Title: Dragons of Cascade-2

Author: Angelee

Fandom: The Sentinel

Paring: Blair/Jim

Summary: Yuck.

Beta: By Bobbie. All remaining errors are mine. With apologies.

Dragons of Cascade-2

“Truly?” Blair asked, his head popping up so fast Jim thought he’d done himself an injury.

“Truly.”

Blair’s big, blue eyes got wide with wonder and excitement before he started dancing all around the Sentinel in happiness.

“I got me a Sentinel. I got me a Sentinel. I got me a Sentinel.”

Jim rolled his eyes at the tiny dragon’s antics. “Rein it in, twinkle toes. You don’t have me yet.”

Blair wiggled the scales above his eyes. “But you’re promised to me. That’s as good as getting engaged,” he replied. “I got me a Sentinel. I got me a Sentinel,” he repeated. Moving closer to Jim, he rested his head against Jim’s shoulder. “I got me a Sentinel,” he said with such contentment that it touched Jim deeply.

Jim rubbed between the dragon’s wings. “You’re just saying that because we’re engaged.”

“Oh, yeah. Can I go rub it in Rafe’s nose that I got me a beautiful Sentinel and he’s the one and only Jim Ellison?”

“Why? Is Rafe bugging you about it?”

“More to the left.” Jim complied, earning a happy sigh. “Ah, right there. I’ve had an itch there for the longest time and no one to scratch it. Yeah. He got chosen in the last gathering of Sentinels and dragons. He told me I’d never amount to anything, because I was too little and no Sentinel in his right mind would want someone like me.”

Jim pulled away slightly. “I chose you. Does that mean that I’m not in my right mind?”

Blair’s blue eyes widened, when he realized what he’d just said. “Jim? No. No. You are the best Sentinel in the whole of Cascade. Rafe is cracked in the head. I think his mommy must have dropped him when he was in the shell. You still want me, right?” he asked in a sad tone, thinking he’d just ruined everything.

Jim snorted. “Of course I still want you. We’re just going to have to prove to Rafe that he’s wrong. We can’t bond until the next full moon. You know that right?”

Blair snuggled into his Sentinel’s-Goddess that was such a sweet word, chest. “Yup. Last full moon was yesterday. If I hadn’t been such a coward and approached you sooner we’d be bonded now. I could kick myself.”

Jim wrapped his arms around the little dragon. “That’s okay. We can start fattening you up and getting some height to you. It’ll be easier for you to shape shift too. Did Dragon Master Banks say what you’ll look like in human form?”

“He doesn’t know. He thinks I won’t have much height, because of how little I am as a Dragon. I’ll have blue eyes; the rest he says is up in the air.”

“Hmm.”

Blair laid his head against his Sentinel’s shoulder. “Are you worried I’ll be ugly?”

“No. I’m not worried at all. You’re a beautiful dragon, so you’ll be a right handsome man.”

“Cool. I hope I don’t do anything to embarrass you.”

“You won’t. Go and get your things so we can go to Prospect.” Just as Blair was turning away, Jim called, “Hey!”

The tiny dragon turned back. “Yes?”

“Don’t forget to go rub it in Rafe’s face that you have a Sentinel.”

If Blair’s dragon walk had an extra bounce, Jim would happily take all the credit for it.

***

“You have to. How the hell else are you going to gain weight and height.”

“Can’t,” Blair replied, gagging slightly.

“You’ve got to. All dragons eat this.”

Blair turned his face and Jim could have sworn the dragon was turning an interesting shade of green.

“Can’t. Really, Jim-I can’t.”

“Why?”

“It’s leaking blood.”

“It’s a piece of meat. It does that.”

Blair gagged again. “I…it’s raw.”

“Dragon’s eat raw meat.”

Blair shook his head. “Can’t. I think I’m going to be sick.”

Jim put down the pail containing twenty pounds of raw meat, mixed with vitamins and minerals for his tiny dragon, who steadily refused to eat it. He went quickly to where Blair stood unsteadily, gently rubbing the dragon’s tummy until Blair took on a more normal color.

“Do you want me to cook it for you?”

Blair moved closer to his Sentinel’s warmth, his shivering slowly stopping. “Not really.”

“You have to eat.”

I ate an apple an hour ago. I’m fine.”

“Master Dragon Banks said you needed meat.”

Blair choked slightly. “Jim, I really don’t like meat.”

“Fish then.”

Blair shivered in disgust. “Oh, Goddess, no.”

“What then? You need to eat.”

Blair buried his face against Jim. “Bleck!”

Jim rubbed his dragon’s back, soothing his agitation. “Please,” he pleaded. “For me?”

“I had an ap…”

“That’s not a full meal,” Jim interrupted. “and hardly enough for a growing dragon.”

“A salad then. With cucumber and lots of tomatoes.”

“Vegetables? For a growing dragon? Blair!”

The tiny dragon pushed his face into Jim’s neck. “I like salads.”

“But not meat?” Jim felt the tiny negative shake.

“No.”

The Sentinel sighed. “Damn. I would end up with the only vegetarian dragon on Cascade. I didn’t even know dragons ‘could’ be vegetarian.”

“Do you hate me?” Blair whispered sadly. “Want me to go away?”

Jim pulled the dragon closer to him, rubbing him soothingly. “Hell, no. We’ll work something out. I’ll find something that’s not meat that’ll help you gain height and weight.”

“Thank you, Jim.”

Jim snickered inwardly. A dragon that didn’t eat meat, who would have thought?

TBC