"Come on, Chief. Pick up the pace."

As they ran, Jim watched as two topless 4-wheel drive jeeps approached. The first had 2 men and the second had three. They were indeed driving over land, slowing them down but they were still closing in. He watched the hunters split into two directions, the one jeep with 3 men heading for their location. They'd been spotted!

"Faster, Blair!"

If they could make another quarter of a mile, they had a chance to lose the vehicle in a series of gullies and hopefully deeper canyons caused by run off. He was just guessing, it was hard to read the lay of the land from this angle. Behind him, Jim could hear Blair's ragged breathing as he struggled to keep up. The sound of the jeep was loud enough for even a non-sentinel to hear. They were not going to make it.

"Split up!" Jim shouted over his shoulder and took the more exposed route, leaving the other direction for Sandburg.

The jeep slowed down and a man jumped out, running a course to intercept the younger man. Jim dived to the side as the jeep neared. He rolled and came up in a fighting stance, facing the hunters head on.

A heavyset man wearing an orange hunting cap sat in the passenger seat pointing a rifle at Jim.

"Hey, cowboy! Where do you think you're going?" the man called out cheerfully.

The other man motioned for Jim to walk over. Soon they had him secured, his hands bound behind his back with a short length of twine. A ten-foot section of heavy utility rope was looped around his chest, the other end tied to the bumper. The jeep made a sharp 180-degree turn and headed in the direction Blair had run. Still breathing hard, Jim had no choice but to run or be dragged.

As the jeep slowed down, Jim lifted his eyes from the ground. He could not risk tripping under the circumstances. He smiled as he saw a man lying on his face in the dirt.

"Son of a Bitch!" exclaimed orange cap, jumping out. "Al, where the hell is the other guy!" The man groaned as orange cap prodded him with the end of the rifle barrel.

"Retrieval one, this is retrieval two."

Orange cap unclipped a small two-way radio from his belt. "Go ahead."

"We got ours, how ya doing?"

"Half way there. We'll let you know when we're done here."

The man sprawled in the dirt moaned again and rolled over onto his back. Orange cap replaced the radio and pulled him to his feet.

"Where did he go!"

The man shook his head, a large purplish lump adorning the middle of his forehead. "Little shit hit me with a rock..." he mumbled, then turned and threw up.

"Great!" Orange cap exclaimed impatiently. He studied the sick man for a second in disgust and turned to climb onto the hood of the jeep.

There was really only one direction that Blair could have run in such a short time, Jim realized, and orange cap was staring hard in that direction. Low brush and possible gullies could make it possible for a man to hide from sight.

Blair's victim staggered over to the jeep, climbing unsteadily into the back seat without a glance at Ellison.

Orange cap raised a hand to cup his mouth "Listen, if you don't stand up right now and walk over to this jeep, I'm putting a slug in this guy's gut!"

"STAY PUT CHIEF!"

"Terry, shut him up," Orange cap ordered calmly.

The driver hoisted his large frame out of the seat and walked up to Jim, sinking a meaty fist into his stomach. Jim fell to his knees, gasping for breath, but unable to draw the required amount of air in.

"I'm going to count to three..." Orange cap called out. "ONE..."

"OKAY! Don't shoot, man!"

In a few seconds with his shoulders slouched in defeat, Blair appeared. Orange cap jumped off the hood and pointed the rifle towards him. "Keep coming, hold your hands out where I can see them. Just walk over there by your friend." He pulled the radio out again.

Blair complied and broke into a trot as he spotted his Jim on his knees. "Jim! You okay?" He dropped down next to the gasping cop.

Jim nodded, "Fine... you `kay...." He listened as orange cap informed the other party that both objects had been obtained.

"Sorry, I ran out of ideas, man. I couldn't let him shoot you."

Jim didn't take the effort to answer, his lungs were beginning to co-operate as his diaphragm stopped its spasms. Terry was approaching Blair with a piece of twine and a long coil of rope. Jim watched helplessly as Blair's arms were yanking behind his back and tied. The long rope was looped around his chest and secured to the bumper of the jeep, the extra coils tossed into the back seat.

"Stand up.. keep up with the jeep.. watch your feet.. don't fall down... " Leaning against the younger man, Jim got his feet underneath him and stood. Blair scrambled up to stand next to him. The three men were back in the jeep and Terry let the clutch pop causing a tread full of loose dirt and dust to be thrown up at the two prisoners.

The only thing that saved them from being dragged, was the roughness of the terrain. They jogged and occasionally ran behind the vehicle for almost 10 minutes before it stopped and Terry turned off the engine.

Jim leaned forward at the waist sucking air into his lungs, while Blair fell to his knees his sides heaving. They were both sweating heavily and covered with a layer of dust and grit from the jeep.

"Okay, boys, end of the road. You've led us on an entertaining chase, but we've got orders to follow," Orange cap announced cheerfully.

Jim could see the other jeep parked close to the edge of the cliff. Two men stood leaning against it, while Buck sat on the ground, hands tied in front of him at the wrist. He had dried blood pointing a line on the side of his face up to a small cut above his eye. His jeans and T-shirt were dirty from repeatedly falling.

"Well, look who we have here!" One of Buck's hunters walked over to Blair and cracked an ugly grin revealing yellow stained crooked teeth. He pointed towards Blair and laughed. "It's our little hitch hiker," he remarked to the other man that had retrieved Buck. "Maybe when this is done, we can have some fun. I'll have to hose him off first, though."

Blair ignored the man, concentrating on pulling air into his chest.

"You boys want to get to the point?" Buck asked calmly from his position on the ground.

Orange cap laughed and rubbed his hand briskly. "Right, business first. We've got your safe from the house, good thing you believe in buying fireproof safes, Stevens. Now you just give us the combination so we can get the deed and water rights, and we'll be on our way."

Buck looked up at the man, his eyes squinting in the bright morning sun. "What, so you can kill us after you get the papers? I don't think so."

Orange cap took two long strides over to Buck and lifted his foot back to swing it forward in a hard kick to Buck's side. Buck fell on to his back with a painful grunt.

"STOP IT!" Blair shouted, powering up to his feet.

Yellow teeth grabbed Blair from behind by the waist, pulling him back against his chest in a bear hug, almost lifting Sandburg off the ground. "Whoa, feisty little fella, ain't ya?"

Before he could move, Jim found the business end of a rifle pointed into his face. He could only watch as Blair struggled to free himself, kicking out with his feet and butting with the back of his head. Nothing Blair did seemed to break the big man's hold.

Orange cap walked over to his jeep and untied Blair's rope from the bumper, he retied it to the roll bar of the jeep but this time at the end of the long rope. Jim watched him make a round turn and two half hitches, then give it a sharp yank.

"Here's the deal, you given us the combination, and we'll agree to pull your nephew up, sound good?" Orange cap asked with a grin. He nodded to yellow teeth, who dragged Blair to the edge of the cliff.

"NO! NO, man!" Blair doubled his attempts to free himself. Yellow teeth reached the edge, holding him by both shoulders.

A low growl erupted from Jim's throat, causing his guard to step back in alarm. Buck righted himself again to his knees with a shout. "Don't!"

Yellow teeth gave a shove with both hands. Jim knew then that he was going to kill that man with his bare hands.

Blair stood at the edge of the cliff and noted the small lake hundreds of feet below, the western edge of the water sparkling in the morning sun, the rest of the lake still in shadows. It looked like a puddle from up here. Blair's mind split into two separate entities. Part watching this whole scene as if he were sitting on the sofa in the loft with Jim beside him, both watching this on the TV. The other part was screaming in terror. Blair wasn't sure which half of his brain to listen to.

Then a strong shove sent him out into open space. He noted that the calm half was reasoning, `this must be what it felt like for that rattlesnake'.

But the other half, the one that had been terrified of heights for as long as he could remember, grew until it filled his head, his neck and down every limb. His scream ripped out, sending dozens of cliff swallows into the sky from their nests built of mud and straw adorning the face of the cliff.

He couldn't remember if he was supposed to stay loose or curl into a ball. Before the issue could be resolved, his free fall was ended abruptly with a snap to his spine that cut off his scream prematurely.

The rope held him and he swung like a large pendulum, smashing into the side of the cliff. But the cliff was undercut and he swung back into space before he could think through the pain. Hoping to swing back into the wall so he could hold on with his feet, he sobbed seeing there was nothing to even try to grab. Where was the sturdy tree that always grows out of the cliff for the hero to hang on to?

His fear began to grow, take form like a living, breathing creature. He could not seem to take his eyes off the landscape below his dangling hiking boots.

Then, his fear consumed him like a large bird of prey and Blair was the frozen field mouse as it swooped down and had clenched its talons around his throat.

