Notes: Special thank you to Patt for encouragement
Jim looked up, cocking his head, aware of the stamping of feet outside the loft door. He heard the key grinding in the lock and watched his better half coming inside.
He returned his attention to the sports section of the Cascade Herald when the box score for the Mariners' game last night became only a blur.
"What?" he asked, now seeing a large manila envelope draping over the folds of his newspaper.
He felt Blair's finger under his chin, turning his head up toward his partner's face. Jim looked into his lover's eyes, and smiled, ready for a kiss, when Blair abruptly said, "Open it, sweetheart."
Jim slit open the end and out poured--bumperstickers--into his lap.
"Okay, Chief, what's this about?"
Blair, becoming very serious, spoke gently to him. "Jim, how many near crashes have we been in, huh? Think about all those road rage drivers in front and back of you. What about all those poor pedestrians and people who just happen to be on the same road with you, unfortunately at the same time? Everybody needs fair warning! So, please choose one of these for the truck."
Jim stacked the stickers, ready to read, when Blair's hand covered his, stroking the knuckles.
Once again he looked up to see his lover, this time smiling. His Adorable One whispered, "Before you read 'em, lemme say once more, 'I love you, I love you."
The Sentinel grinned back and replied, "I know that, Chief. Now let me see 'em."
The very first one:
COVER ME--I'M CHANGING LANES!
Jim cracked a small smile, and quickly tossed that one to the side.
The second:
SOME PEOPLE ARE ALIVE ONLY BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL TO KILL THEM!
Jim's throat produced a little raspy sound while this one was thrown to the side.
"Now this is more like me, Sandburg."
KEEP HONKING, I'M RELOADING!
Blair caught the paper as it flew through the air. He gathered the other two rejects.
"All right, Jim, just two more to go."
"Okay, Darwin..." and Jim was trying not to laugh too hard as he head:
I'M JUST DRIVING THIS WAY TO PISS YOU OFF!
And the last one he picked up to read:
HORN BROKEN, WATCH FOR FINGER!
Now did Jim Ellison begin to laugh in earnest. He reached up to grab his partner around the waist and bring him down swiftly to his newspaper-covered lap. That box score was crinkled beyond repair.
Blair sweetly kissed him, but not very successfully, as it's hard to kiss someone who's got the laughing rumbles, and can't sit still. He kept missing lips and bussing Jim's eyelashes and the right nostril and then the dreamy place right below Jim's chiseled chin. Blair surrendered, and waited for the big man to quieten.
When Blair felt Jim's arms encircle him snugly, he reached out and framed Jim's face with his hands and whispered, "Who says you don't have a sense of humor?"
End of the Sticky Situation