Protected by Sammi M.Most of the people attending were amazed at the six officers seated in full dress uniforms on the first row. They stared at the solemn faces and wondered how this could be for one of their own.
Beside the men and one woman sat another woman who appeared almost ageless in her beauty and, unlike the officers, carried herself with the strength of character seldom seen in these types of somber occasions. She raised her head to say a few words to the officer beside her and his ice-blue eyes skimmed the raised platform before he replied. She smiled and caressed his arm in a sympathetic gesture and returned her eyes to the site where the official was speaking.
As the man finally started to wind down, six sighs of relief mingled with countless others behind them. The tension levels started rising as he introduced the next speaker and told some of the background of why he was there. Many were amazed at how the official could drag on a simple introduction and the show of appreciation the crowd gave him as he left his pulpit was more out of happiness that he was finally finished than for what he said.
Silence reigned within the large area as the second speaker moved into position. He made a point as he found his spot to make eye contact with each of the officers and the woman on the first row for support.
Once completed, he returned his gaze to the others in front of him and began, "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great sorrow *and* joy that I stand before you today. Sorrow at what I am putting behind me and joy for what lies ahead." He smiled and his blue eyes twinkled with merriment as he once again looked at the people on the front row. "But, I didn't get to this point without a lot of help and support from my family and friends. For me to be standing here, bestowed with the honour of speaking to all of you, it took a collaborative effort of several people several very special people to see me to today." Blair Sandburg took a deep breath and prepared himself for the talk of a lifetime. "How many of you out there know what it truly means to be protected? Three months ago, I found out."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Three Months Before:
The day had started like every other day. Jim Ellison and most of Major Crimes were sent out on a call par for the course for a police department. Jim told his friend and partner, to stay in the truck nothing out of the norm there. Blair ignored him same old, same old - and he ended up with a trip in the funny van with the lights and sirens. Like I said, pretty much the same as always.
How things differed was when a joking doctor, who'd treated most of the guys in that unit a time or two or ten, made a comment to the others about something his patient had mentioned. "So, Blair tells me he has only three months before he has those treasured trio of letters behind his name," the man offered as he handed off the doped to the student into the waiting arms of his friends.
"Yeah," Ellison answered as he tried to contain the arms that were suddenly going everywhere until finally his captain took the anthropologist off his hands. "He's pretty excited. He keeps telling us that once he defends it's all downhill from there, but I don't buy it. Not with his workload."
"Or with his penchant for gathering concussions and other body damage." He eyed the now calm man being held by Simon Banks. "You know, if he keeps this up, he's going to receive those letters posthumously."
The captain felt the jerk of his best detective and wondered what was going on as the doctor returned to his other patients. When Jim made a move to take the anthropologist from him, he shook his head and decided to get some answers. "What exactly was that about, Ellison? The man was only teasing."
"I know, but it just hit a bit too close to home." He helped Simon lift his unconscious partner so he was resting in the larger man's arms and they walked to the exit. "How many concussions does this make it? How many trips to the hospital have we had to take? I guess the Doc got me to thinking I don't want Sandburg to get his letters from the grave. Someway or somehow, I've got to make sure that doesn't happen."
They found Simon's car and Jim reached into his captain's coat pocket and retrieved the keys. He opened the back door and they settled the still sleeping Blair in. The older man walked to the driver's side and he joined his friend in the front. "So, what are you thinking about doing? I don't think you're anywhere near to handling these senses on your own."
"Why does that have to be the only option? Why do I have to push my Guide away in order to protect him?"
"Jim, it's the nature of the job. He hangs with us, he's automatically going to be in danger. I don't like it, but what choice do we have."
The Sentinel set his jaw and stared ahead. "Give me this weekend and I'll come up with something."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^And come up with something he did. That Monday morning, he asked Simon to gather all of the people in Major Crimes for a meeting. Since everyone in their particular department had grown to accept Sandburg as one of their own, the plan he outlined appealed to one and all and everyone agreed to do their part.
So, that's how the Grand "Little Buddy" Protection Campaign was launched.
At the next call, as soon as Jim stepped out of the truck, at least three officers were on the two men like glue. They stayed far enough behind them not to cramp the partners' style, but close enough to cover their backs.
Surprisingly enough, there were five arrests and no injuries.
The next time, the same thing happened. And the next. And the next. And, so it went.
Everyone took note of the four calls and the lack of injuries to *either* of the two men and they decided to try this with their own teams.
For every call that came in, the partnered team would take it's own assigned backup for the day. There was a lot of juggling to be done with schedules, but, after a week, it flowed.
Simon was thrilled at the results. Not one owie reported for Jim or Blair *or* for his entire department. It was amazing and even Chief Warren commented on the lack of medical needed for Major Crimes lately.
Everyone was watching everyone else's back much more closely and the reports were proving it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^They made it through the first month or so without incident, but one Friday some thugs tried to push Blair around at one of the international markets. Thankfully, Megan'd had the sudden urge for "real dill gherkins" and was just leaving or else the young man would have messed up the record he wasn't conscious of keeping.
"Are you okay, Sandy?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. A little shaken, but awfully glad you showed up when you did. I didn't know you hit this place?"
"Hit? Oh, you mean shop here. On occasion, but usually only when I'm craving a bit down home." She frowned. "Aren't you shopping a little late?"
