Tea Coffee or Both

Rating: PG-15
Pairings: J/B and C/E
Status: Part 1 and 2; will be finished this Week
Date: 24.05.1998
Series/Sequel: None planed
Warnings 1 : Some Dialogs are written in German, as both of the men are from that Country. I didn't assume that, even if they would move to the United States they would start talking English to each other.
As there are often Dialogs in Sentinel which are not translated I held this right for this story as well. If you like the Story and want to know what they say to each other, just write me, and I will sent you the translation. Same goes for the Summary of the Film. I also will put it at the end of the Story at the end of the Version that will be put at the side.
Warnings 2 : The 2nd half of this story was finished on and in the days following the news of the cancelation.......of The Sentinel......I will ask all readers please to excuse any mood or charackter changes to the first part. Thanks in advance.!!!!!!!!
Summary: Well. The story starts at the beginning, goes right through the middle, and then ends right at the conclusion. Suprising, isn't it? ;-)
This is a crossover between 'Sentinel' and the German Film 'Echte Kerle' [True Guys]. I don't know if this Film is available in the USA or Canada, but if it is, borrow it. It is a really funny film to watch. Maybe a bit painful at the ending.

Tea, coffee or both
by Strange Music-;

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Disclaimer 1: All rights to these Characters which I use in this story are owned by Bilson & DeMeo, to Pet Fly Production and to UPN. I let them decide who owns what. And I swear that I will return them when I am finished.
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Disclaimer 2: I don't know who hold the rights for 'Echte Kerle', but here goes the same as for Sentinel. I don't own neither the Character nor anything else, beside maybe the ideas for the crossover and that one I share with a friend of mine.
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'Somehow I like it here.'
Christopher Schwenk thought smilingly as he looked around the Bull-pen of Major Crimes.
For a man of almost forty years, his brown hair still had very few gray streaks in it. And his built also wasn't so bad.
"Still here Chris, you like it so much here that you don't want to go home." a friendly voice teased him.
"Skipped the paperwork yesterday, for an early homecoming. Today I have to work on the consequences."
Laughter and the Officer was gone.
But in a way he had been right. Chris really liked it here.
After only a week of work, he already found himself at friendly terms with his colleagues. He wasn't exactly looking forward returning to his unit in Narcotic, where he, even if he had a lot of friends, also had quiet a few enemies.But he had learned for his mistakes back then, and they had helped him a lot since then. Especially when he had started his work here.
The Unit in Major Crimes had borrowed him for a Case of Weaponsmuggle and as the Smuggler where coming from Germany and he seemingly was the only Officer in this Town who spoke German as mother language.
He looked at the clock. The officer had been right, it was late. Better to call Eddie and tell ask him if he could collect him.
Picking up the phone, he tipped in one of the few numbers that he recalled by heart. Three rings passed, the phone was picked up.
"Classic Cars Repair-Shop. Edgar Saenger, what can I do for you?"
"Du weisst genau was du fuer mich tun kannst." He said in a breathy tone.
"Chris!" He heared the resulting smile in the voice coming over the phone. "Wie ist dein Tag?"
"ZU lange. Haettest du Zeit um mich abzuholen. Ich weiss das du warscheinlich viel Arbeit hast aber......."
"Kein Problem, ich habe nur noch einen Kunden fertig zu machen und dann mache ich fuer heute Feierabend......das Auto solltest du sehen, ein 64'er Volvo. Das ist ein Auto nach meinen Traeumen. Ich kann dich in 1 Stunde abholen."
"Danke, Baerchen."
"Bitte, du weisst doch das ich alles tue fuer meine Haselmaus."
"Alles?!?" He wriggld with his eyebrow smiling
"Immer doch. Bis dann."
"Bis bald."
When he set down the receiver he was startled when he was suddenly addressed by an Officer standing right in front of him. Fortunately the Conversation had been in German, he couldn't possible have understood anything.
"I couldn't stop myself from listening. I hope you don't mind."
'No, I always looove it when somebody is listening to my private conversations with my husband."
"You see, my grandmother spoke German and I still remember quit a few things.
Chris felt his breath stop for a moment, he had *heared* the conversation and had *understood* it as well. "You...have?!?" he asked carefully.
"I have. You said that you are making late hours because you want to have the time to go to the zoo tomorow to see the bears. Am I right."
"Yes, you are. I am impressed." '....and relieved.' "See you later." He waved as the man disappeared. <> Not that he had any Problems with being 'out of the closet'. They also didn't hide it, as they wore they wedding-bands open where everyone could see them.
However, as long as no one noticed, they didn't exactly, throw in their face. There was no use in creating tension that could have been prevented. Yet, if the theme would come up, they would deal with it. It was a problem, they had handled before and could handle again, if necessary.
He remembered the time of his *first* 'coming out', especially that expression of the guy that he had kissed. If they were lucky he would spend the time here in this unit without the others knowing it.
With this thought he went back to work with a smile.
45 Minutes later
He was bored, the anticipated load of paperwork had been finished 5 minutes ago, and so far he hadn't found a singly thing to occupy himself with. It were another 15 minutes till Edgar arrives and after he had already had transformed all his paperclips into a chain.
Suddenly a voice caught his attention. ((I am sure about it, Officer Targa said that one of the officer is having a relationship with a man. and if he says it must be true. He is no man who is spreading rumor.)))
The two Officer weren't aware that he was listing, he shouldn't have been able too.
He sight, so it had started. Now the time had come where it would decide whom would stay his friend and with who he should better learn to watch his back. Most of the Officer should leave him his peace, as they know that he would leave again as soon as the assignment was finished. Maybe a few, he suspected that he should be careful when he was around.
Detective Ellison was one of them. This man looked so straight that even the slightest clue about a man to man relationship might get him into big trouble.
Well, he would deal with it later, in a few days, when the rumor would have grown to suspicion and then to facts.
Now he would be going to meet his husband and then get home to forget every problem in his arms.

