Steal Page 9

  "Okay, how about a self-defense class? You can take one at the station." Jim tossed his keys to the table and took off his coat, hanging it up.

  Blair laughed a little and shook his head. "No way man. Learning how to beat up some guy ten times my size doesn't sound like a good idea." He hung up his coat and walked into the living room.

  Jim was standing between the kitchen and living room as he passed by. His back had never felt so good, and that day's excitement hadn't tensed him up again. The case was over, and sooner than he anticipated, with nothing more than a couple of bruises. As Blair walked past, Jim reached out and wrapped his arm around his partner's neck.

  "What?"

  "Tell you what." Jim held Blair in a headlock, with one arm around his neck, and the other holding his head. "If you can get out of this, I'll drop the whole self-defense business." he tightened the grip just slightly, knowing he wasn't hurting his friend in any way. "If you can't get out by the count of ten, you go take a class with Sergeant Dunn."

  Blair began to struggle and Jim started counting. "Jim, this isn't funny."

  "Three, four, I think it is."

  Blair was trying to twist out of his grasp with no success. "Jim."

  "Five, six, seven..."

  "Okay, okay, you win." Blair stopped struggling and raised his hands. "I'll go to class. You win." Jim released his hold and Blair stood up, moving a couple of feet away. "There, I did it. We can drop the subject."

  Jim looked at him for a moment, puzzled. "What do you mean, Chief? You're taking the class."

  Blair shook his head and smiled, moving a few steps farther back and raising his hands to make a point. "No, you said if I got out of the headlock before you counted to ten, I won. Well, I got out of it." He was still grinning.

  "Ah." Jim smiled and began to move slowly towards him. "I get it." He nodded and Blair started to back up, walking through the kitchen. "Used your head, huh?"

  Blair nodded but kept moving backwards, away from Jim. "Yep."

  Jim stopped and slapped both hands together, gazing at the ceiling in a moment of contemplation. "I'm thinking we should try this again. Best two out of three?" he made a lunge towards Blair who turned immediately and ran for his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Jim stopped and laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, yeah." He moved back to the living room and sat down on the couch, picking up the remote control. A quick focus down the hall told him Blair was turning on his laptop, still laughing a little. Jim flipped on the television and leaned back in the couch to watch the last quarter of the game. He was glad Jennifer had turned out to be an ordinary thief, with no Sentinel sense of touch. There were times Jim took his senses for granted, and other times when he didn't even believe he had them. The idea of ever finding another Sentinel both intrigued and frightened him. To have someone else who knew what he was experiencing could be helpful, but he really had that already in Blair. Sure, maybe he was making half of what he said up as they went along, but then, Jim wasn't exactly a born expert on the experience either. What would have happened if he had never met his Guide? Or if Blair had turned out to be someone totally incompatible? Would there be someone else? Was there a Guide for every Sentinel, with some to spare in case of clashing personalities?

  Jim shook his head and tried to concentrate on the game. The last thing he wanted was more Guides presenting themselves. One was enough for any Sentinel to handle.

  End