Title: Frozen in Time: Home

Author: Angelee

Fandom: Soldier/ The Sentinel

Pairing: Jim/Blair

Rating: Adult

Summary: Blair takes Jim home.

Beta: By my sister Anna. All remaining errors are mine-with apologies.

Frozen in Time: Home

“I know it’s not much, but I call it home.”

Jim looked around. “It is very nice, Sir.”

Blair turned to look at him. “I really wish you’d quite calling me sir.”

Jim gave Blair a tiny smile. “Sir.”

Blair’s eyes lit up. “Are you messing with me?” he asked in delight. “You’re messing with me aren’t you?” He could have swore that Jim’s cold blue eyes warmed slightly.

“I don’t know what you mean, Sir.”

“I bet.” Jim looked around the living area. Sunny and filled with what looked like very old artifacts. Blair went to stand by him. “Those books are very old. It’s kind of a hobby of mine. I’m a closet archeologist.” Suddenly there was a tiny meow from the floor. Jim looked down startled. Blair reached down. “This is Buttons. My six month old kitten.”

Jim eyed the fuzzy calico cat, who eyed him back curiously. “Kitten, Sir?”

Blair handed him the tiny feline. “Yes.” Jim took it. Unsure what he was suppose to do with it. The kitten decided for him by smacking him on the nose with a tiny paw.

“Ow!” Jim said, looking at Blair uncertainly.

Blair took the kitten from him. “Buttons you bad kitty. You’re not suppose to hit our guests.”

Jim rubbed his nose with a forefinger. “Buttons has a good weapon at his disposal. He would make a fine Soldier.”

Blair placed the kitten on the floor, watching as Buttons rushed to attack a fuzzy blue ball. “Yes. Now your nose is all red. Want something to eat? Are you hungry?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Blair sighed sadly. “Again, with the Sirs.”

“Sorry, Sir.”

Blair looked up at him. Reaching a hand he gently rubbed a finger over the three tiny claw marks left by Buttons.

“Ah, Jim-know what I need?”

Jim held very still. “What, Sir?”

“A hug. I need a hug before I get us some dinner.”

Jim opened his arms readily, uncertain if that was what he was suppose to do. He guessed it was when Blair went into them with a happy sigh.

“Ah, that makes me feel better.”

“Are you ill, Sir? Do you need a physician?”

Blair looked up, meeting Jim’s eyes. His own filled with tears. “No, not ill. Just very, very sad.”

“Sad, Sir?”

“Yeah, I hate what they did to you. What they did to all of you. You didn’t deserve it. Jim, will you allow me to try something?”

“What, Sir?”

“I want to touch you. Can I? Will you allow me to touch you?”

Jim looked at him in confusion. “You are touching me.”

“It’s a hug. I want a little more than a hug.” Blair reached for the buttons on the wine colored shirt Jim was wearing. Opening it to reveal the Soldier’s wide, well-muscled chest.

“Goddess, but you are gorgeous,” Blair whispered softly.

Jim watched the hands for a moment before losing himself in the warm and very gentle touch. The small almost soundless moan was all the warning Blair got.

The curly haired man looked up. Jim’s beautiful blue eyes were glazed and unseeing. “Jim?” Nothing. “Jim?” Blair reached up, feeling for a pulse. It was there. Slow and very faint. Blair frowned. What happened? He hadn’t done anything to warrant this kind of response. The frown deepened. “Jim, come back to me, buddy. I know you haven’t had that much experience in touch, but to completely zone on me? My feelings are hurt. Come back, buddy. Come back to me.”

Just as suddenly the glaze from Jim’s eyes lifted leaving behind compete and total confusion.

“W…what happened, Sir?”

Blair reached up to gently caress Jim’s cheek. “You tell me?”

“You were touching me.”

“Yes?”

Jim moved his face into Blair’s hand. “I liked it, Sir. It was warm and it felt really nice.”

Blair gave him a shaky smile. “You scared me.” Jim raised a hand cupping Blair’s face the same way. They stared into each others eyes. “Where did you go?” Blair asked softly.

Jim sighed. “I was…I could feel the pads of your fingers against my skin. I could hear your heartbeat. It was so calming. I’d never felt anything like it before.”

Blair frowned. “You can hear my heartbeat?”

Jim nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“How long have you been able to hear it?”

“Since before you walked into the room. I was listening to it beat.”

“Is that why you were a little distracted?”

“Yes, Sir. It was as if I needed it. The more I listened my heart began to beat in the same rhythm as yours.”

“How do you feel now?”

“I feel calm. Not afraid any more.”

“Were you afraid before?”

“Yes, Sir. All the time, but I couldn’t show it. I am a Soldier.”

“But not now.”

“No, Sir. Only when you aren’t in the room.”

“Oh!”

Now it was Jim’s turn to frown. “Sir?’

Blair looked up. “What?” he asked distractedly.

“What does it mean?”

Blair pointed to the rows and rows of books. “I’ve been studying for a long time. Searching… But it couldn’t be that easy. Not now. Not after all this time.”

“Sir?”

“It’s the reason I went into medicine. Giving up my first love.”

“What?”

“The search for the elusive Sentinel. I’d given up all hope of ever finding one.” Blair caressed Jim’s face with his thumb. Watching as the blue eyes once again began to glaze at the contact. “Stay with me. Don’t go inward. Jim?”

“Sir?”

“I think we need to talk.”