Chapter Text
This was inspired by Legion's "Rough Road." While similar in the beginning, I do plan on taking this in a different direction. I saw her Simon and was inspired! Legion was very nice in giving me permission to use the similar theme. Thanks!
Also, while in Peru, they are most likely speaking Spanish or Quechua. I just didn't write it in that language to make things a bit easier for me. If you speak it, feel free to translate in your head but I don't, so I felt that it'd be more accurate and I wouldn't embarrass myself by leaving it in English. *grin*
All Peruvian Indian names were gained from http://www.quechuanetwork.org/.
A big thank you to my betas, Hawk and Karen! They did a wonderful job and any remaining mistakes are purely mine.
Summary: When Blair and Jim announce their relationship, not everyone is pleased. From that moment on, their lives take a drastic turn.
Only one sex scene that really makes this worth the R rating.
Disclaimer: Not mine, nor will they ever be. They belong to Pet Fly, Inc. and Paramount.
**********
It happened slowly over a long period of time, but it did happen. Both men protested vehemently against their fates, but it did happen. Blair Sandburg and Jim Ellison fell in love. The world didn't change and the world didn't end because two men fell in love, though both felt a profound change. Even Blair, with his anthropological background, felt like someone should have noticed the change in the two men.
Yet no one did. Rafe, Henri, Megan...they all went about their work as usual. No one commented on the fact that Jim could be seen with a smile on his face fairly often or that Blair seemed more content with being a cop after declaring his thesis a fraud. Even Simon didn't notice that both men never dated or did anything without the other man with them.
And so the transformation from best friends into lovers went without a huge splash, but with a whisper. Jim and Blair settled into the new aspect of their lives without problems and fell into a routine of quiet nights at home together and weekends spent with friends but always coming home to each other. Jim would wake first and spend time just watching Blair sleep. Blair, never motionless awake, was the same asleep. He tossed and turned and wrapped the sheets around him, often stealing them from Jim who didn't mind as he was often hotter at night than Blair. Blair's hair would end up a tangled mess, spread across not only his pillow, but Jim's as well.
Blair would slowly wake, feeling the strong gaze of Jim. The two would spend a few minutes kissing and just reconnecting for the day as they, more often than not, spent most of it apart. Blair's expertise in mankind was finally being formally being recognized by the rest of the police department.
Homicide and Vice most often called upon Blair's knowledge, and this kept him away from Jim, except for when he was out on the streets. Blair made sure to know Jim's schedule so that he could go with him and help him with his senses.
Blair had become accustomed to wearing a gun and had fortunately never had to use it. He liked being able to help and especially loved that Jim could no longer make him stay in the truck. Blair made a difference at the station, helping point out connections in cases and doing profiling work. Simon had even commented that Sandburg had really made an impact on the department. No one was more surprised than Blair.
***
For over six months, the status quo continued. Blair and Jim were happy in both their professional and private lives. Jim's senses hadn't acted up in months; zone? What's that? Blair had even been spending time exploring the mystical side of the sentinel equation - dying had really shaken the man. He took this quiet time of no weekly villain to find out how he and Jim could utilize the visions that were sent. Jim was more amused than interested, but accepted that Blair had to do this. Blair knew that Jim would use his knowledge so let Jim's skepticism slide for the time being, but made sure to keep him up to date, and made sure Jim did his part as well.
During this grace period, the two men explored their sexuality together and learned what felt good. But this time had to come to an end and when it did, it crashed quite violently. Their lives would never be the same again.
The catalyst to make this change happen was caused by the last person they expected. They knew that their being together would upset many people in an atmosphere like the police station. If discovered, they could face being separated, something that neither would be able to handle; they could face prejudice from fellow cops; delayed help and even face the possibility that they could be attacked by cops who didn't want them anywhere near the station.