Detective Ellison entered the Park-house with a sight of relieve. Rumors had appeared in the Department, that one of the Detectives was having a relationship with another man. If they grew stronger he would find a way to deal with it, but not today, today he was to tired to be worried. The only thing that he knew for sure was that he *really* looked forward to finally being able to come home. Now, only Blair had to be on time, and he would be home free.
What a wonder *that* would be.
What had he thought when he had allowed him to take the car, during the time that the Volvo was in repair. Well....he know *what* had he had thought. That part of the deal, Blair still had to fulfill.
He could hear the car entering the entrance of the house. Blair was actually in time, he was impressed.
As the car came closer, Jim could actually feel a grin appear on his face, chasing away the stonehard face that he worn all day long.
When the car finally held opposite from him, the grin had grown into a full fledged smile.
Jim came closer to the car. "You are on time."
It was more a question than a statement.
"Yes I am.....do I get a reward." Blair requested with an impish smile.
"Always" Jim smiled as he leaned forward for a deep kiss.
"I guess, then this is the wrong time to confess that I am only early because the shop had closed."
"Sorry, but then I have to take the kiss back." Jim declared as he leaned forward for another kiss."
Too occupied with themselves, neither of them saw the man that was entering the Park-deck. Nor did they see that he stopped in his tracks, as his mouth popped open.
Another minute or two had to pass before, finally Blair caught sight of him.
"Jim, someone is watching us." He whispered, to make sure that only the Sentinel could hear what he was saying.
Turning around, he could identify the man as the new guy and he could see that he looked pretty surprised.
Maybe it was the stress of knowing that their secret was no longer anymore, or maybe it happened because it was the way Jim dealt with stress. However the thing that the guy knew was that he was pressed up against the wall by two strong hands.
All those narrow minded ones. He knew what he would say, they same as they always said. But not this time, he would not listen to it again.
Jim could see that he wanted to say something, however before he could, Jim heard another Car arriving. The guy, Jim remembered his name to be Chris, turned his head as well. A few moments later a car pulled up beside them. It was a yellow convertible and the driver was a man around 30 with short brown, slightly looked hair and certainly not a very bad looking one either.
"Hands off him, Tarzan" declared with a smile on his face. "He is mine."
"And you are."
"Edgar Saenger, his husband."
Now it was Jim's mouth that popped open. When he had caught the guy starring he had thought their cover had been blown. He had waited for some remark, some dirty words and now he had to find out that the man he had thought to be disgusted with the sight, was married, to a guy. They had already taken the step that, after 1 year, Blair and he were still working on. Slowly he felt his cheeks beginning to redden.
"I am sorry, with all those rumors today, I just thought that you........sorry."
"That's okay. I have been through worse. Until now I also would have counted you to be a homophobic to the i-point. So when I saw you kissing that guy over there, well, I was just a little surprised and a little pleased." He added with a small smile. "And about those rumors. I would waste a good-nights sleep about it. Either they will disappear in a few days on their own or however was meant will have to deal with the consequences. The last guy, I convinced fairly well.."
"I don't think that you can count surprising the hell out of him, by kissing him, as convinced." Eddie whispered laughing.
"It worked, didn't it?" he whispered back "and then turned to face Jim again "We have to go now. See you tomorrow."
"Bye." Jim replied and then turned back to walk back to the car. The moment he caught sight of Blair smile, and the finger he was tapping on the stiring wheel he raised his hands in defense. "Don't say it Chief, I know when I made a fool out of myself."
"Good, then at least I don't have to remind you next time *TARZAN*.
"You DID have to hear that name, didn't you."
"You know me, I always have big ear, when I shouldn't. But look at it from the bright side, if I hadn't I still wouldn't know that you love me. Now, let's get home.....I still have a favor to repay."

