Author: Angelee

Title: Unexpected Gifts

Fandom: The Sentinel

Rating: Adult

Challenge: A baby, a kitten and a house full of unwanted guests. What is a person to do when all they wanted was a change to propose?

Note: It never made it into the Advent calendar because of me getting sick. Almost though. (o:

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Feedback address: angelee79912@yahoo.com

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

Unexpected Gifts

“Hmm, Jim?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you come here for a minute?”

Jim tossed the dishtowel on the counter going toward the front door. “Yeah? He asked, his Guide who was standing uncomfortably just outside it. “I thought you were going to Rainier.”

Blair looked up at Jim. “I was, but I think we have a slight problem.”

“What?”

Blair motion toward a large box. “Hmm, right there.”

Jim looked at it curiously. “What? Did someone leave you a early Christmas present?”

Blair shook his head. “Don’t think so. It could have been meant for you.”

“What?”

Jim knelt by the box carefully opening it. “Oh, my God.”

Inside the box was a tiny baby wrapped in a colorful blanket. But that wasn’t the only thing. Sleeping right next to the baby was the smallest kitten Jim had ever seen.

Blair smiled at Jim uneasily. “So, you have something you want to tell me?”

“Me? What about you?”

Blair shook his head emphatically. “No way. I’m careful.”

“And what makes you think I’m not?” Jim asked, offended.

“Well, the baby’s not mine.”

“It’s not mine either.”

Blair knelt next to Jim. “Maybe there’s some kind of note. Yeah, here.”

“Well, what the hell does it say?” Jim asked impatiently.

“Take care of them, please. I can’t. I tried and I just can’t.” Blair replied, looking up, his eyes filling with tears.

“But what makes the mother think we can?”

Blair looked around the empty hallway. “It’s gotta be someone who know us. Did you’re spidey sense go off at all?”

Jim shook his head. “No. Not even a tingle.”

Blair looked in the box. “Well, we better take them inside. It’s kinda cold out here in the hallway.” He placed the box on top of the kitchen table. Both the baby and the kitty were beginning to move. He smiled at the cute little murmuring sounds they were making.

“No.”

Blair looked up at Jim. “No, what?”

“We’re not keeping them,” Jim replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I never said I wanted to keep them. What made you think I wanted to keep them?”

“You have that look in those big, beautiful eyes of yours.”

“No, I don’t,” Blair denied with a small smile.

“Yes, you do. And no you can’t.”

“But, Jim, I’ve never had a baby before or even a kitten to match,” Blair, whined.

“You’ve also never had a komodo dragon either. Doesn’t mean you wanna go out and buy one does it?”

“Says who?” Blair tisked. “This is hardly the same thing. It’s a tiny baby and the cutest kitten the world has ever seen. Please, can we keep them? Please, please, please.”

“No. No. No,” Jim replied, shaking his head. “And finally no.”

Blair went next to his Sentinel, wrapping his arms around his waist. “I love you, Jim.”

Jim kissed the top of his head. “I love you to and you still aren’t keeping them.”

“Please.” When all else failed use the blue-eyed puppy dog look.

“No.”

Add the trembling lower lip.

“No.”

Then add the big, blue eyes filling with tears.

Jim sighed. “We don’t even know if they’ll let us keep them.”

“But we can try?”

“Is this something you really want?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then,” Jim said reluctantly. “We can try. Whoever the mom was she obviously wanted the baby and the kitten to stay with us. Maybe it’ll have some weight with Social Services.

Blair hugged his Sentinel happily. “Thank you, Jim.”

Jim returned the hug. “You’re welcome, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to let you keep them.”

“I know, but we can give it a try.”

“Yes, we can give it a try.”

Suddenly the baby made a soft sound, Blair rushed over. “Oh, look-Jim. The baby has green eyes.”

The Sentinel went over and looked into the box at the baby staring at them curiously. “Sure does.”

“Do you think the baby is a boy or girl?” Blair asked curiously.

“Boy.”

“How do you know?”

Jim rolled his eyes. “Sentinel.”

Blair smiled at him sheepishly. “Right. Sorry.”

“I think the baby’s getting hungry.”

“I better go to the store. Can you take care of them while I get the stuff we’re going to need?”

Jim nodded. “Sure. How bad could it be?”

When Blair left the Sentinel reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a little box. He opened it staring at it for a moment. Sighing, he snapped the box closed and put it back into his pant pocket.

The baby took an instant liking to Blair. Which wasn’t all that unusual, Jim thought to himself as he played with the tiny grey and white kitten. Watching the baby tugging on Blair’s curly hair.

“So when did Social Services say they’d be over?”

Blair looked over at him. “They said they’d be over as soon as possible. They’re kinda swamped with work and it being a holiday and all.”

“Hmm.” Jim teased the kitten with his forefinger. Smiling when it gently began nibbling on it. “So if they let us keep them what are we going to name them?”

“Can I name the baby?”

Jim frowned. “Why do you get to name the baby?”

Blair smiled at him. “Because the baby likes me best.”

“He likes me too.”

Blair made the baby more comfortable in his lap. “Yeah, he does, but he likes me bestest.”

“Ha. And is that even a word?”

“He does and it is now.”

Jim winced when the kitten started climbing up his chest. “Ha. I say again.”

“Does that hurt?”

“Hell, yeah. Little claws, but-ouch,” Jim replied, as the kitten climbed onto his shoulder then on top of his head. Where he made himself very comfortable.

Blair started chuckling. “I like your new hat.”