"Yeah, Jim was showering and there were a few ingredients I forgot for the get-together tomorrow, so I ran down here." Looking around. "I guess it got dark while I was inside. I probably should head on back. Jim's been awfully obsessive about me the last few weeks and I don't want to give him too much of a heart attack when he realises I've been gone for so long." Smiling. "Say, why don't you come over and hang out with us. I could use an extra taster and it'll give me a chance to thank you for saving me from a nasty fate."
"Well, if you don't think Jim'll mind, lead on. I'll follow you in my car."
"Cool."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^The next morning, while Blair was in class, Jim outlined his secondary plan to the gang of the Inner Circle. Joel, Henry, Rafe and Simon all listened intently to Megan describe what she'd accidentally happened on and when she finished Ellison took the floor. "Okay, even though our efforts on the job have garnered exceptional results, we still don't have all our bases covered. I mean, a simple trip to the market could have gotten him killed."
Joel *had* been feeling positive about the whole endeavour. "So, what do you want us to do, Jim? I don't mind giving up a few hours to keep my favourite police observer off of death's door. Just say the word and I'm there."
"Thanks, Joel. That means a lot." His smile grew as he saw that each of the others was just as committed. *I don't think Blair realises what good friends we have. I trust each of them with my life, and more important, with Blair's life.* "Okay, here's the deal. If we each take a time during our downtime, we can "
And so, part two of the Grand Campaign was launched.
Without Blair Sandburg ever knowing it, he was always within sight of one of his friends. When trouble arose, he generally had no clue of it because surprisingly one of them would whisk him out of the way while discreetly calling for backup. In those rare moments when he was right in the middle of something, one of the friends would "just happen by" to see what he was up to and save the day. Blair never had a clue it wasn't his luck that was changing, but his friends who were changing his luck."
Or, so they thought.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^The night before the big day, all of Major Crimes came out to one of the finest restaurants in town to celebrate the great achievement of one of their own.
Naomi had arrived that morning and she was amazed at the support the department showed to her baby boy. All day long, she had watched and listened to people congratulate her son and now, there didn't seem to be an empty seat in the whole place. She couldn't help but wonder what Blair was to these people.
It seemed like every person in the room stood and told their favourite Blair story and they all ended them with a warm sentiment and best wishes. Many an eye had to be wiped - after explaining the high concentration of allergenic particles in the air, of course after the men and woman of the Inner Circle had their turns.
But, that was nothing compared to the reactions after Blair stood and spoke at the urging of those assembled.
"Guys, what can a man say on the eve of one of his greatest dreams? Can he speak of his accomplishments? Though they may be long, I doubt anyone but him would find them interesting. Can he speak of his future endeavours? Though, they might be a bit more interesting, they probably would make a liar out of the man later in life. No, the only thing a *man* can say is thank you to everyone who brought him to his day.
"I know what you all did. And, I know how you sacrificed your time to get me here. I mean, come on, Guys. How many times could I believe Simon just 'dropped by' my class to get some pointers on school for Daryl and those days just happened when something was going on around me? I have to admit, you were good, but I'm a natural observer and if nothing else, I could pick out Henry's cologne from fifty yards away." A few chuckles and Jim's, "Only fifty?" egged him on.
"Do you know what really let me know how much you guys care? When your protection didn't just include me, but my best friend as well. The first time it happened, I thought Jim had gotten scared and called someone out to keep me in place, but, strangely, I was allowed to follow him in without a word *and* it wasn't only my back that was watched. You guys think you breathed a sigh of relief when the perps went down without a drop of our blood spilled; I can't begin to tell you how much of a burden was lifted off my shoulders. I suddenly didn't have to fear missing something and causing my friend to lose his life because there were three other sets of eyes helping *me* to keep watch, and that was such a *great* feeling. After that, it didn't take a genius to figure out where the Automatic Backup Plan originated. I'm sure if I noticed how great the feeling was, you all did too.
"But, it didn't stop at just guarding me. All of you were always willing to listen whether I wanted to rant or I just needed an objective ear. I *know* that wasn't easy, but no one ever turned me away. When I needed answers to my questions, I had twenty-six voices on three different shifts all jump to help. That says a lot about you all of you.
"If I could make it happen, every last one of you would be on that front row tomorrow when I make that speech. But, since I can't, I want you to know that all twenty-six of you have special places in my heart.
"Again, thank you for being there and for being my friends."
For long moments after he finished, napkins, handkerchiefs and tissues found their way off of tables and out of pockets and purses. No one was immune.
Finally, Simon moved to stand beside his observer and friend and placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I think everyone here will tell you that all of the extra time was well worth it, and I, for one, have no intention of stopping now." He cleared his throat and waited for the all eyes to turn to him. "May I propose a toast?" Jim stood and handed his two closest friends their champagne. "To Blair Sandburg, Major Crimes' greatest accomplishment."
With tears flowing faster than the champagne, Naomi suddenly had the answer to her question.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Graduation:
"It was a great honour to have the graduating class ask me to speak to you. It's almost unheard of for someone of my standing to do so, but this has given me the chance to let all of you know how truly lucky I am.
"Finally, as I prepare to join the others as we accept our diplomas for the work we've done, I hope that when my time comes, you don't just see one man. It is my fondest hope you see twenty-six of the strongest and bravest and most caring men and women in all of Cascade." He again smiled at the six before him and then let his gaze find the twenty further back in the crowd. "This one is for you guys. Thank you."
Never in the history of Rainier had one speaker received such an ovation as Blair Sandburg. And, why not? He did, after all, bring his own personal cheering section along for good measure.
The end