InsaneJournal

It was a long three hours later and Blair was still in the situation he had been in before he first picked up the phone. No one had space, no available, nothing coming available in the next week, and no guarantee that his check was coming in next week. On top of everything else, the manager of the warehouse had declared total loss and due to the lateness of the month, was not reimbursing Blair any of his rent.

He had just dropped the receiver back onto its cradle and tossed his pen down in disgust when the phone rang. He hurriedly snatched it up, his voice coming out tired and slightly dejected. “Hello?”

*#”Hey, Chief, it’s me. You sound down, what’s up?”#* Jim’s rich voice soothed Blair’s frazzled nerves, allowing him to stop and breathe. In a slightly calmer state within moments, Blair replied in answer.

“Not much man, still looking for a place. Nothing for you to worry about. How’s it going on your end?” He tried for a more upbeat cadence in his voice. It must have worked because Jim didn’t call him on it, just answered the question.

*#”I don’t know, something feels iffy… Look, Gaines is on his way over there, I want you to keep him busy. No matter what, don’t let him leave. He can fill you in when he gets there… Blair I think you were right about Williams, there’s something… off about the guy.”#* Jim’s hesitation caused Blair to sit up and take notice. Probing ever so gently, Blair pressed further.

“Off how? Is it sense wise?”

Jim sighed across the line and Blair knew he had touched a nerve. Jim was still uncomfortable using his senses in the line of duty, when he still didn’t have a lot of control. But if his senses were telling him something, how could he ignore them? *#”Williams got a search warrant for Gaines’ apartment—“#*

“Search Earl’s apartment? What on earth for?” Blair snapped angrily. The young cop had done nothing wrong, Blair was sure of it. This was getting ridiculous.

*#”Easy Chief, I know how you feel. I’m right there with you. Even more so after hearing the so-called explanation and Williams’ ever so trippy heartbeat that accompanied it.”#* Jim growled, clearly unconvinced. Blair nodded, although Jim couldn’t possibly see him, and voiced his own suspicions.

“Yeah, little too convenient I’d say. It was only yesterday that Hollins fingered an unnamed cop as possibly being dirty. Then suddenly overnight he is dead, they have a prime suspect in his grieving best friend, and a warrant? Jeez Jim, it was you who told me that there had to be probable cause before a judge would sign off on something like that, and come on man, to get a warrant in the middle of the night? That just doesn’t happen.” Blair dropped his pen in disgust again. Jim’s heavy sigh on the other end of the line brought him up short.

*#”Thanks Chief, I needed to hear that. I was afraid I was getting paranoid in my old age. You also just gave me good reasons to pass on to Simon when I tell him I don’t like this search. In the mean time, I just pulled up here, so let me see what so-called ‘evidence’ we come up with and get back to you. Gaines should be there soon, keep him company until I get back, okay?”#* Jim hung up the phone before Blair could reply, but then he knew Blair would say yes. What else could he say? A good cop was getting railroaded and they didn’t know why. This was not right.

Blair was about to head for the refrigerator for a beer when he heard Panther snarl, then snort, and a knock sounded from the door. Moving to open the door, he found Earl Gaines standing on the other side. He ushered the cop in, swiftly locking the door behind him. “Hey man, come on in. Jim just called to tell me you were on your way. You want something, beer? Juice? Water?”

Gaines looked around for a moment, dropped his jacket on the back of one of the kitchen chairs, and turned to Blair with a puzzled expression on his face. “So what’s this? You’re an observer and roommate? Or is this something else?”

Blair struggled not to laugh out loud, snorted instead. “Nah, just observer and recent roommate. Very recent. I lost my place when the 357’s place was blown up. Mine was on the back side.”

Gaines sobered quickly, his face falling. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean anything by it. Guess I’ll take a beer.”

Blair nodded once, retrieved the bottle from the fridge, along with his own, and handed it over to the young black cop. “No big, man. Jim let me stay here for a week until I can find a new place. The main reason he was there the other night was because Simon had called him about me. But I bounce back. Like you.”

Gaines snorted as he took a swig of his beer, his eyes roaming the loft with a curious gaze. The curtain to the small bedroom under the stairs was pulled back and Blair knew that Gaines could see the bed from his vantage point. A swift look up noted the bed there as well. Blair sheepishly knew what Gaines had been thinking, but now with the facts in view, surely they could go on. He sat at the table, the bottle of cold brew in his hands. Gaines moved to join him, his warm brown eyes locking onto Blair’s cool blue ones and showing understanding. Blair hadn’t lied, not even obfuscated. He didn’t need to.

“So you think I bounced back that easy after losing my career?” asked Gaines. Blair cocked his head to the side in thought.

“I smell a story here… go on man, deal it out, tell me what happened.” Blair watched Gaines pull himself together, take another drink of his beer and pause, pulling his thoughts together.