Buck watched his `nephew' disappear. Ellison was still making animal sounds. He listened to Blair's scream and winced when it was sharply cut off.

"You son of a bitch!" Jim shouted.

Orange cap ignored Ellison and pointed to the back of the jeep that had been used to chase down Buck. A black box was sitting in the back seat, his safe.

"Give me the combination and we'll pull him back up."

"Pull him back up first!" Buck spat out, his anger making him shake.

"No deals, Stevens. I want that paperwork!"

Buck considered his options. Yellow teeth stood close to the cliff's edge watching Blair, orange cap was nearby, the other two standing by Ellison.

"14 right..8 left..29 right."

Orange cap leaned over the side of the jeep and started spinning the dial. Buck shared a knowing glance at Jim, as soon as the safe was opened all of their lives would be finished.

With a happy exclamation, orange cap opened the small door to the safe and reached inside pulling out a handful of papers and a small book. He glanced at the book, realizing it just had photos, he tossed it away impatiently. Flipping through the papers slowly, he became more desperate in his search.

"Where is it!" He threw the papers down in anger. "Its not here! Where the hell is it!"

"I never said it WAS in the safe, you horse's ass!" Buck yelled. He sprang to his feet with a grace that belied his age, throwing a hand full of dirt directly into orange cap's eyes. With lightening fast speed Buck relieved the blinded man of his rifle. Using the butt end as a ram, he drove it into the side of the man's head just above his ear. He dropped, unconscious before he hit the dirt.

Jim moved at the same instant, bringing a knee up hard between his guard's legs, felling him like a tree. A quick kick to the head and the man lay still. Jim fell to the ground and rolled up high onto his back, swinging his arms around his butt and curled legs to get them in front.

Buck cradled his stolen rifle awkwardly and aimed at Terry as he was coming around from the driver's seat towards Jim. The large man was thrown back against the hood of the jeep as the bullet hit him high in the back.

Ellison reached into the back of the jeep and pulled out an x shaped tire iron. With an accuracy borne of desperation he put all his strength into throwing it like a Frisbee. The heavy metal tool hit yellow teeth low in the back of the skull, right above the neck. Jim watched with pleasure as he fell towards the cliff unconscious and disappeared.

Jim snatched the second rifle from the man at his feet and checked the jeep for something to cut his bindings with.

By the time Buck joined him, Jim located a hunting knife and was busy attacking his ropes.

"What about the guy in the jeep?" Buck asked, as Jim used the knife on Buck's bindings.

"He's out cold. Blair got him before he was captured. Let's get these scumbags secured and pull him up."

Using the same rope that had tied Jim earlier to the jeep, they quickly bound the men. Jim ran to the edge of the cliff, dropped to his knees and peered over the edge. Buck joined him a second later.

"Oh, God," Jim muttered. Blair was still, his face white from shock. His eyes stared unseeing into space. Jim zoomed in on the bright blood staining his cotton shirt.

"Let's get him up," Buck grimly replied.

Hand over hand; they pulled. After slow torturous moments, Jim was able to reach out and get a good grip under Blair's arms. With a heave, he pulled the young man over the lip and back onto the plateau.

Taking Blair's arms and legs, Buck and Jim lifted, carrying Blair to the shade of the far jeep. Buck eased down to sit with his back leaning against the rear tire, and pulled Blair to lean against him, concerned as Blair's head lolled onto his shoulder. There was absolutely no response from man. Jim ran to the jeep and retrieved the knife, cutting the young man free. Lifting the T-shirt that now had a ring of blood seeping through, he examined the ripped and bruised skin under the arms and on his back, avulsed from the force of the rope cutting into his skin.

Jim closed his eyes and breathed deeply for a second, mentally reminding himself that he was a police officer and that he would have to arrest himself if he were to walk over and shoot the surviving men in the head. He lowered the shirt carefully and stared into Blair's face.

"Hey, buddy. Can you talk to me?" Jim softly asked, tapping Blair's cheek lightly with his fingers. No response. No change. "Blair? Come on, kid. Your sentinel is contemplating multiple murders here. I need you to talk me out of it, okay?"

Buck smiled at the black humor coming from the ex-ranger. He cradled Blair to his chest. "Jim, go check for a cell phone and get help. I'll work with the kid." Jim nodded, his desire torn between caring for Blair and getting help for him.

He stood, went to the cliff to retrieve the rifles they had left there. He laid one rifle next to Buck and went to pat down the men on the ground. He found nothing of use on orange cap or John. He went to check the man Buck had shot. He was dead. Good. Moving to the jeep, his search ended when he opened the glove box. He flipped open the small phone and called 911.

Tersely he explained to the Washington State Patrol dispatcher who he was, their location and what he required. With that job accomplished he double-checked the ropes that bound the 3 men. They were not going anywhere. Spotting a canteen in the jeep, he sniffed its contents and returned to squat next to his friends.

"..know how I feel about causing this old man to worry, runt. So I'm telling you right now to come back to reality. I know how you hate heights. But I also know how strong you are, kid. I've seen you take on more than this little incident and come out smiling." Buck was slowly rocking Blair, the long-haired head was resting on the older man's shoulder. Blair's eyes were still unfocused but it appeared to Jim that a part of Blair was listening. Buck acknowledged Jim with a slight nod, but did not stop the soft soothing words. "And if you don't start talking to us, I'm gonna have to resort to drastic measures here. The photo album that `horse-dung-for-brains' tossed on the ground over there is full of pictures of you. I'd have to show those to your roommate. I understand you work with him and he'd more than likely show them to all his fellow cops. I think the one with you and the lovesick cow would be good for weeks of humiliation, don't you?"

Jim watched Blair slowly blink. Large tears began to run down his cheeks. A hitch in his shallow breaths caused Buck to clutch him a little tighter. "I know, kid. It's all right now. We're going to be fine here."

"...cul b'ck." Blair closed his eyes and turned his face into Buck's neck.

Jim breathed a big sigh of relief as Blair began to sob. Shit, seeing Blair so unresponsive scared the cop more than he was willing to admit. Buck smiled and quieted, letting his `nephew' soak his collar with tears. Blair's breathing became deeper. His skin no longer had the sickly white color he had first observed.

"Welcome back, runt. Jim tells me you took out one of these yahoos by yourself. Just taking out the garbage, huh, kid?"

Blair worked to get his emotions under control. Jim knelt close and held up the canteen. "Chief, you want to try a little water?"

Looking slightly ashamed, Blair rolled his head back onto his `Uncle's' shoulder and faintly nodded faintly.

"Okay, just a sip for now, got it?" Jim tilted the opening up, letting a mouthful of warm water pour in.

Buck freed his left arm and reached for the water. "Don't mind if I do." He took a drink and handed it back.

"WSP are on the way. They're sending troopers from Coulee City and Euphrata. We should be seeing help soon." Jim settled down next to the two. Blair seemed content to stay right were he was. Jim noticed that Buck was not making any moves to change his position either. He grinned at his roommate. "Hey, Sandburg. How ya doing?"

Blair wiped his face with the backs of his bandaged hands. "..hurt's when... I breathe in.. too much." He looked around. "How'd you..."

Jim shrugged his large shoulders modestly. "Well, Buck here tried to impress me with some slick Navy Seal move, and I'm never one to turn down a challenge, so I showed him how the Rangers complete a mission."

Blair gave a weak snort. "More water?"

Jim held up the canteen again. "Small sips."

State troopers and local County police took the three men into custody. Jim and Buck insisted that the first on-scene ambulance transport Blair to the hospital in Coulee City. When the local EMT started to throw his weight around, Ellison told him in no uncertain terms that if he wanted to talk about triage, Jim would give him one more patient to worry about. The EMT took the hint and gave the nod to the private ambulance to load up Sandburg. They were expecting to airlift one of the head injuries to Spokane anyway. The other could wait another five minutes for the second ambulance.

It was decided that Jim would ride to the hospital with Blair. Buck would remain on the scene with the troopers then escort them down to his burned out home before joining them.

Ninety minutes later, Blair was rolled into trauma room one. His t-shirt was cut off with clumsy looking scissors. His makeshift bandages were removed from both hands. Jim answered questions about past medical history and known allergies.

Sandburg silently endured the examination by an elderly white-hair doctor with a mustard stain on his coat front. Lung sounds were checked, pulse and blood pressure recorded. A small clip attached to a black cord was carefully placed on one finger. Jim watched, thankful that he had been allowed to stay during the exam. An I.V. was started with a morphine injection that caused the young man to slide into a happy state of being and made his body do an imitation of a boneless chicken.

A nurse covered him with a light sheet and they rolled Blair, bed and all, into another room for chest x-rays, leaving Jim behind in the hallway. A nurse appeared at his elbow with a large cup of black coffee and a friendly smile.