They knew this, but felt that their close friends deserved to know. If something were to happen to either or both of them, they needed a person in the know to make sure they weren't separated and to make sure the other partner would have support from a person who knew exactly was going on. Blair brought up the subject with Jim and they discussed who would be the best to be told. They both agreed that Simon, Megan, Rafe, Henri and Joel, most of Major Crimes and their closest friends, should all know. They'd start with Simon, Jim's oldest friend and a good one to Blair as well.
***
The day came and Simon joined Blair and Jim in the loft for dinner. Simon had to take the stairs, as the elevator was once again broken. He had barely paused to knock on the door when it opened to show Jim smiling at him. "Damn it, Jim. Can't you let me knock? Just once?"
"Well, Simon," Jim started, "I'll let you knock when you stop smoking those cigars that announce your presence as soon as you enter the lobby."
Simon just growled and shoved his way past his detective, who was blocking the doorway. Blair was inside, still working on dinner in the kitchen. He looked up, "Hey, Simon. Glad you could make it. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, beer?"
"Beer would be great. But I can get it. Jim? Do you want one?"
"Sure, the game's on and we can finish it while Blair finishes dinner."
"What is dinner?"
"I'm not sure; it smells good and that's all I want to know." Jim shuddered, "He's been experimenting again with tofu. You do not want to know what he made last night!"
"Hey! You said you liked it!" Blair's voice carried over the sound of the TV.
Simon laughed and nudged Jim, "I'd be careful, Jim. He sounds like he'd make sure you didn't enjoy a meal in a long time."
"Yeah, yeah. Yak it up, Simon. At least I get a home cooked meal for me. Who cooks for you?" Jim asked pointedly, knowing that Simon's repasts usually included Lean Cuisine and Hungry Man dinners.
"Hey, don't knock the dinners. They're quick and easy to make AND I don't have to worry about finding bits of tofu in them." Simon's smile was smug but Jim just "hmmped" and turned back to the TV.
A few minutes later, Blair's voice was heard again, "Guys, turn off the TV; supper's ready. You have just enough time to wash up before I get it all on the table."
"Wash up?" Simon whispered to Jim, "He makes you wash up?"
"You gonna face his wrath and not do it?" Jim looked over at Simon, disbelief evident in his tone.
"Oh, come on! You are so whipped! You'd think you two were married or something." Simon didn't realize how close to home his statement was.
"Um, yeah, right, Simon, married." Jim's voice went from a strong whisper to a weak squawk. "Blair will refuse to share his food if you cross him. Let's just wash up and eat."
Simon laughed, but went to wash his hands anyway. He and Jim took turns in the bathroom; Jim scooting in first and then Simon. When Simon came out of the bathroom, Jim was helping put the silverware, bread and butter and other miscellaneous dinner paraphernalia on the table. "Simon, what can I get you to drink? I think we have a good red that'd go wonderfully with dinner."
"That'd be great. Maybe a glass of water as well?"
"Sure, Jim?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you get three glasses of water and put them on the table? I already pulled down the wine glasses, so if you want to get the wine poured, that'd be great."
"Sure, wine and water, coming right up." Jim poured three glasses of each, gesturing for Simon to sit down at the table as he did so. After finishing, he quickly asked Blair if he needed any more help, but Blair declined. It wasn't more than a minute later when Blair approached the table holding a pot filled with vegetables and various bits of meat and other unidentifiable foods.
"Gentlemen, you are about to experience the most wonderful dish I have to offer. I call it -Sandburg's Mélange Surprise.' It's an old Sandburg family secret; recipe only given out to blood relatives or spouses."
"What's in it, Sandburg?" Simon glared at the dish as if he could figure out the ingredients just by looking.
"That's a surprise. But I promise there is no tofu or any other odd ingredients." Blair glared at Jim, who just smirked and looked away. "Beef, chicken, carrots, onions to start off with. You'll love it, I promise."