“Hollins and I grew up together. He knew that playing ball was my ticket out so he saw to it nobody messed with me. He even made sure I hit the books.” Gaines sighed and Blair held his peace, waiting for more. This insight into Earl Gaines was what he had missed being out on expedition. It was an insight into Gaines’ passion. After a moment of reflection, Gaines continued. “After my knee blew out, I came home, quit school, hung out a couple weeks blowing crack feeling sorry for myself. By that time, 'Toine was pretty straight looking for a way to make things better. When he saw what I was messing with he cleaned me up, drove me back to school. He said if I came home without a degree, he'll kill me.”

Blair grinned. “Bet that got you straight again. It only takes one person truly believing in another person to pull them from the brink of despair and putting them back on track. Hollins did that for you.”

Gaines smiled and nodded. “Last couple years all he talked about was how America ain't going no further than its young black men can help carry it. Either that, or we all go down together.”

Blair reached up and clinked bottles with Gaines before clarifying, "Black, white, red, yellow, whatever. Hell, pink and purple polka dotted, it doesn't matter. Problem and the solution are the same.”

Gaines canted his head to the side at Blair’s words; his brown eyes alight with an understanding fire. The two men settled back to drink the rest of their beers in companionable silence.

o-O-o

An hour later, there was a knock on the front door and Blair opened it to find Jim waiting for him. He let the older man in and locked the door again. Jim nodded and looked around.

“Where’s Gaines?” he asked. Blair pointed towards the stairs and Jim looked up to see Gaines walked down carefully. Jim was quick to assure him. “’s okay, I’m alone.”

Gaines nodded as he came the rest of the way down the stairs. Blair leaned back against the kitchen counter, his eyes wide in an expression of expectation. Jim sighed as he pulled a beer from the fridge. Gaines was first to speak.

“So I figure the cop party is finished over at my place, what’d they find?” Blair sighed as Jim replied.

“Ice and a gun used in the drug lab hit. It was stolen from evidence lockup.”

Blair snorted in disbelief. "Man, could they have done a lousier job of setting him up? I don't like this Jim, it's sloppy. They've made things too pat if you know what I mean?"

“That’s why I wanted Earl here…” answered Jim. He turned to Gaines. “You need to stay somewhere safe.”

“What about the call I got about my Grandma, man? I need to be sure she’s all right. I still don’t know who called.” Gaines growled as he began to pace. Blair watched him a moment and couldn’t help likening the bigger man to a caged tiger, looking for a way out of his cell. Jim’s movement out of the corner of his eye broke his thoughts.

“Yeah and I still think that was a trap. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone were sitting on your Grandmother and waiting for you to slip up.” Jim sighed. “Look, we will find a way to get word to your Grandmother, but I want to be damn sure you aren’t charged with any other false charges.”

Gaines nodded, even though he looked like he wanted to do anything but sit still. He matched Jim’s gaze. “So what are we going to do first?”

Jim glanced at Blair. “I have an idea, if you’re agreeable, Blair.”

Blair quirked an eyebrow, “Lay it on me, I’ll do anything I can to help.”

o-O-o

Blair stood watching the young men lounging on front of the small apartment building, their attitude condescending and rude towards those that passed by on the sidewalk. This was where Ms. LaCroix lived, and Gaines was concerned about her. Blair could understand, if it were his mother he’s be concerned as well. But to walk past those men, gods this was going to be quite the undertaking.

Glancing back at Jim, Blair pasted on a reassuring smile and shrugged his shoulder slightly. He then turned back to the task at hand. With briefcase in hand, he marched up the walk towards his destination. The first of the three thugs moved to block his path and he held his case in front of him like a shield. In his mind’s eye he flashed on the many and varied high school bullies he dealt with in his younger years and for just a moment there was hesitation in his steps.

He wasn’t ready for the snarl that sounded from his right and he nearly fumbled. He stopped a moment, staring the gangbangers down, trying to regain his composure. Behind him, he could almost envision Jim make as if to climb out of the truck and come after him. No. That could not happen here. He could do this. He took a deep breath and pulled himself together, taking another step, this time swinging the case back down to his side.

“Excuse me, boys. I have business here.” He informed the three men, his back stiff and his voice as strong as he could muster given the circumstances. It must have worked, because the three gang members hastily stepped aside from him to let him pass unmolested. One of them muttered something in passing.

“You going somewhere?” it was a false bravado, something Blair knew something about.

“Yeah, inside. You are impeding a Government official, I’m with Social Services.” Blair kept his voice even, his confidence firm. To his left, he could feel Wolf leaning against his leg, and to his right, he caught a glimpse of Panther standing stiff, yet firm.

“Social services?” the first young man snorted, still attempting to maintain the upper hand on the conversation. Blair held back a snort of irritation as the youth accused, “Who’s welfare you taking away?”