"Thank you," he said with a tired grin, taking the cup and enjoying a sip. "Is there a phone I could use? It's long distance, but I'll charge it to my home number."

"Sure, over there." She pointed a painted fingernail toward a counter tucked away in the corner. A wall of patient charts framed each side of the counter.

He held up the coffee. "Thanks again."

She smiled. "No problem, did I hear you say you're a police detective?"

"Yes, from Cascade."

She pointed town down the hallway. "There's a doctor's lounge, third door on the left. Your friend is going to be while in x-ray. You can use the lounge to clean up if you'd like."

Jim's grateful smile could have lit up the entire town of Coulee City. "You are an angel. Thank you."

Simon picked up on the first ring. Jim felt a stab of homesickness as he heard the familiar sound of his boss barking his name into the phone.

"Uh, Simon."

The tone on the other end became friendly. He could imagine Simon removing his glasses and picking up his coffee to take a drink.

"Jim! How's the fishing? Blair driving you crazy yet? Remember I'm not able to help you hide the body this time."

"We've had a situation here, Sir."

"Oh, shit! Are you two okay?" The levity was replaced with concern.

"Blair's in the hospital, he's in x-ray now. Simon, his hands are burned. Those bastards tied him up with a rope and threw him off a cliff," Jim growled into the phone. Just reciting the events of the last twelve hours made him furious.

"Jim! Calm down, where are you now? Which hospital? How many bodies are we talking about?"

"I'm calm," he spat into the handset. He stopped, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Sorry, we're at Coulee City hospital. And only two bodies, three more with head injures, I don't know their status right now."

"My God! You're serious, aren't you?"

Jim gave him the abbreviated, readers' digest version of what had occurred. He shared his suspicions as to who was behind the arson and the attempts on their lives.

"I need a favor, sir." He looked around; no one was paying attention to the tall stranger in the filthy clothes. He pulled the small phone out of his sweat pant's pocket. Hitting the power button, he found the menu and scrolled to last numbers dialed. "I've been too busy with Blair to hand in some evidence, a cell phone. As soon as the locals arrive, I will. But just in case something should happen before then, write down these phone numbers, okay?"

He read ten separate phone numbers out loud.

"Jim, don't do anything stupid. I am expecting you to turn that cell phone over ASAP, you got that, detective?"

"Yes, sir."

"Okay then, meanwhile, I think I'll call up a friend of mine that works with the phone company. I've been meaning to invite him over for a beer."

"Thanks, Simon."

"Call me the minute you know more about the kid."

"I will."

He located the doctor's lounge and was working on getting the grime off his face and neck when he heard his partner being wheeled back into the treatment room. Giving his face one last pass with the small cloth, he grabbed a hand towel from the stack on a low shelf and dried off quickly. Tossing the soiled items in a bin marked for used laundry he was out the door and back in the treatment room.

"Good news, detective. Mr. Sandburg does not have any injuries to his ribs," the doctor reported with a smile. "We're going to finish treating his burns and suture his sides and back, then we'll talk about medication."

Jim smiled in relief. He checked on Blair's condition. They had dressed him in a gown that opened in the back.

"Hey, Chief. How are you doing?"

"Hi, Jim." He raised a burned hand in a wave. "Have you met Nurse Cooper, man? She went to Rainier too!"

Jim smiled at the same nurse that had brought him coffee. "I sure did. I may have to ask for her hand in marriage if she keeps spoiling me."

Blair laughed as the doctor and the nurse in question sat him up on the rolling bed. "Hey! No fair! I saw her first." He leaned over to the nurse as the doctor untied his gown. "You don't want him. He's a total neat freak! He alphabetized his cans of food. HEY!" Blair jerked away from the doctor who was inspecting his back, almost falling off the bed. Jim moved in close and steadied the patient.

"Sorry, Mr. Sandburg. Just checking. I think we'll give you something to numb you."

Blair's good mode vanished. He leaned forward, resting his head on Jim's dirty T-shirt. Jim could feel the tremors running through the slight frame. He rubbed Blair's shoulders a few seconds then lightly brushed his hands up and down his upper arms. Jim checked the clock on the wall; Blair's pain meds were beginning to wear off.

"Just a bit more, Darwin," he said softly to his friend. Blair nodded, sitting up straighter and give Jim a tired smile. "I talked to Simon just now."

"Yeah?"

"He's worried about you."

Blair lightly snorted in disbelief. "He just wants a chance to .....ow!.... win that twenty back."

"Just a few more, Mr. Sandburg."

"Jim, where's Uncle Buck?"

"With the county deputies and troopers. He'll be here soon. Here comes another shot."

This time Blair stayed silent, but winced in pain as the shot was given. He looked up at Jim, his face still dirty, his hair a mess with small sticks and dried grass clinging to the long strands. "You okay?"

Jim smiled and shook his head. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"I'm not staying here, am I?"

Jim met the doctor's eyes over the top of the patient's head. The doctor shook his head and went back to his task. "No, we'll just get you patched up and meet up with Buck. Just let us take care of everything for now, okay?"

Blair sighed and nodded.

Buck followed the county deputy into the ER. He was tired, hungry and sporting a headache the size of a battleship. He found Ellison helping Blair off an exam table as the two men entered. Blair was dressed in his dirty sweat pants and a green colored `scrub' top. Both of Blair's hands were swathed in white gauze. His right hand was bandaged to the fingertips, his left hand's thumb and fingers exposed to the second knuckles.

"You two okay?" Waiting for the two to nod, Buck pointed to the uniformed cop. "This deputy wants to take your statements. I'm going to make a few phone calls and I'll meet you back here."

The deputy requested a quiet room to interview the pair and Jim found himself sitting on a comfortable sofa back in the doctor's lounge. Blair sat next to him, shifting stiffly to get comfortable. The deputy was a soft-spoken man with an easy attitude. He treated Ellison as a brother in uniform and threw a lot of sympathetic glances at Blair when their story was told.

"How is the man that I hit with the rock?" Blair asked timidly.

The cop tucked his notepad and pen away in his breast pocket. "Well, if I've got my bad guys in order. Your guy has a concussion, but I'm told he's going to be okay. You know the guy that was shot is dead. And we recovered the other from under the cliff, obviously dead." The deputy paused and took a drink of coffee that Nurse Cooper had delivered. "The guy that Stevens hit was airlifted to Spokane, he doesn't look so good. The last guy is going to pull through, but it'll be a while before his momma recognizes him again."

Jim nodded. "Any idea who those guys where or who they worked for?"

"We're still checking I.D.'s and getting data together."

"Speaking of which..." Jim reached into his pocket and pulled out the phone. "I took this out of the glove box in one of the jeeps. You may want to check the last numbers dialed."

The deputy took the cell phone and nodded. "We'll get right on it. Now I suggest you take your partner there somewhere he can rest, before he falls down."

Jim grinned and carefully propped Blair back up on the sofa. "Okay, Rip Van Winkle, let's find Buck."

They met up with the older man in the hallway. Sandburg was running out of steam. All three men were hungry, dirty and aching to rest. Jim realized they had no vehicle, identification or money. They only had the clothes on their backs and the antibiotics and pain mediation that the doctor had given Blair.

"Jim!" Simon Banks strode down the hallway, towering over the nurses and orderlies that hastened to get out of his way.

Jim was never so relieved to see the caption as he was right that moment. "Simon, how did you get here?"

"I've got a friend with a private plane, he owed me a favor." He reached Jim's side and clapped a large hand on his shoulder, ignoring the small cloud of dust it caused. "You two okay? Doctor's finish checking you out?" He gave both his friends a head to toe inspection.

"Hey, Simon," Blair greeted weakly. Pointing to the fourth member of the reunion. "This is my Uncle Buck."

Simon reached out and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, sorry to hear about your loss."

Buck shrugged, "I saved the most important things, I can always rebuild."

Simon clapped his hands together. "Okay then, I've got a rental car out front, made reservations at the Comfy Inn and brought you all a change of clothes. What do we do first?"

Blair was the first to find his voice out of the three shell-shocked men. "Wow! Simon, you are incredible!"

"No, Sandburg. I'm the captain."

The Comfy Inn was a clean two-story motel shaped in a `u'. Each unit had a door to the parking lot. Banks had reserved a suite with a small kitchen and two bedrooms on the ground floor. Simon tossed his bag on one of the twin beds in the first room. He had taken a chance that Buck could fit into some of his clothes and packed enough for both of them. The other room had a single king-size bed. Jim set a large duffle bag that Simon had packed for them at the loft on the dresser. The living area smelled clean and fresh, there was room for a sofa, upholstered chair and a tv. The four men sat at the small round table in the kitchenette as Simon distributed meals he had purchased from a McDonald's next to the motel. Jim took Blair's chicken sandwich and cut it into bite size squares.

