Lone Ranger Once Again

By Treassa

Don't own the guys no matter how many time I make a wish.

This is pre-slash from Jim's point of view. I am writing a companion piece for Blair.

This piece is un-beta'd

Lone Ranger Once Again
By Treassa

Jim gripped the steering wheel tightly. He watched as his fingers quickly bled of color. The stark white was symbolic of his heart and soul—washed out and empty. Jim was at a loss. He just didn't know what he wanted to do. On one hand, the life he was facing would once again be his own. On the other hand, his new life would be empty.

Looking up when his acute hearing picked up an announcement, Jim cringed at the noise. He wished he could say that it was the actual noise, but he knew it was because it was the note decrying that he would be alone once again. He took a deep breath, and he knew he had reached his decision.

Blair was leaving town forever. The Greyhound bus would remove the spark of life that kept him going. He needed that light, and he decided that he would do anything to keep it with him. Blair had touched so many lives, his own mostly, and it deserved to be protected.

Jim had belittled and discounted his best friend one too many times. The resilient spirit had refused to bounce back this time. The detective's demands on the student's full attention had caused the rift. Between writing and grading papers and tests, Blair had reached his limit.

Blair had buckled under the pressure the night before. Jim had come home from the station and insisted that Blair needed to come with him to his stake out that night. He also had insisted that Blair be part of the large task force that was being formed to combat the drug trade sweeping ever more fiercely into Cascade. Blair just didn't have the time, and Jim would not hear any different.

Jim suffered through the memory of hearing himself tell Blair that if he did not participate in these events he would lose the cooperation of the police department on his dissertation. Since Blair had changed topics to the police force instead of Sentinels, Blair would need access to the station. The two roommates had stared at each other for several minutes when Blair silently got up and entered his room, closing the door behind him. A softly whispered good-bye carried
through the air to the Sentinel. Jim never looked back before he stormed from the loft.

Jim had stoically made it through the stake out. Towards the end, he had started to feel bad about what he told Blair. Examining his actions, he was beginning to realize that he wanted Blair next to him in all endeavors. When the young man would absent himself, Jim felt the hole in his heart. Jim wanted Blair in his skin. Wanted the two to join together. Thinking on that revelation, it became apparent to Jim that Blair was his mate. They did everything together. When they
weren't together that was when it hurt. Jim loved his short hairy roommate, and he would definitely be sitting down and talking to the man who had stolen his heart.

When Jim returned home that morning ready to share his wisdom, he world was shattered. There was no welcome heartbeat and when he opened the small bedroom door that encased the Guide's possessions, he was further shaken. While the furniture filled the room, any presence of personal items or clothes remained. Jim suffered a momentary bit of shock. His next thought was to run to the phone to call his lover home.

Reaching the cordless phone, Jim saw that Blair's cell phone was placed next to the appliance. Jim had angrily swept it off and onto the floor. Blair was making sure Jim couldn't find him. Ready to storm from the house in search, Jim's eyes were drawn to the pad of paper that had been sitting under the cell. He gently traced his fingers across the white paper, stealing from it all its secrets. With the information recovered, Jim knew right were he needed to go.

Returning from his thoughts Jim prepared to exit his vehicle and do the only thing that would right his world. Here he was, an ex-Ranger, ready to brave the world by himself, alone. Thinking that over, Jim barked out a laugh. An older couple turned his way and quickly headed to the station, afraid of the crazy man. Jim never noticed as he was laughing at an image of himself in his army fatigues on a tall white stallion. A mask, cut from a bandana, covered his eyes. He really was a Lone Ranger. Heading towards the bus station himself, all he could think to do was get his Tonto, so they could conquer the west. After they had a very eventful night in bed of course.

END