“Hmm. Wise ass.”

Blair covered the baby’s ears. “Baby here?”

“Oops, sorry. Blair?”

“Hmm?”

Jim thinking that now was the best time to ask Blair something he’d been wanting to ask him for the longest time. “I was wondering…” Suddenly the doorbell rang. “Shit.” At Blair’s glare. “Sorry,” he said contritely.

Jim carefully gathered the kitten into his hands before getting up to answer the door. He opened it to let all their friends from Major Crimes in. He gave a mental groan as he threw the door open. Uncharitably wanting to slam it close.

Rafe, Megan, H, Joel, even Simon came in. All knowing about the baby and the kitten from when Jim had called it in to the station. Everyone of them bringing gifts.

“What brings you guys here?” Blair asked, smiling happily at his friends as they made a beeline toward the baby.

“Oh, isn’t he the cutest little baby you ever did see,” Megan asked as she bent down to look at him. “May I hold him?”

Blair nodded, carefully handing the baby over to Megan. Watching protectively as she cuddled him close. The baby watching her with wide-eyed fascination. He even started cooing at her softly.

Rafe went over to look at the baby. “So do you know who left him at your doorstep?”

“No idea.”

“What are you going to do?”

Joel came over holding the kitten. “Are you going to keep them? Cause if you can’t for some reason I’ll take the kitty off your hands,” He said, smiling down at the kitten. “He’s cute.”

“Jim said we could keep them or at least try to. There’s no guarantee that Social Services will let us keep the baby.”

“That’s true considering that both of you are single. That might not matter to much as you’ve both got good jobs now,” Simon replied. “Hey, give over the baby. I wanna hold him too.”

Megan relinquished her hold on the baby reluctantly. “Yes, sir.”

“Oh, now who’s the cute little fellow then?” The big, tough police captain told the tiny baby. “We can try and pull some strings if you’re really serious about this. It won’t be easy. Raising a child has to be one of the toughest jobs on the planet. We’ll help. Well, I will anyway,” he said, looking at his detectives questioningly.

The rest of the group quickly nodded their agreement to offer help and support in any way they could.

Blair smiled at them, eyes fill with tears. “Thanks, guys. That means a lot. I’d really like to see if they’d let us keep the baby. They can still say ‘no’, though.”

Simon gently rock the baby, whose eyes were starting to close. “I know a lady down at Social Services. I’ll give her a call see if we can work something out. I don’t know of anyone who would make better parents than the two of you. Jim, you’ve been awful quiet. Are you sure you want the baby?”

Jim had been watching his Guide. Seeing his big blue eyes light with hope when Simon had given his offer of help. Blair wanted the baby and he wanted him with his whole heart. Those blue eyes were now looking at him questioningly.

“I want the baby too. I think it’s time to settle down and raise a family. The baby and the kitten left at our door, it was a sign. They were meant to be ours.”

“You do know what that mean’s right?” Rafe asked sitting next to Jim on the couch.

Jim turned to look at him. “No what?”

“It means you’re going to have to make an honest man out of Blair.”

“Huh?”

“You’re going to have to marry him.”

Jim felt his face flame. “Hmm.”

“For the sake of the baby and all,” Rafe said, chuckling softly.

“Hmm.”

Joel came up to them still holding the kitten. “It might make your case a little stronger if they thought you were in a committed relationship.”

“But…”

Megan sat on the coffee table. “We all know you’re straight, but you could lie just a little, if you really wanted to keep the baby.”

Jim looked at his friends and then at Blair who was watching him quietly. “Lie?”

“For the sake of the baby,” Megan said, softly. “We’ll help.”

“You’d help with the lie?”

“Yeah, it’s only a little white lie. Well, no it’s a huge white lie, but it’ll get you a baby,” H said solemnly. “And hell yeah, we’ll help.”

Jim turned toward Simon. “Captain?”

Simon still rocking the baby. “How badly do you want this baby, Jim?”

“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. He may be my only chance to have a son.”

“Alright then.”

“But, Simon…”

Simon shook his head. “No, we’re not going to discuss that. Not now, not ever. As far as we know you and Blair are in a committed relationship. Are we understood?” he added looking around at his detectives who were nodding their heads in agreement.

Blair wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “You don’t know how much this means.”

Simon smiled at him. “Oh, I think I do.” Just then the doorbell rang and Blair got up to answer.

Two hours later found Blair, Jim a sleeping baby in a makeshift cot and the kitten curled up in the Sentinel’s lap, purring happily.

“I think that went really well,” Blair told him as he handed him a cup of coffee.

Jim took it. “Yeah.”

“I can’t believe our friends are willing to lie for us,” Blair said softly his voice filled with wonder.

Jim took a careful sip. “Yeah, their great friends and they knew how much we wanted this.”

“But to lie…”

“Blair? About that,” Jim said reaching into his pocket and pulling out the tiny box. He handed it to his Guide.

Blair frowned as he took it. “Jim?”

“I’ve been trying to find the courage to give it to you for sometime. I kept chickening out. I thought to wait for Christmas Eve and,” Jim gave a rueful smile. “That didn’t work out to well, but now we’re alone and well there you go,” he said motioning to the ring.”

Blair searched Jim face carefully, finding what he needed. “Alright.”

“Really?”

“Yeah?”

Blair gave him a brilliant smile. “Yeah.”

Jim returned the smile. “Cool.”

“Yeah, I think so,” Blair told him softly.

“A family?”

“Yeah.”

Jim nodded in satisfaction. “Well, okay then.”