Biting into his hamburger with a look of bliss, Jim reached with his left hand for a handful of hot fries as he chewed.

`I got the info on those phone numbers," Simon began, opening his own sandwich and pulling off the top bun to check his condiments.

"I'm willing to bet one of the last numbers belonged to Tri-State," Blair challenged as he picked up a piece of his sandwich with the exposed fingers of his left hand.

Simon nodded, sipping his diet coke. "No way I'm betting with you again, Sandburg. But you're right. The last number was to Tri-State Orchard's main number."

Jim shook his head. "It's not enough, sir. Two of those guys worked for Tri-State. We'll need more to get a D.A. to file charges against the ones responsible. Those guys were just lackeys."

"Well, I'm still waiting on word about Tri-State," Simon admitted, stealing fries from the pile in the middle of the table.

"I checked with my lawyer, he's still sure that Tri-State has no case," Buck announced, his eyes flashing in anger.

Simon glanced over at Sandburg.

"Jim," Banks said softly, nodding his head towards Blair. The younger man was sitting chewing slowly, eyes at half mask.

The needle sat firmly on empty. The kid had run out of gas. Jim fished out the bottles of pills that the doctor had given him. Shaking out a pain pill he slid it over to his dazed friend.

"Swallow the pill, Sandburg. Finish your sandwich and I'll let you pick which side of the bed you get to sleep in."

Blair sat up and frowned. "I'm not taking those, man."

"Yes, you are," Buck stated firmly. "Just because `old Guss' went up in smoke, doesn't mean I can't find a substitute."

Blair snatched up the pill and popped it into his mouth; leaning forward and taking a long pull on his straw. Jim watched him resume eating his meal in silence.

Simon cleared this throat, "I'd like to talk to the officer in charge of the investigation, see if he'd share the details of what they found as a courtesy. Maybe Cascade's lab's can help in some way. I know these counties have a small budget."

"Good idea," Jim agreed.

Buck finished his meal and carefully wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I need to place an order to start rebuilding. My insurance company said they'd have enough deposited in my bank by tomorrow to get started."

"How'd the house look?" Blair asked.

"Not too bad. Roof is gone, but the stonewalls are standing. I think I can get a building back up without too much trouble." He leaned over and patted Blair's arm. "It will look even better than before, runt."

Blair smiled.

"I'm pretty handy with a hammer, Buck," Jim offered.

"Ellison, I could hammer circles around you any day," Simon added.

Buck shook his head. "You guys were supposed to be on a vacation, remember?"

Simon snorted. "Buck, Ellison doesn't know what a vacation is!"

Jim carefully pulled the clean T-shirt over the bandages wrapped around Blair's torso. He lifted the blankets to let the pain medicated man crawl into the large bed, then pulled them up to cover his shoulders.

"Man, Simon is so cool to come out and bring us our stuff and all," Blair mumbled around a yawn.

"He's a good friend," Jim agreed. "I'm going to wake you in five hours for your antibiotic. Depending on how you feel then, you may want another pain pill."

"Kay," Blair answered with his eyes shut. He rolled over to his side with a slight grimace, towards Jim.

"You okay?" Ellison asked, concerned.

"Hurts .. on my back. Better this way," Blair replied softly, almost asleep.

Jim rearranged the light blanket to his satisfaction. "Blair.... Tell me about `old Guss'."

"No.. way.. man."

Jim grinned. It was worth a shot.

At ten p.m. Jim woke Blair enough to get him to take his antibiotic with some juice. Blair shook his head when asked if he was in pain. Jim let him settle back down on his side, instantly falling back to sleep.

Simon and Buck had already retired. Jim lay down in the large bed and listened to the steady breathing next to him. He let the events of the day replay in his mind. He would never forget the sight of Blair at the end of the rope or the blank look on his face when they pulled him up. His hand went to his back-up automatic under his pillow that Simon had brought him from the loft. He vowed to keep it within reach at all times.

Some time later, Jim woke to an odd sound. He let his senses play out; Simon and Buck were softly snoring in the room next to theirs. He focused closer, to Blair. The sound came again, a kind of choking gasp this time accompanied by a shudder.

"Blair?" he rose up on one arm and leaned over the other man. Blair was still asleep judging by the rapid eye movement. His face was wrinkled in a frown, his bandaged hands reaching for his neck. Jim gently shook his shoulder, "Wait up, kid. You're dreaming."

".....no.....snake...."

A harder shake. Blue eyes opened in fear. Jim turned away and clicked on the small lamp next to the bed. He returned to Blair's side.

"It was just a dream, you're okay now."

"Oh, man." Blair rolled on to his back, and then quickly continued to roll towards Jim with a hiss of pain.

"I'm getting you some crackers. You need to take a pain pill." Jim rolled off the bed and padded barefoot into the kitchenette. Simon and Buck had gone out that evening while Blair had slept and picked up juice, straws, crackers, cigars, disposable razors, miscellaneous toiletry items, donuts and coffee. He located the crackers, poured a glass of apple juice and returned silently to the room. Walking around to Sandburg's side of the bed, he set the items down on the bed stand.

"Here, sit up a second."

With help, Blair sat up and scooted back to lean against the headboard. His face was pinched in pain. Jim regretted his decision earlier not to give him the pain medication. He sat on the edge of the bed by Blair's knees.

"This sucks, Jim."

"Eat these. Try not to get crumbs on the bed, junior."

After two crackers had been consumed, Jim held out a pain pill and juice glass. Blair took the small pill without complaint and sipped through the straw.

"I was dreaming I was in the ice age," Blair explained after finishing his juice. "The wind caused by the coming flood was awesome. The ground was shaking. Man, the noise was deafening." He yawned.

"What about the snake?" Jim asked quietly, setting the empty glass back on the nightstand.

Blair snorted softly, "Yeah, me and the snake. When the water hit us, we both got swept over the cliff..." He grimaced in pain. "Couldn't breathe, it was awful."

"Lay back down. The pill will kick in soon."

"I hate taking them." He shifted down, letting Jim ease him onto his side, his burned hands unable to support him.

"I know, but it allows your body to rest and speeds up your recovery," Jim explained as he re-arranged the blanket. He stood and circled the end of the bed, turning off the lamp and getting back under the covers again. "I think once the pain stops your bad dreams will end."

No response. Jim continued to listen as Blair's respiration's evened out. In the dark, he watched the frown on his face relax. Jim took his hand and laid it feather light on the sleeping man's forehead, no fever, no infection. Finally he let himself fall back asleep.

The next time his eyes opened, sunlight was fighting to get through the heavy drapes in the room. Jim heard movement from the kitchenette. Simon and Buck were up. Easing off the bed slowly, so as not to wake Blair, Jim grabbed some clothing for the day out of the duffel bag and headed for the shower.

Exactly fifteen minutes later he emerged energized and clean-shaven. Simon had a fresh cup of black coffee sitting by the opened box of glazed donuts.

"How'd you two sleep?" Simon asked, looking up from reading the local morning paper.

"Sandburg woke about three am from pain and a nightmare. He took a pain pill and settled back to sleep." He found the temperature of the coffee perfect and took a drink, ah, heaven in a cup! Sitting at the table, he snagged a donut with his other hand. He was struck again by the impact of everything his captain was doing for them. "Simon, keep a tab of what Blair and I owe you. I'll pay you when we get back."

Buck waved his hand carelessly from the sofa, "Already discussed it, my insurance is taking care of reimbursing Simon." He went back to writing a list on the motel stationary.

"I'm not going to worry about it," Simon commented without looking up from the paper. "You've got a nice write up in the paper this morning." He folded a section of newsprint and slid it over to Jim, keeping the sports page to read.

Ellison read quickly. There was nothing new, just a nice picture of the burned out house. The barn was still standing; thankfully it had not burned. Authorities had ruled it arson and briefly mentioned that several suspects were in custody. Overall, the story was less than revealing. Jim was surprised that they didn't turn it into the normal media circus that he would have expected back home.

After another hour of discussion and coffee, the three men had a plan of action for the day. Simon would drop off Buck in town to make arrangements to have his Landcruiser towed back from his place and repaired. The thugs had gotten under the hood, ripping out wires and hoses before starting the fire. Then he could walk over to the building supply store and talk to the manager about his large order.

Simon had plans to talk with the Sheriff's office, in hopes for an unofficial involvement in the investigation. An old academy buddy of Joel Taggart's was now a Lieutenant with Grant County Sheriff's office and he hoped to build an alliance based on that tie. It pays to network.

Jim's task for that morning was simple. He got Blair.

Jim was standing by the bed as Blair groaned and looked around with unfocused eyes. His cheek was creased from sleep, his hair looking like a bird's nest waiting for occupants.

