His Master's Voice 18

By CatMoran

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. I don't own the canon characters or concept; I do own this story.

Summary: We continue with the saga of a vampire and his sentinel.

Warning: Not beta'd.

His Master's Voice 18
By CatMoran
*****

Jim slept with one arm wrapped possessively around Blair, his head resting on the younger man's chest. He awoke slowly, happily soaking in the warmth of his lover and the sound of the familiar heartbeat.

As he realized the impossibility of what he was hearing, Jim was startled completely awake. "Blair? You're alive." He said the last very quietly but joyfully, as he raised up to look at Blair's face.

Jim was shocked to see that Blair's face was rigid with barely suppressed panic. It was then that he realized that Blair's heartrate was fast, and still increasing. "What's wrong?" he whispered.

Blair's breath caught in his chest then he replied very quietly, "Could you turn on the light?"

Jim shifted, easing his hold on Blair, and leaned across him to turn on the bedside lamp. As calmly as he could he asked, "Is that better?" He suspected it wasn't. At the click of the light switch Blair's heart had sped up another notch.

Jim's heart froze in his chest as he reluctantly disentangled himself from Blair. He didn't want to restrain him if he felt he had to leave. He was relieved when Blair caught one of his hands to keep him close. Laying the captured hand over Blair's chest to soak up more of the wondrous rhythm he asked, "What's happened, Blair? What's wrong?"

"I can't see."

Jim studied his tightly shut eyes and hopefully suggested the obvious, "Maybe if you opened your eyes?"

"Not if you're looking at them."

Jim didn't know why he lied. "I'll look away."

Blair opened his eyes and stared ahead sightlessly. Instead of the deep blue eyes Jim expected, Blair's eyes glowed with their own light; the change was visible even in the lamplight and with his own vision down near normal. Closer sentinel inspection showed that a thousand tiny lights were swirling within his eyes. The sight was too beautiful to be frightening.

"Can you see anything?" he asked gently.

"Just sparkles."

He ran a soothing hand across Blair's chest and said, "I'm going to turn off the lamp for a moment."

Blair nodded his assent. Jim turned off the light and slowly dialed up his sight. Near the limit of his abilities the light from Blair's eyes was intense. He could also see a faint glow, different from Blair's own aura, running along the veins close to his skin. He looked at his own body for comparison and saw nothing similar.

"Do you want me to turn the light back on?" He asked when he completed his inspection.

Blair shook his head tightly.

"Do you have any idea what's happened, Blair?"

Blair shook his head again.

"What can I do?"

Blair whispered, "What time is it?"

Jim glanced at the clock. "2 a.m."

"Hold me?"

In Jim's arms, Blair finally fell asleep. Jim lay awake the rest of the night, entranced by the steady beat of his mate's heart.

The End
(c) CatMoran 2000