed, his pillow, and his sleep. The time seemed to pass in slow motion, as though the elevator was trying to push through honey on it's way to his floor. Jim figured slow time was better than what he had experienced at the station. Without Blair there to help him with the paperwork and keep him company, time had conspicuously stopped.
Eventually, the elevator came to a stop and the doors slowly opened. Jim briefly wondered if there was another speed available to him other than slow or stop. Without conscious thought, Jim listened for Blair, unaware that his shoulders relaxed as soon as he heard the telltale sounds of Blair sleeping. "You've got the right idea, buddy."
Blair had left the precinct early to go to a former student's graduation party. You had to be a pretty good teacher to have one of your former student's want you at their party. A student who you had taught in their last semester of school, maybe, but even that was a stretch. Jim smiled. Blair was definitely one of the best teachers he'd ever seen whether he was teaching a student, a friend, or even a Sentinel.
In an attempt allow Sandburg to keep sleeping undisturbed, Jim opened the door quietly and shuffled in. He had just finished shutting the door when he saw Blair lying on the floor. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he marveled at the fact that he was finally seeing a speed other than slow or stop as he ran to Blair's side and quickly knelt beside him.
Jim had already checked Blair's head for bumps when he catalogued the heavy scent of alcohol. Blair wasn't injured; he was literally drunk off his ass!
Jim shook Blair's shoulder, trying to rouse him. "Blair, wake up. You need to get into bed. Come on, Blair, get up." Finally, Blair opened his eyes and tried to focus on the face hovering above his.
"Jimmm. What time is it?"
"Late. Come on, buddy. You can't be comfortable there."
Blair yawned mightily. "You're right. Man, I'm dying of thirst."
"Closer to dying of drink, I'd say."
Blair stared at Jim without comprehension. "What? No wait, I'm too thirsty for an explanation. Could you get me some water?"
"Sure, I'll be right back." Jim went into the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator. "Here's your water, Blair."
Blair took the bottle and drained it. "Ahh, Man, you have NO idea how thirsty I was. It was like my mouth had been dragged across the floor and I had been line dried." Blair took the still cold bottle and rolled it across his forehead, his eyes closed "You were right, I wasn't comfortable at all." Blair fluffed the pillow under his head without getting up. "This is much better."
"You mind if I ask you a question, Darwin?"
"What's up?"
"Can you tell me why you got a pillow and laid down on the floor?"
"It's not as nice without one."
"Uh huh. Wouldn't you be more comfortable in bed?"
Blair simply stared up at Jim.
Jim laughed. "Come on, Einstein. It's time to get into your bed." Jim pulled Blair up, walked him to his room and sat him on his bed. Blair watched through squinting eyes as Jim unlaced his tennis shoes and took them off and stripped him to his bedclothes, offering no assistance. It wasn't until Jim helped Blair into the covers that Blair spoke again. "I had fun tonight."
Jim laughed softly. "I can tell."
Blair sighed contentedly. "I would have had more fun if you'd been there."
Jim tucked the covers around Blair and gave his shoulder a final pat. "Thanks. But I think you had enough fun for both of us."
The end