"Oh man, why do I feel worse!" he complained as Jim tossed back his covers.

"It's always the worst on the second day."

Blair let the large man lever him off the mattress and on to his feet. He was able to make the bathroom under his own steam, walking stiffly like a robot. Exiting the bathroom, Blair sat at the table with a dour look. Jim had a glass of juice with a straw, a blueberry muffin and his antibiotics sitting on a paper napkin. The muffin had been neatly cubed into bite size pieces.

"Where is everyone?"

"Buck is getting supplies and Simon went in to the sheriff's office."

"You got stuck baby-sitting me, huh?" Blair grumbled.

"No," Jim said patiently. "There's just nothing else for me to do right now. Take your medication. You'll feel better after you eat something."

The younger man glared at the pills.

"It's just the antibiotics, Chief. No pain pill."

"Fine." He picked it up clumsily with his left hand. "I'm not taking the pain pill today, I can't think straight with that crap in my system." Jim was surprised he couldn't see a dark cloud over the other man's head like you see in the cartoons. Blair had never been a morning person, and the last two mornings had not been something to cheer about.

"I need a shower." This came after four cubes of muffin had been consumed.

"I think we can manage a bath."

"Dammit, I feel so frigging helpless!" Blair blurted out in frustration.

"Does someone need a nap?" Jim asked gently with a small grin.

The results were not what he expected. "It's NOT funny, man!" Blair stood up abruptly, wincing in pain.

Jim held both hands out in a form of surrender. "I'm sorry, Chief. Just calm down for me, okay?" He watched as Blair returned to his seat, expression still dark. "I'm just trying to bring a little humor into the situation here."

Blair took a deep breath and rotated his head on his neck. "Sorry, man. I guess I'm a little pissy. I shouldn't be jumping down your throat."

"Anger is normal, considering the circumstances, Sandburg." Standing, he held his right arm in front of his chest as if he had a tea towel draped over it. With a fake `butler' voice he deadpanned, "If the master does not require anything else, I will draw the bath."

"Smart Ass," Blair retorted, trying to hold back a grin from escaping.

Simon had thoughtfully gotten an ADA approved suite. The bathroom was large and outfitted to accommodate a person with a physical disability. The tub-shower had a hand held showerhead on a flexible hose. Jim filled the tub with about six inches of warm water and set out the soap and washcloth. Blair arrived with a look of apprehension.

"I hate that you have to bath me, man."

"Why?" Jim asked nonchalantly. "You telling me that if the roles were reversed here, you wouldn't help me?"

Blair stiffened in indignation. "Of course I would! Sheeze, Jim! What kind of friend to you think I am?!"

Jim calmly met the flashing blue eyes of his roommate. "Then what's the problem here, Einstein?"

Blair's anger evaporated, he shook his head. "I guess I walked right into that one." The first genuine smile of the morning appeared like a rainbow after the storm. "You finished hitting me over the head with the clue stick?"

Jim struck a superior stance. "Can't help it, I'm good!"

Jim's humor evaporated as he got his first look at the dark bruises coloring Blair's left side. Blair missed the murderous glare due to the T-shirt being pulled over his head at the time. Ellison had his emotions back under control by the time Sandburg was freed from the garment and stepping out of his boxers. With strong hands supporting his upper arms, Blair was lowered into to the bath, and Jim got to work washing, being careful to keep the gauze wrap wound high on his torso from getting wet.

"What about my hair, Jim?"

"We can use the kitchen sink." Jim didn't pause from his task.

Blair must have sensed his friend's mood swing, he remained silent as Jim worked.

Simon and Buck returned to the suite, both with packages under their arms. Jim had just finished rinsing Blair's hair with a cream rinse. He was combing it out with a pick while Blair sat looking at the newspaper.

"You look better than the last time I saw you," Buck commented. The young man was dressed in jeans and a clean shirt, his face shaved and pink from scrubbing.

"He smells better too," Jim added.

Blair waved a graceful hand. "Quiet, Slave! Finish my hair." He rolled his eyes, staying in character. "It's ssssooo hard to get competent help nowadays!" He eyed the familiar looking object under Simon's left arm. "What's that?"

Simon set it down with a flourish before him. "Laptop computer - WITH Internet abilities. Compliments of the Grant County sheriff's office."

"Cool!" Blair sat up straighter in his chair. "Let me see! Open it up!"

Simon opened the lid and ran a power and phone cable to the nearby wall plugs. The suite had connections set up for business travelers complete with internet hookup that did not tie up the normal phone lines. "I have some information on Tri-States, but not enough. I told Daily we had a computer expert that may be able to trace the true owners of the corporation. So he loaned his laptop."

Jim finished combing and frowned at the computer. "Blair shouldn't be using his hands yet, Simon."

"Chill, Jim. It's got a touch pad, see?" Blair pointed his bandaged mitt toward the base of the keyboard. "I'll cut and paste as much as I can."

Simon handed over a small computer disk. "This is everything we have so far on Tri-State. I had Brown email it to Daily and he copied the files."

Jim still looked skeptical, but remained quiet remembering Blair's earlier temper display. Maybe this was just what the kid needed to feel involved.

"What's new with the men that attacked us?" Jim inquired.

Buck came back from his room where he had taken large bags marked with the local clothing store logo. "The guy wearing the orange cap died last night," he commented without remorse. "Blair's guy and the fellow you took out are alive, but neither know much."

"Figures, I made the orange cap guy as the leader of the group," Jim grumbled.

"Well, they claimed they were hired to find and scare you. They deny being the ones to start the fire, naturally - Its easier to blame the ones who can't answer for themselves," Simon added as he watched Blair get on line and access the files. "I'm thinking we could get some lunch. Then if Jim's up to it, he can go with Buck out to his place and look around. Blair and I can continue to research Tri-State's from here," Simon offered to the group.

"Let's go out for lunch," Blair suggested. `I need some fresh air."

Blair and Jim sat side-by-side under the umbrella at small hamburger stand that claimed to have the best onion rings in town. The other two men placed the orders and carried the food back. Jim chewed his bacon burger with pleasure, noting that Blair was too occupied with his awkward task of eating chicken strips and fries to give the cop his normal lecture on animal fat. Besides, the kid had even requested a blackberry milkshake!

"Hey guys, look! It's Nurse Cooper." Blair pointed at the red Corvette that pulled into the parking lot of the small restaurant.

Sure enough, the pretty blonde getting out of the car walked over with a big smile. "You guys look a lot better today! How are you feeling, Mr. Sandburg?" She untied the scarf from her head, protecting her shoulder length hair.

"Great, please call me Blair."

"Okay, you guys have to call me Nancy." The smile brightened.

Blair made the introductions around the table and invited her to join them.

"Oh, I can't. I called in an order for my fianc and me. I'm meeting him in a few minutes." She gave the group of men a bright smile. "I read about the fire today, I'm so sorry for your loss, she told Buck. "Did you all find a place to stay?"

Buck nodded, "We're at the Comfy Inn right now. I've already contacted my insurance company and started plans to rebuild."

"That's great. I'd better get my order and run. Maybe I'll see you around town again." She picked up her order at the take-out window. One last wave to the group and she was gone.

Simon laughed at the crestfallen look on Blair's face. "Tough luck, Sandburg. Those long distance romances are complicated, maybe it's better this way."

"I don't know Simon, having Blair date a nurse sound like good preventative maintenance to me," Jim added finishing his meal and crumpling up his paper wrapper.

"Ha Ha, laugh it up guys,"

They made plans to drop Simon and Blair off at the motel, then Jim and Buck would continue out to Dry Falls.

"We'll be back after dinner, sir. Blair needs to take his medication with food, no later than 8pm. Make sure he keeps his bandages dry and watch he doesn't overdo it," Jim instructed as Simon started to get out of the back seat. Blair was already out and saying goodbye to Buck.

"I can handle it Jim. We'll be fine. I'll make sure he gets food, pills and rest," Simon stated firmly.

Blair bent over and spoke to Jim from the open door. "Bye Jim. Try not to get into any trouble. Simon and I won't wait dinner for you guys."

Jim pointed a stern finger at his roommate. "Don't overdo it, Sandburg."

Blair made pushing motions with his bandaged hands. "Shoo, already, man. You are such a worrier!"

Once in the suite, Sandburg got his second wind. He kicked off his boots and placed a soft pillow in the kitchen chair for comfort. With the laptop set up and humming, he started scanning the files and reviewing was the information from the Sheriff's office. Another larger company owned Tri-State, but finding information on that parent company was even harder. Thanking Simon for the glass of juice that appeared at his elbow, he got to work.