Instead of stammering, Blair locked eyes with him. “Not that its’ any of your business what I do here, but some of these people are losing their money. I’m here to see to it they get their money. Otherwise how are they to survive with young pups like you ignoring them?”

And with that, Blair stepped smoothly around them and carried on into the building unimpeded. Once inside the main door, he took a moment to lean against the door and shake from head to toe. That had to have been the STUPIDEST thing he had ever done in his life. But on the other hand it had felt SO good!

o-O-o

Jim and Earl watch as Blair makes his way past the guards in front of the tiny housing structure. Just as Jim suspected, there were three gang members watching the scene for Earl. Earl sighs beside him as Blair slips into the front door.

“Whew! He made it. He’s pretty bold for such a little guy…” muttered the young cop. Jim smirked before he replied.

“You should have seen him when we first started. Stared down a ranking terrorist who had taken over Central.”

Earl looks over at Jim in alarm. “Wait up, that was him all up in Kincaid’s face?” Jim nodded with pride in his eyes and said, “Yep. All 5 foot 7 inches of him.”

Gaines shook his head and muttered. “Sheyah, for a little brainy guy he sure has some stones on him…”

It was obvious that Gaines had a visibly newfound respect for Blair. Jim just grinned and asked, "You recognize any of those guys over there?"

Earl turned his gaze towards the three in front of the building, his eyes narrowing. “Two of them I don’t know… but the third one, His name is Leron. He’s Tyrell’s problem child, if you know what I mean.”

Jim nodded as they watched the posturing of the three hoods.

o-O-o

Blair made his way down the hall to the door number that Gaines had told him was his Grandmother’s place. After knocking respectfully he was happy to be greeted by an elderly woman, who for all her years still seemed to be fit and healthy for the most part. Her eyes gazing at nothing over his shoulder told of the one infirmity that time had inflicted on her. He was momentarily reminded of another friend of his, but shook it off quickly. He went on with his explanation.

“Miss LaCroix? Hi. I'm Blair Sandburg. I need to talk to you about your grandson. Earl Gaines?”

The woman paused a moment before opening the door a bit further. Something in her mannerisms caused Blair to flinch. A woman with power. She would not be easy to convince of anything. He stepped in carefully.

“You the po-lice?” her words clipped the accent on the ‘o’ of the word with a sharp disdain. Blair smiled.

“No Ma’am, just a friend of your Grandson’s. He asked me to come by and have a chat with you.”

She appeared to pause in thought, weigh his words carefully before letting him come all the way in. She glared at him accusingly. “This is my home, you ain’t gonna stand there and ask me to leave it.”

Blair nodded. He could see her strength and knew that he was out classed here. No matter how verbally strong he was, her faith was stronger. “No Ma’am, I wouldn’t dream of it. But it might be safer to take a vacation, maybe stay in a hotel for a day or two?”

She snorted once, waving a hand once towards the outside world. “It ain't safe out there, neither. Now, I ain't been out of here in two years except to visit my neighbors or clean up the hallway and I ain't about to start now.”

Blair sighed as quietly as he could. “Yes Ma’am, but your grandson is concerned more now than before. There are people out there who want to use you against him.”

“And as long as I stay right here in my own home, they can’t do that, now can they?” she replied before she sat in the most comfortable looking chair Blair had ever seen. Yeah he knew this was a losing battle before he had even begun. He glanced around until he spotted her phone.

“Yes, Ma’am. May I use your phone a moment? Thank you.” Marching over briskly he snapped up the handset and dialed Jim’s cell phone from memory. It was only a short second before the phone was answered.

*#”Ellison!”#*

“Hey Jim, it’s me. I figured it would turn out this way. Tell Earl she doesn’t want to leave.” Blair cringed as Jim swore once.

*#”Damn, okay, look. You come back out and I’ll have a—“#*

Blair overrode him. “NO! Now look Jim, it would be too suspicious of me to leave now. There is more than one apartment here and if those guys out there suspect I lied to them they will come after her now. You deal with those guys out there; I’ll stay here as another layer of protection.”

*#”Sandburg you’re not a cop!”#* snarled the detective. Blair smiled warmly.

“Yeah, but I *am* a white man and another witness. They won’t risk something with me here for a while yet. If there’s trouble, I’ll call you as soon as I need you.”

A sigh from the other end of the line, then it was hung up. Obviously Blair had made his point. He hung up the phone and went to sit on the sofa across from Miss LaCroix. “Looks like it’s you and me for a while, Ma’am.”

Miss LaCroix sat for a moment, waiting for him to make a move. When he didn’t, she must have decided to finally trust him and throw the first bone. “So where exactly do you know my grandson from, Mr. Sandburg?”

Blair ducked his head and smiled.