"Uh huh," Simon grunted. He still didn't look like he believed Blair, but took a large helping despite his doubts. Blair watched as Simon took the first bite. "Not bad, Sandburg, not bad." He started eating with enthusiasm.
"Glad you like it, Simon. Here, have some bread...it's great to sop up the juices with." Blair passed the basket of bread to Jim, who took a piece and handed it down to Simon. For the next few minutes, the only sound being made was the sound of three hungry men eating.
As the food disappeared, the men began to talk; they talked about Daryl and the Jags season and even about work-three cops could hardly stay away from that topic, even when trying to avoid it. Eventually, Simon pushed his plate away from him, leaned back in his chair and said, "Okay, that was great, Sandburg. But why did you really want me to come over for dinner?"
Blair stood up suddenly and started collecting dishes, ignoring Simon's question. Jim just watched his mate and waited for Blair to start talking. Simon waited patiently, knowing he'd never get anything out of Jim and that Blair would eventually get to the point. However, after five minutes of watching Blair putter about, Simon's patience was gone. "Sandburg! What the hell is going on here? Is it more sentinel crap? You know I hate dealing with that."
Blair finally gained enough courage to finish the conversation. "Simon, you're here as our friend, right? Not our boss?"
"Yeah..."
"So what's said here is as friends?"
"Sure, of course. What's going on, Blair?"
"Jim and I have something to tell you. We've wanted to tell you for a while now, but the time's never been right, but now it is and well, Jim and I...we're..."
"Spit it out, Sandburg."
Jim snorted and tried not to laugh.
"Jim, you're not making this easier for me! Do you want to tell him?"
"Me? Nuh huh. It's all you, Chief."
"Guys? If one of you doesn't tell me in the next 30 seconds, you'll both be wishing you had." Simon had had enough of their evasion.
Blair and Jim looked at each other, both realizing this was it; this was the first time they'd admit to someone else about their relationship. Not even Naomi knew about them. They had agreed that Simon deserved to know, both as their boss in a highly dangerous job and as a close friend. "Simon," started Blair. "Jim and I are together."
"Together?" a bewildered Simon asked.
"Yeah, together." Jim answered him in a gruff voice.
"What do you mean together? Together as in you live together, together? Sorry, guys; that one's been out of the bag for a while now."
"No, together as in we love each other and will always be together, together."
"No. No, you aren't." Simon's voice got a bit frantic, upset sounding. "You can't be. Jim, you're straight. What the hell did you do to him, Sandburg?" Simon got up and started pacing, his arms gesturing with his speaking.
"Simon, Blair didn't do anything. I'm the one who persuaded him that we should just give in and admit that we were in love with each other. With this sentinel thing..."
Jim was interrupted by Simon, "Sentinel thing? You ALWAYS blame things on the sentinel thing. That's no excuse. Blair corrupted you somehow."
"No, he didn't, Simon. It was me forcing the issue all the way. Blair has never wanted men in his life. Up until me, women were enough for him, so Simon? Don't attack Blair. None of this is his fault."
"Fine, Blair has nothing to do with this. Then what the Hell were you thinking? You know what could happen if this got out at the station?"
Blair spoke up for the first time since he told Simon about himself and Jim. "I know what could happen," he whispered. "That's why we haven't told anyone. We've hidden it for six months now and you're the first to know."
Jim immediately went over and hugged his partner, trying to give him some comfort. This situation was turning bad and he didn't know why. Simon didn't seem the type to go ballistic on them.
"You shouldn't have told me. I have a hard enough time defending you as it is. This sentinel thing has used up any favors I may have once had and I can't help you with this. This is wrong."
"Simon, we didn't tell you so that you could defend us. We told you because you're our friend. We thought you deserved to know. We aren't planning on coming out at the station. Other than maybe Megan, we weren't planning on telling anyone there at all."
"Doesn't matter, now that I know, I have to separate you two."