Four hours later he leaned back and stretched his spine. Rubbing his eyes, Blair wished for his glasses that had been lost in the fire. He felt he was getting closer, but admitted he needed help. He had emailed several computer gurus he knew from Rainier that specialized in business Intel gathering. Insert the work `hackers' here. The net was cast out on the waters. He told Simon he needed to `take care of business' and hobbled toward the bathroom.

When he returned, he was surprised to see Nancy Cooper standing at the front door talking to Simon. Simon held a paper plate of warm cinnamon rolls in his hand.

"Hi, Blair. I asked the manager for your room number and thought I'd drop off some sweets." Nancy said. She was dressed for work with white pants and a colorful smock.

"Hey, Nancy. Wow! Thanks! We needed a break."

"Good. Let me know if there's anything else you fellas need. You can reach me at the hospital, if I'm not on, they can beep me." She pointed to the small pager clipped to her pocket. "I've got to run or I'll be late for work."

Simon had a sticky roll half eaten before he even set the plate on the table. Blair reached for one and tore off a bite to stuff into his mouth.

"None of that, kid. You'll get your bandages dirty and Ellison will bust my chops. Let me cut it up."

"Yeah but by then, you'll have eaten three and I'll be just starting!"

"Tough."

Blair dug into his treat as Simon started in on his second. Licking his fingers he checked his email and crowed in triumph.

"I got it, man! The company at the end of all this paper chase is `Star Light Industries.'" Blair took a sip of juice.

Simon frowned, "Wait a minute. I've heard of that name before. He reached for the hotel phone and started dialing his own cell phone that he had loaned to Ellison.

"Jim, Blair's found the parent company. `Star Light Industries.' Wasn't that the name of the folks that tried to build that resort on the waterfront four years ago..." he frowned and rubbed his head.

Blair watched from his seat, popping the last of the roll into his mouth and chewing. He yawned and stretched his arms over his head slowly. Man, he was tired.

Simon was nodding into the phone. "Yeah, right. What was his name? .. Ahorn? ..no, but close...that's it! Acorn. Rupert Acorn, Right!" He leaned his free hand onto the desk, then abruptly sat down in the chair.

Blair watched as Simon turned his upper body toward him, his expression becoming puzzled, then alarmed. "Jim! Get back ....here..."

"Simon?" Blair asked, rising from his chair. He didn't make it to his feet. He fell hard on to his butt. Damn, that hurt.

Banks let the phone slip out of his hands, falling to the floor. His eyes were drooping as his neck became limp, shoulders slumped forward.

Blair began to feel the heaviness. His body was being pulled down as if the gravity of the room had increased. What the hell? He watched as the large captain slid out of the seat and fell to the carpet.

"Jim! Som'ng wrong...Simmm.." Talking became too much of a chore as he felt his center of gravity shift. Falling forward, his cheek scraped against the carpet and Nancy Cooper stepped inside holding a hypo. Two men dressed in ambulance uniforms followed. Blair's eyes refused to remain open. He felt a sharp prick in his thigh then hands lifted him by the arms and legs.

"Nnoooo..." he groaned, his arms too heavy to fight. The last thought before he slipped into blackness was that Jim was listening....

Ellison floored the gas pedal, hurling the rental car down the road and causing Buck to tense in the passenger seat. They had finished at Buck's property, the older man satisfied that his barn was still locked up and secure. The two men were 45 minutes out of Coulee City when the cell phone had rung.

"Simon and Blair are in trouble." He ended the connection and tossed the phone to his passenger, giving his full attention and both hands to the task of driving. "They sound drugged, at least two other people came in. Call 911, ask to be switched to the Coulee City police dispatcher."

Buck did as requested and handed the phone back to Jim. The road was straight and Jim felt he could take one hand off the wheel long enough to explain to the dispatcher what he believed was in progress.

"Please contact Lieutenant Daily with the sheriff's office, he's been working with us on this case," Jim asked. A sign flew by their rental car. Thirty-five miles to the city limits.

Ellison handed the cell phone back to Buck so he could give his full attention to driving. He listened in as police officers announced they were arriving in the area and setting up positions around the motel. One officer running in without back up could get himself killed. After a few more agonizingly slow minutes, they were in place and approaching the ground floor room. Buck held the phone to his ear, his knuckles white.

Then nothing, the radio remained silent. Jim could picture the officers checking the door, guns drawn, standing to the side and crouched below the front window.

Suddenly the senior officer was requesting an ambulance and advising the scene was `code four'. They reported one male down, suspects G.O.A., meaning `gone on arrival'.

"Ask the dispatcher to request a description of the person down," Jim asked anxiously. Who was taken and who was hurt? Damn, he wished he could make this car fly!

Buck repeated the request and Jim heard the officer's response before the dispatcher could tell Buck. Jim thumped the steering wheel hard with his right palm. Blair!

"It sounds like Simon, Jim. He's breathing but unconscious. Blair's gone," Buck repeated his voice shaking with anger.

Less than half an hour later, Jim braked and killed the engine. They couldn't park in the lot due to the police and fire units blocking the entrance. A young woman in a police uniform held up her hand to stop the two men from approaching.

"I'm Jim Ellison, I called in the attack."

She nodded warily and reached for the lapel mike on her shoulder, her other hand resting on her holstered gun. After receiving favorable news, she smiled and nodded for the two to go past.

Simon was sitting on the sofa, a clear mask with a semi-inflated plastic balloon covering his mouth. He removed it as they entered.

"Jim! Nancy Cooper, from the hospital drugged us with rolls. They took Blair." He was unsteady, a blood pressure cuff still attached to his arm. Two men in fire uniforms hunched down next to him, taking information and checking vitals.

"You okay, Simon?" Jim asked, checking out his friend. A plate with two uneaten rolls had been marked as evidence. He had passed a cop dusting for prints on the front door when he'd entered. A uniformed sherriff standing by the window was speaking into a cell phone. His nametag read `Lieutenant Daily'

"Yeah, dammit! I can't believe I didn't see this coming!" Simon answered angrily. He glared at the firefighter who pushed the mask back over his face.

"Breathe a little more oxygen for us, sir. We'll be out of your hair as soon as we get this last set of vitals."

Jim sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "It's not your fault, Simon. None of us expected another attack this soon."

The Lieutenant joined them. Flipping his phone closed, he held out his hand to shake Buck's hand, then Jim's. "Lieutenant Daily, Joel's talked about you, Jim; so I feel like I already know you and Blair. I'm sorry he's in trouble." He nodded to Stevens, "Simon tells me you guys think this is related to the fire?"

Buck nodded, "Blair is like a nephew to me. I'm being pressured to sell my place out in Dry Falls. I think this is a ploy to get the land and the water rights."

Coulee City police Captain Garcia joined their small group. New introductions were made all around as Simon signed off on the refusal for further aid. The firemen packed up their various bags and boxes of equipment and left.

"We've got an APB out for Cooper's car. The hospital says she never reported for her shift. I've got a unit going out there now to interview her co-workers. We've started a door-to-door, but so far nothing," Garcia reported and looked at his sheriff counterpart. "I'm going to have to call in the Feds, Chuck. This may get taken out of our hands."

"Blair found out the name of the company that was behind the law suit against Buck. Star Light Industries," Simon informed them looking up from his position on the couch. He did not trust his legs yet to stand up. "Jim and I had a case about four years ago with the same company, arsons mostly but reported attempts to force small businesses to sell. They wanted to build a casino and a high-class resort. But we could never prove a case against them. We came close to arresting one of the key players, Rupert Acorn, for extortion. But he disappeared."

Garcia nodded, "Did the resort get built?"

Jim shook his head. "No, the environmentalists did what we couldn't, they stopped them through zoning changes. It was an election year."

"Well, they still made a profit. Most of that area is condos and expensive office buildings now. That's what made it so hard to prove. They step back and forth over the line. Getting evidence was tough," Simon declared.

"They've added attempted murder and now kidnapping to their bag of tricks," Jim noted.

"Yeah," Simon agreed. "But unless we get really lucky, we still can't prove it!"

Captain Garcia's cell phone rang. He stepped out of the circle to talk, taking notes in a small pad he removed from his pocket and then returned in a few minutes. "Cooper's co-workers have no idea where she is. Apparently she's missed shifts before and has been written up for it. Her buddies told my men that she's usually with her boyfriend when she's missing work. Seems her boyfriend is a Realtor by the name of Rupert Applegate." He handed a small slip of paper to Daily. "They live together at this county address."

Lt. Daily read the address and nodded. "I'll send some units to check it out, but from the sounds of these folks, they're not going to be stupid enough to hang around." He walked over the rear window and made the call.

Buck sank wearily onto the sofa next to Simon. "Oh God, we don't have a chance, do we?"

Simon leaned over and softly answered. "I've learned never to give up when it comes to Jim and Blair."