Silence had fallen as Darkness settled over the little flat they owned. There was a soft smile on Chris's face as he looked at his lover lying at his side. Careful, not to wake him, he drove a hand through the short soft hair.
"Ich liebe dich." He whispered.
There was no answer, just the soft rustle of the covers as Edgar moved even closer, nestling into his lovers side.
Not so long ago, he could never have imagined himself living *that* kind of life, now only 3 years later, he couldn't imagine any *other* life.
Sometimes, late at night, he still wondered what he had done to deserve such a life like this. His husband, who he loved more than life itself, and who loved him back with the same strength.
He had almost screwed it. If there wouldn't have been the help of his friend, he would have let the most wonderful thing in his life walk away because of a last desperate try to prove to himself that he straight.
He remembered the night and those which followed quiet well.
They had driven away in Edgar's car. Helen had been leaning in his arms and he should have been happy. Yet, somehow he wasn't. All he could do was watch Mike and Edgar as they silently laughed and talked with each other on the frontseats. The feeling had stayed, the whole week that his 'affair' with Helen had lasted, till they had parted.
Their relationship had been doomed from the beginning.
She had thought that she had finally found her true love, he knew that he already had.....and that it wasn't her.
It had taken him another week, till he had summoned up the courage, to talk with Edgar. Another week he had spent watching Mike and Edgar together.
Then finally 15 days after their first real kiss (Not counting their first night, which he couldn't remember or the one at the bar. ) he had told Edgar that he had been wrong, had been wrong all along the line. That he did indeed love him.
A lot of things he had imagined as a answer, but not the soft smile that had appeared..
He had repeated his declaration and this time Edgar had asked him a question.
If he was sure that he loved him, if this declaration wasn't just because he was jealous at Mike.
For a moment he sounded telling him, that he had known it till the start, which would have been romantic, but untrue. So he had settled for the truth, that he had felt his love for him the moment he had realized that he had lost him to someone else.
Minutes had passed without either of them saying even a word. Those minutes which had seemed like hours to him. Then Edgar had kissed him, soft and easy, so unlike those other two kisses he could remember sharing with him.......and he had told him that he loved him too.
Another kiss had followed and another one, till they finally once more landed in bed together.
And this time he *could* remember what had happened.
He had never felt more complete as he had when he woke up the next day, never felt more peaceful.
There was nothing new to the situation of waking up in these arms, but somehow it had never felt so right.
And it still did.
With that thought, he turned his face toward his lover and slipped into sleep.

"You've got to stop pushing people around like that." Blair scolded at his lover while he hit him slightly on his shoulder. They both sat on the couch, the television, running in front of them, was long forgotten "I thought.......I mean."
"I *know* what you thought., but it is still no reason......." For a second, he saw a evil smile lit up Jim's face, till he started to slowly but steadily push him down on the couch
"Jim, I am trying to have a sincere conversation here."
Their face were only inches apart when he heard a breathy voice whisper in his ear "I promise that I will try to behave myself.....but I can't promise that I can keep that up all the time. You don't want me to behave when we are at home, do you?"
Blair felt his grasp at the conversation slip. "You are not taking me serious here, are you Jim?" There was no answer just the feeling of a hot mouth that pressed themselves at his own.
Then while he was still trying to catch breath, the mouth slowly wandered downward. "Jim.....I......still......have a......few......ques" he felt his voice turn down anything he wanted to say in favor of the moan, that escaped his lips as his lover found one of his spots. Blair could have sworn that he heard snicker and maybe he would have, if his brain would have inherited more then just 3 drops of blood. All the other blood had called up to rebellion, rushing down to where he would need it least for the conversation he had planned.
Tender hands started to push up his shirt and he shivered at the cool air that he felt on his skin. However the chilliness only lasted a few seconds, till he felt the hot body of his lover press down to him. It was only then that the last active part of Blair's brain realized that he wasn't wearing any trousers anymore and as result sent away his last two active braincells into rest.
He could feel Jim straining erection through his trousers as the older man's mouth worked up to carefully apply pressure to his nipples.
No word coming out his mouth anymore, just a throaty moan. A moan which turned louder as the older man worked his way up to his mouth again and in doing so aligning their erection to brush against each other through the soft silken cloth of their trousers.
The look in Jim's face made him sight with love, the eyes in which he found himself looking were so completely dilated that his eyes seemed to be black as the night, that had fallen outside.
"I love you" Jim whispered husky and Blair could only nod, as his knowledge of speech seemed to have left him. His lover only laughed. "I like it when you are silent, but as much as this maye he was jealous at Mike.
He felt as if in haze, his mouth was opening and closing, but nothing was coming out. "You can do better than that" his lover smiled, still at his tease.
"More, I want to feel more of you."
His lover was only too willing to obey.
Part 2
A small whimper coming from his lips when the hand was replaced by Jim's hot cock.
He felt the friction intensifying as they moved them along each other, increasing their speed, till he felt only the hot cock on his own and his lovers breath in his neck.
For a second he closed his eyes.
Then he felt nothing as a fireworks seemed to explode behind them and he felt himself coming on longs and hard spurts.
Minutes passed before either of them had the strength or the desire to get up and the cleaning of their body was fastened up in favor to a few more moments snuggling in their bed, before they both would slip into sleep.
"I love you." Blair whispered.
"I love you too." Jim answered softly before spooning up behind the younger man and they both finally slipped into sleep.