"What!" Dual yells came from the Sentinel-Guide pair. Jim finished the thought, "Why do you have to separate us? We've been working together for six months without problems, why would it change now? You know I can't work without Blair!"
"You're going to have to, Jim. Significant others cannot work together. You're on desk duty until we can transfer you. Or Sandburg. I've had a few offers for him. I know about it; I have to fix it."
"We don't need fixing. We have to stay as we are."
"You can't. This is one thing I can't do for you."
"Can't or won't, Simon? You don't sound like you approve. Is it just the boss talking here or is it the friend as well?"
"Both. As your boss, I have the responsibility to make sure your involvement won't affect others. As your friend, I think this is seriously wrong and is something that I can't accept in a friend of mine."
Jim was shocked. In all the time he had known Simon, this personality flaw had never popped up. Simon had vocally supported other gay couples in the police department. He was never one to stand for any type of discrimination. Now, here he was, prejudiced against himself and Blair. He just could not wrap his mind around the fact that Simon, the man who fought against prejudice every day would succumb to it. He also knew how close a sentinel was to his guide. This shouldn't have shocked anybody by its revelation, especially Simon.
Jim knew that others had believed him and Sandburg were in a relationship from the beginning. Simon had helped Jim quash the rumors, but he had also been the person closest to the two men. He should have been the first person to see when the Sentinel/Guide pair's relationship had changed. Jim was completely shocked at how unreasonable his friend was being.
Simon continued on. "When you come to work in the morning, you two are on desk duty. I'll ask around and find where there is a free spot that I can transfer Sandburg to. Until then, you two will be separated. Joel and Megan can be split until Sandburg's gone."
"Simon!" Blair protested, "You know Jim needs me."
"No. No, I don't. For all I know this Sentinel thing has just been a big excuse to keep you two working together. In the morning, you will be separated." Simon didn't wait around to argue with his former friends. He got up, grabbed his coat and strode heavily out the door and down the stairs to his car. All he could think was how Jim could betray him like this and how he could let a hippy take over his life and make him something he was not.
Jim and Blair were completely stunned. Neither made a move to stop Simon from leaving. Blair, for once, was speechless. Jim tried to hope for the best, "It'll be different in the morning. This was a shock and he'll come around."
For once Blair was not the optimistic one. "Jim, I don't think so. Simon was seriously disturbed by this. What are we gonna do? You can't work without me! We tried that while I was in the Academy. Neither Joel nor Megan could fully help you and you were prone to zone outs. So far I'm the only one who can prevent them totally. Simon was totally serious about transferring me and you know Vice has wanted me for ages! I don't want to work without you!"
Jim grabbed his partner and hugged him close to his body. He rested his chin on his head and stared out into space. Blair settled in close and he relaxed against Jim, taking comfort in the firm, warm body that he knew was his. "I don't want to work without you either. I don't think I can anymore." He stopped talking as he thought about the possibilities. "Well," he started again, knowing full well the consequences of not talking things out with Blair and that this was no time to hold back, "we can always both quit the police department. There are other options out there. Even if he doesn't split our partnership up, I don't know if I want to work for Simon anymore. I don't know if I can trust him to watch our backs. We couldn't have made it this far without him."
"What else could we do? You love being a cop. It's what you do; it's who you are."
"No, being a Sentinel is who I am, what I do. And I can't be that and work with the police without help. Simon's help. You help the Sentinel part but Simon's the one to make sure we can function in the real world, not our mystic, -are you sure you're not high?' world."
Blair laughed. Jim had made great strides in handling the not quite black and white world of the Sentinels. He had also made great progress in believing in the spirit world, the panther and the wolf. But he still had an interesting way at looking at it.
"Do you want to stay a cop if Simon doesn't change? You love being a cop."
"We could. I just don't know if I'd trust anybody else in the department with our secret, Chief. Maybe we could find someplace else we could work. I think I could change territories..."