Blair woke to sounds of loud engine noises, like chain saws. Wow, Jim must really be tired to snore this loud. He shifted and realized his arms were pinned down under his belly. The skin around his mouth was pulling funny. His tongue played with a soft roll of material in his mouth. He opened his eyes, this was not his room. This wasn't even the loft!

The chain saws got fainter, they ran rough like someone was gunning the motor. The bed he was on was big. He was lying on his stomach, face turned towards a windowless wall.

Wait! Shit!

Simon fell! He was on the phone and he just fell off his chair! Blair had never seen the big man just fall over like that! The last 72 hours came back in a rush, making him dizzy.

`So this sticky thing around my mouth would be duct tape?' he mused. He checked his feet, bending his knees weakly. Yep, feels like his ankles were taped along with his hands. Other than being weak he didn't think he had any new injuries. He wondered briefly what he had been drugged with. It's not like Nurse Cooper didn't have access to a lot of drugs. He shifted, his hands hurt in this position, carefully he rolled to his side, That was better.

He tried to bring his bound hands up to his face, but found his kidnappers had made a few passes around his waist with the duct tape, pinning his arms down. Made sense, otherwise he could remove his gag.

Lifting his head he looked around the tastefully decorated bedroom. He realized his hosts had some serious money. The furniture was nice, it looked like solid oak. The drapes and bedspread he was on matched. Martha Stewart had nothing on these people. He snorted, picturing the classy TV host looking at the camera and declaring to the morning viewers "Kidnapping with a color scheme, it's a good thing!"

Boy, he was losing it! How long had he been asleep? It was light outside, was it morning light or evening light? He couldn't tell. What time had the cinnamon rolls been delivered? Five? Six? Later? This must be morning. Yeah, that explained why he felt hungry.

So, Jim knew he was missing. Boy, he must be mad. Blair had missed two deadlines for his antibiotics. Picturing his roommate rushing into the room to rescue him, then immediately laying into him about not taking the pills caused him to giggle. Oh, God! I AM losing it!

Blair heard the door to the bedroom open. He closed his eyes, his earlier mirth crashing into panic with nauseating speed. A large hand rolled him to his back and he opened his eyes. A large blond man with a trim mustache leaned over him. Fingernails dug into his cheek and the tape was ripped off with a quick yank.

"You bite me and I'll have your teeth for a necklace," trim mustache promised with cold eyes. He fished a finger and thumb into Blair's mouth and pulled out a small roll of three-inch gauze, the type used as bandages.

A second man with a body that had seen a lot of exercise entered the room with a cell phone in his right hand. He held it out against Blair's head and nodded to him. "Talk."

Blair made a quick guess. "Jim?"

"Blair! Are you okay?"

"Yeah.." he waited for the phone to get yanked back, but Muscles seemed content to let him chat. "Is Simon okay?"

A huff of air. "Yeah, junior, he's fine. Where are you?"

"A room, don't know where" This was incredible, didn't these guys understand the rules? Still the phone remained. He took a chance. "It was Nancy Coop-" Muscles pulled the phone away and slapped him hard across the face, then replaced the phone. Tears formed in his eyes, damn, that smarts!

"Blair!"

" 'm `kay.." No feeling in my face, he thought, but message received loud and clear. "Not `posed to talk bout that, I guess." He looked accusingly at his `bully' who was ignoring him and studying his watch. Oh well, Simon probably figured out the drug was in the rolls.

"Just do exactly what they say, Chief. No hero stuff, got it?"

"Got it."

The phone was removed and Muscles turned and left the room, followed closely by Trim Mustache. Blair watched the door close and he was left alone.

"Jim, two guys. Tall blond with mustache. Other's shorter but body builder type, brown hair. Neither have glasses or face hair. Expensive furniture in room." He ran out of things to say, not even sure that the phone connection was still there. "Bye, big guy. Please find me."

To say that Ellison was angry was like saying the Navy owned a few rowboats. Buck watched Jim's jaw grind down on his molars until his own teeth ached in sympathy. The Federal agents had arrived that morning. A tape recorder had been hooked up to the hotel phone, the call was too short to trace. The demands had been vague, simply claiming `you know what to do'. They were listening to the recording, Blair's voice was shaky and he sounded scared, tired and in pain. Buck winced when the sharp sound of the slap cracked loudly. Blair's next line made Stevens smile a little.

"Damn it kid. I knew who drugged us," Simon muttered darkly.

The Feds had set up a base of operations in the suite next to theirs. So after instructions and explanations were made, the suits retired next door to plan their strategies. The Cascade cops were not invited.

"Okay, Jim. What to you think?" Simon asked softly when the door clicked shut leaving the three men alone. They had expected the call sometime that morning. The home that Applegate and Cooper lived at had been empty. No sign of either of the suspects' cars had been reported. The door-to-door had revealed very little. One man had noticed Cooper with the rolls, but he had gone into his room before the kidnapping occurred. They were at a standstill.

"Were you able to hear anything on the phone that would tell us where Blair is?" Buck added.

Simon choked and stared at him in surprise.

"He knows, Simon. I told him at Dry Falls."

"Oh. You could have warned me, Jim."

Jim headed for the door. "Sorry, lets grab a late breakfast, I want to get out of this room for a while. The Feds can monitor the phone."

They informed their next-door neighbors that they would be at McDonalds. It was unlikely there would be any more phone calls for a few hours. Buck's attorney had called just after nine to inform his client that Tri-State was willing to settle out of court. It was obviously the kidnappers' demands, but there was no way to prove it! They offered fifty thousand dollars for the land and water rights, but only gave him forty-eight hours to sign or `the deal was dead`. Stevens knew the hidden message referred to Sandburg. The price was small change compared to the value of the hundreds of acres and water rights.

"I'm selling the land. I don't care about the orchard anymore, I just want Blair back," Buck announced to the other two men as they sat down at a remote table in the lobby of the fast food restaurant.

Jim shook his head. "It won't matter. Blair's seen his kidnappers, they'll kill him no matter what we do." He relayed the message he had heard Sandburg give after the men had left him. Buck was amazed at the cop's ability to hear everything so acutely. "I also heard some motors in the background."

"A car?" the black captain asked picking up his coffee he'd ordered.

"No," Jim frowned. "More like a boat, but it sounded different, smaller?"

"Jet skis," Buck guessed.

"Yeah, that's it. At least two jet skis."

"Okay, so we know the house is near water," Simon reasoned.

"Great, there's only about 91 miles of shoreline on Banks Lake alone," Buck glumly stated.

They picked at their breakfast sandwiches quietly, each man lost in thought. The place was nearly empty, between times for the normal rushes. In the corner was a small stand that displayed free booklets advertising properties for sale.

"Wait a minute." Jim leaned forward. "We know Applegate sells real estate. They need a place to hold Blair. Where else but an empty house that is waiting to be sold?"

"I don't know Jim, that's a lot of addresses," Simon warned.

"We start with Applegate's listing, look for waterfront property. Hell, even start with furnished! Maybe a vacation rental! Blair said the furniture was `nice', remember?!" Jim's eyes had the gleam of the hunter now, closing in on its prey.

Simon caught the look and mirrored it. "It could work!"

"It's got to, Simon. I'm not going home without Blair."

Jim sat in the rental car next to Simon, they could see the front of the single story rambler, but no cars were out front. The place looked empty. He extended his hearing carefully, tilting his head slightly.

"No. This isn't it, Simon."

"Okay, where's the next spot, Buck?"

The sound of a map being opened came from the back seat. Simon started the car and pulled away from the curb. He'd lost count of the number of addresses they'd driven to. The list had been easy to obtain once they had the name of the realty company, then a quick run into a book store for a detailed county map. The debate to include the Feds was short. How could they explain hearing jet skis when the recording never picked it up? They told the FBI team that they were meeting with the civil attorney and could be reached on Simon's cell phone.

The next house looked better. It was a two-story white home with blue trim on Banks Lake. The drapes in the window were attractive. The house had an attached garage, but the door was closed. Simon cut off the engine with a twist of the key. Both men looked at the sentinel.

Jim tilted his head for almost 30 seconds, then smiled. "This is it. Blair's on the second floor, back side."

"That is amazing," Buck whispered in a hushed voice. "Are we going to call the police now?"

Simon and Jim exchanged a look. Good question, Jim thought. They would still have to explain why they believed Blair was inside.

"I don't see how we can, Jim," Banks grumbled. "We don't even have probable cause to go inside, for that matter."

"Don't give a damn. I'm not a cop right now anyway," Jim declared.

"Okay, Jim. Just settle down." Simon placed a large hand on the other man's arm. "You know we're with you all the way on this. But we need a plan, or we could get Sandburg killed."

Jim relaxed just a little, nodding to his friend. "Okay, I think a police captain, ex-ranger and ex-seal should be able to come up with something."

Blair hadn't moved much during the last several hours. His feet and hands had gone numb some time ago. His throat was parched. He listened to his stomach growling. The now recognizable sound of boats and Jet Skis led him to believe he was near one of the lakes in the area. No one had bothered to check on him after the conversation with Jim.

He was pretty sure he had fallen back asleep during the day, so he had no way of knowing what the time was. He spent a few minutes trying to guess the day of the week. Lets see, he thought, I rode over on Friday with Curtis - God, that seems like years ago! - then, Jim joined me on-.

The soft sound of a tap on the window interrupted his pondering. What was that? The tap came again.

"Jim? If that's you, tap twice," Blair croaked.

Two taps close together.

Blair's heart soared! "Yes! Jim, thank you, thank you, thank you," Blair chanted, keeping his voice low. "Okay, okay, calm down Blair. Umm. So, like I said there are two guys. I saw them come in with Nancy at the motel. But I haven't seen her here. No one else is in the room with me. I'm duct taped like a mummy, man. Can't even scratch my nose. But happy to report no new injuries. No one has checked in since I talked to you on the phone, man. I know, I know. If you were here right now you'd be telling me to breathe." Blair paused and drew in deep breaths. God, why was he shaking? Adrenaline? "Jim, just be careful okay? These guys look really, really scary. You better have Simon with you, you need to have someone watch your back."

A loud crash from somewhere below interrupted the string of instructions. It was immediately followed by shouts and finally the sharp report of gunfire. Blair held his breath listening and willing his friends to stay safe. Finally there was a long moment of silence and the sound of someone running up a flight of stairs. Blair had a moment to wonder how Jim was able to tap on the window if he was in fact on the second floor?

Jim came through the door tucking his gun in his belt, a small kitchen knife in the other hand, breathing hard. "Ready to get out of here?"

"Is everybody okay, Jim?" Blair asked, watching Ellison approach and study his predicament on the bed.

"Yeah, Chief. We're all fine. Simon has both of them downstairs. Buck is on the phone to the sheriff's office." He kneeled on the bed and started sawing on the tape around Blair's legs. "If anyone asks, you were shouting for help, okay?"

Blair nodded. "Sure, I can do that."

Legs now free, Jim sat Blair up and helped him swing his legs over the side, then started on the tape around his waist.

"Buck is coming up," Jim volunteered.

Stevens entered the room, going straight to Blair. He carefully placed both hands on the younger man's shoulders and looked him over from head to toe. "You okay, runt?" he asked roughly.

"I'm good, Uncle Buck," Blair answered, then squeaked in surprise when the older man dropped down next to him on the bed and embraced him in a firm but careful bear hug. Ellison waited, knife paused, to give the man a moment.

"God, Blair. I was terrified that I got you killed!" Buck mumbled into the grad student's hair.

Unable to hug his `uncle' back, Blair leaned into the embrace. "Never happen, man. I knew you guys would find me."

Blair let Jim and Buck help him down the stairs, glad to be freed from captivity. He was complaining of pins and needles in his extremities.

The three men could hear yelling from the main room. Jim smiled, listening to his Captain.

"You interfered with our investigation, Banks! I'm calling your Chief!"

"Go ahead! I'm not on the clock. I already told you we just played a hunch. It's called `detective work'. You FBI guys need to remember the basics, maybe I could look it up for you and you can read it yourself!"

They entered the room to find Banks and the Fed in charge toe to toe, neither man backing down. Lt. Daily was standing off to one side with several of his deputies, enjoying the show. He waved at Jim with a grin and gave thumbs up when he saw Sandburg.

"Jim, could I have a drink?" Blair asked quietly as they sat him down in a nice leather love seat. The shouting continued to entertain the occupants in the room, probably the whole block.

"I'll get it." Buck quickly headed for the kitchen.

The two kidnappers were nowhere in sight. Thankfully they had not been injured in the shooting, as neither cop had returned fire. When it had became obvious that they were surrounded and cut off from getting to Blair, they had given up easily.

A deputy entered the living room, watching with interest as Banks and the Fed continued their loud discussion. He walked over to his supervisor and whispered into the man's ear.

With a grin, Lt. Daily nodded and spoke up. "Gentlemen! If you're both finished pissing in the corners, I'm informed that the two in custody are outside falling over each other to be the first one to make a deal. It seems they can lead us to Applegate and Cooper.

"We're not done here, Banks!" The Fed stormed out the front door.

Simon turned to Jim with a weary look on his face, then smiled as he saw Sandburg. "Well, that went well. How ya doing, kid?"

"Good, Simon. Thanks for the rescue, man!" Blair took the glass of water from Buck's with both his bandaged hands and took a long drink. "Oh, yeah. This hits the spot!" Another drink and Blair looked around in interest. "Where are we?"

"Twenty minutes north of Coulee City, on the east shore of Banks Lake," Jim answered, fishing into his pocket with his hand.

"Hey, how'd you tap on the window, Jim?" Blair whispered, so no deputies or Feds could hear. "I was on the second floor."

Jim smiled and opened the pill bottle he'd taken out of his pocket. "I wasn't tapping, Chief. I was tossing pebbles." He shook out a pill and held it between his thumb and forefinger. "Open up."

The three men stared in concern as the smaller man collapsed back onto the love set in helpless laughter.

Sitting in the shade of the large tree, Blair watched contentedly as Simon, Jim and Uncle Buck set another truss that would be the new roof. They had declared the stonewalls as savable. He checked the meat grilling and went back to watching the men work.

Buck was right; the house was going to be better than before. Simon had extended both his and Jim's leave of absence from Cascade. Blair had gotten extra time off thanks to a fellow T.A. who owed him a huge favor, plus he was still recuperating from his injures. This weekend, the guys from Major Crimes were driving over to help. It was going to be a blitz build! This was just like his younger days with 'Habitat for Humanity', when he was part of a group of 50 or so building a house in a week.

Blair frowned at his hands. It would be better if he could actually pick up a hammer. Ellison had to be talked into letting Blair grill their steaks! Talk about over protective!

"Hey, Sandburg! Don't burn my steak!" Jim called from the top of a studded wall he was standing on.

"They're fine, Jim." Blair answered without raising his voice. But he stood and moved Jim's steak over to the side a little. The man liked it rare. No reason to hear Jim complain about it being overcooked.

They had been told yesterday that the Fed's had arrested both Applegate and Cooper. Nurse Cooper was also cutting deals with the FBI. Seems no one felt any loyalty to Rupert. The suits wouldn't let Jim or Simon anywhere near the last arrests. Which was fine with Blair, he'd had enough, thank you.

Rupert's plan was to build a large resort below Dry Falls, complete with golf courses, amusement parks, quality restaurants and airport. Buck's land was crucial for the deal. Tri-State Orchard were only following orders from the parent company to file the lawsuit, which was now dropped. Blair shuddered to think of this beautiful canyon turned into a commercialized tourist trap.

All in all, it was turning into a great spring break. Blair checked the food on the large piece of plywood setting on two saw horses. Potato salad from the deli, baked beans, corn on the cob - hot off the grill - and brownies. A cooler filled with beer and Sobe Green tea was set off to the side. Everything looked ready.

"Hey, Runt! Look what I found!" Buck approached holding up a blackened garden hoe with half the handle burned off. Jim and Simon followed, unclipping their borrowed tool belts and setting them next to the tree.

Blair groaned and hit his forehead in mock despair. "Oh great! Just my luck!"

Buck laughed and leaned the tool against the tree trunk. "I'll buy a new handle and it will be as good a new."

Blair eyed the hoe with trepidation.

"I don't get it, Sandburg," Banks said, opening a bottle of beer with a twist. "What have you got against a garden hoe?"

"That's not just a garden hoe, Simon. That's `old Guss'," Blair woefully informed the captain.

Ellison stood straight, his eyes flashed in anger at the ex-seal. In two quick strides he was pushing a stiff finger into the other man's chest. Buck stepped back in shock.

"You hit Sandburg with that?!"

"Jim!" Blair stood up in alarm.

Buck looked at the furious sentinel before him and laughed.

"JIM!" Blair moved to stand between the two taller men. "No, man, No way! I used to have to work in the garden. It was my punishment. I hated it, well, at first anyway," Blair explained in a rush.

Jim backed away. Blair could almost see the claws retracting. Wow, talk about your close calls.

Buck Stevens wiped his eyes. "Don't worry, Jim. Blair didn't need a lot of correction. Only in the early days, and I never had to use a garden tool." He leaned over the table and picked up a long wooden spoon placed next to the potato salad. "I seem to remember one of these worked just fine."

Blair dropped his red face into his hands.

The End

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