"Before we decide what we are going to do, Jim, could we take a vacation? I'll hope for the best, but I just have a really bad feeling about this. And I don't want to jump into anything rash."
"Sure, Chief. I could use a break, too. Where would we go?"
"Someplace warm." Blair looked up and grinned at Jim. He still didn't understand how he ended up in Cascade, Washington, of all places for so long. Looking at Jim, he realized why, but that still didn't stop him from wishing for a warmer climate.
"Someplace warm, huh?"
"Yeah." Blair's face had an interesting look on it.
"You have someplace in mind?" Jim asked.
"Well..." Blair hesitated.
"Spit it out, Chief."
"I really want to see Peru and the Chopecs, Jim. I want to see where you were and how you survived. You know I always wanted to explore what Incacha passed on to me and the best scenario would be me learning from a native Shaman. They may have some ideas on how to help with your senses. We've never really had the time, but I've always wondered if they might have more and better knowledge that would have helped you out."
"Blair, I trust you. You've saved my life more than once and I don't know what I have to do to make you understand that!" Jim quickly grew frustrated with Blair's self-defeating attitude. He had tried to get through to him, but Blair seemed to refuse to grasp the idea that he was worthy of being Jim's Guide.
"Sure, Jim." Blair knew that he couldn't argue with Jim and decided to drop it. "But what are we going to do tomorrow?"
"Just take things as they come, I guess. Maybe Simon will have come to his senses and not do anything. We'll just wait and see what happens."
"Okay."
The two stood where they were for a few more minutes before heading upstairs to prepare for bed. Both got ready quickly. Within fifteen minutes, Blair was safely in Jim's arms asleep and Jim was almost there himself. The morning would come too quickly for the both of them.
***
The next morning, the world was grey and rainy. Blair looked out a window and muttered, "Figures," before he stalked into the bathroom to prepare for the day. Jim had gotten up earlier than usual and had prepared breakfast for the two. He completed the cooking just as Blair finished in the bathroom and started laying out plates and silverware on the table.
"Chief, when you're done, I have food ready."
"Okay!" Blair yelled from the bedroom. "I'll be there in a minute."
He finished dressing, holding off on putting his sports coat on until after he put his shoulder harness on, and started down the stairs. Finding everything complete and ready to eat, he sat down at the table and started picking at his food.
"Is everything okay?" Jim asked, concerned about the food and Blair.
"Yeah, it's good. I'm just not that hungry. I'm too worried about what we'll find when we get to the station."
"It'll be fine, Blair. If Simon is still being an ass, we'll leave. We have other options. Maybe it's time for me to stop playing cops and robbers and time to see what else I can do to satisfy my urge to protect. I'm getting too old to be in the hospital as much as we tend to be and it's taking me longer to heal. I think I'm ready to do something else."
"Jim! You're not old!"
"No, I'm not," Jim interrupted before Blair could get truly wound up, "But I'm still ready to start thinking about another career. If I get promoted, I'd be out of the field anyway and I don't want to be stuck behind a desk. This way, we both can decide what to do and do it together. We can both be happy."
"Okay, if you're sure."
"I am."
Blair and Jim finished eating and cleaned up. After putting on their guns and coats, they made their way to Jim's truck, Sweetheart. The drive to the station was quiet; the only sounds coming from outside the cab of the truck. They silently parked and made their way to the elevator to take them to Major Crimes.
As they exited the elevator they noticed that their quiet had extended to the bullpen as well. Rafe and Brown were not bantering back and forth as they tended to do. Rhonda had her head down and was intent on the paperwork in front of her. Joel and Megan were very quietly talking to each other in a corner. Simon's office door was shut and Jim could see that he was glaring at the paper in his hands.
He sighed and started making his way towards the office but Megan started making quick "no" motions with her head and hands. Both her and Joel waved Jim and Blair over to their corner and started whispering.
"The Captain's in a horrible mood. He came storming in yelling. He's not making sense! He said that he was splitting you two up and that he had given you two too much leeway as it was! What the hell is going on, Jim?" Megan made it clear that she was going to be heard and that Jim was going to answer her, or else.
"Listen, why don't you get Rafe and Brown and meet in the coffee room and we'll tell you, okay? Five minutes?"
"Fine, but Ellison, if we don't find out what Simon has up his ass then we'll take it out on you!" Megan left to gather the rest of the gang and to herd them towards the coffee room.
Jim took advantage of the short time before everybody arrived to make sure it was okay with Blair to out themselves to their friends. "Okay, I just hope that none of them freak like Simon did." Jim reached out and hugged his disheartened partner.
"They won't. I'm sure of it."
"Sure of what?" Henri Brown had gotten to the room first and had caught the last couple of words spoken.
Blair jumped and pulled away from Jim and started nervously running his hands through his hair. "Um..." he couldn't think of anything quick enough to put Henri off for a few minutes. "Can you wait until the others get here? We'll tell everyone then."
"Sure; they're on their way."
Within a couple of minutes, everyone, including Rhonda, had gathered in the break room.
"So, what's this you wanted to tell us?" Joel was the first to ask.
"We know why Simon is in such a bad mood. We invited him over for supper last night."
Henri took advantage of Jim's pause, "You let Hairboy cook one of his weird ostrich dishes?"
"H!" Blair looked insulted at the insinuation that his cooking was not good.
"Just calling it like I see it, Sandburg." Henri grinned, knowing that he had broken the very intense atmosphere that the room had had before.
"Can I finish?" Jim smiled at Henri, grateful for what he had done, but really wanting to finish before Simon noticed that his bullpen was empty of his secretary and his detectives.
"Sure, go for it."
"Thanks. We told Simon something he didn't like." Jim reached for Blair and brought him close, "We told him that we finally got together."
Megan and Rhonda let out a noise that they would both violently defend was not a squeal, but to Jim's sensitive ears, would be classified as one. "It's about time!" Brown stated and Rafe just quietly said, "Congratulations."
Joel looked happy, but he didn't say anything until the others calmed down as he knew something must have happened for Simon to be as upset as he was when he came into work this morning. He asked, "How did Simon take it?"
Blair, who had brightened up with the positive response from his friends, now looked upset. "He didn't take it at all well. He said that we were wrong, disgusting for doing something like that. He said that since we're a couple, he was going to have to split us up. That he didn't want to be friends with us anymore and that I had corrupted Jim," he spat out.
His fellow detectives stood there stunned. They couldn't imagine why Simon had gone off on them like that. None of them had imagined that Simon could be prejudiced against a gay couple. "Surely, he didn't do that!" Joel was shocked that such crap came from Simon's mouth.
"Yes, he did. We're hoping he's decided that he won't split us up, but we don't know yet." Blair was worried about what Simon's plans were.
Jim spoke up, "If he has, we're quitting. You know that I can't work with anyone other than Sandburg and even if I could, neither of us would want to."
The others were shocked because they all knew how important this job was to Jim. They looked at each other and knew that they'd support the two no matter what, but really hoped that Simon would come to his senses. The shout they heard from the other room convinced most of them that that wasn't going to happen soon.
"Where the hell is everybody?" Simon could be heard bellowing from his office doorway.
The group slowly filed out into the workroom and went back to their respective desks to work. When Simon saw Jim and Blair, his eyes narrowed and he called Blair into his office. When Jim started to follow, he growled, "Did I call you, Ellison? No. Go to your desk!"
When Blair passed Simon, he could have sworn he hear his boss growl something offensive. He looked over his shoulder at Jim and knew that he had. Jim was glowering at Banks and Blair knew that if Jim was anywhere else and if Simon was anyone else, the Captain would be in serious danger. "Calm down, Jim; I can handle it," Blair whispered so the Sentinel could stand down and let his Guide handle the situation himself.