The next day
"There was something you wanted I wanted to ask you?"
"Yes love?" Jim asked while glancing over his cup of coffee
"It's about what happened at the garage yesterday......" He could watch Jim blushing slightly. "No that's not what I mean. We have already discussed this."
"So that is called discussing now?" Jim snickered amused while raising his cup to his lips.
"Not that," Now it was Blair's turn to turn red. "I was talking about what happened shortly before the car pulled into the garage.
"Yes?"
"You were both looking into the same direction at the same moment. About half a minutes before I knew what was going on. Now, I know why you were looking, but how could Officer Schwenk knew that the car was coming........if he didn't *hear* it."
"So what Chief, you are looking for clue where none are, he has a good hearing that's all."
"You remember what you told me about the bust last week. Where he found that bomb at the same time you did. Now it was at that time that I assumed that he might have enhanced sense of hearing, but with that episode in the Garage, that assumption has even gotten closer."
"Blair, love......you don't assume that every Sentinel is a Cop."
"No I don't but it makes perfect sense if he is, what better way is there to protect the tripe. Now in my Studies before I met you I had already found out that about 75% of the sentinels which I had found were working in those kind of Jobs....like police, ambulance, fireman and so on. SO the fact that Officer Schwenk might be a Sentinel is not so far of."
Jim just sigh and then raised his hands "I give up."
"Does that mean that you are going to help me?" Blair replied grinning.
The only answer from Jim's side was a head that loudly landed on the table.

However as life didn't work that way, it took another 3 days, till he had the chance to talk to one of the two Officers. He still hadn't been able to talk with Officer Schwenk, but at least today he would get the chance to quiz Edgar. That he was also get back his car today, only added a plus to the occasion.
Even when in the last few days, Jim had shown not problems with the fact that he still drove the car, after all he had promised him that he could use it as long as his car was in repair.
*There's was no greater sign that you had earned yourself the love of James Ellison than that.*
However that did *not* mean that he didn't wince every time, that Blair drove to close to a car, passed the traffic-light at *dark-green* or even worse, get 1 mph over the speed-limit.
Finally this would be over.
Edgar greeted him friendly as he saw him arrive at the yard.
It took him only 15 minutes to finish everything connected with the Car.
And it took him only 10 Minutes more till he had talked to Edgar about answering him question about his husband. Well, if you've got a trustworthy face, you've got to use it.

Half an hour later, Blair's suspicion that Chris could be a Sentinel had rose at another 50 %, counting now almost only 5% till he could be sure.
"Could you do me a favor. The next time you are at home together and you are both relaxed, could you ask him to imagine a dial in his head. Tell him concentrate on anything, taste, smell any of the 5 senses and then I want you to look if he starts to notice anything that he shouldn't. A smell that's not there. A taste that should have been long gone..and so on. Can you do that for me?"
The look that Edgar gave Blair, might have been the look of a sane man, humoring the Psycho, till the Police could arrive. However, when he nodded. None of that mattered to him.
Knowing his Mission accomplished, he happily made his way back to the Loft.

*A load of Paperwork........Rain all day long.........headache since the first light dared to brush you eyes*
Those where days that were bound to happen, and even when you weren't looking forward to them, you knew that sooner or later they would catch you.
*More rumors about the Gay officer at the Department*
Now even pointing a small arrow to the Bull Pen of Major Crimes.
And to make everything perfect, he had just been awaken out of his dreams by the persistent ringing of a telephone, at the, oh so lovely hour, of 3 AM!!!.
As always, Blair didn't hear a thing. His lover was able to sleep through an earthquake.
So why should a ringing phone, cause as much problems to his sleep as a fly, roaming through the room.
Another 5 rings later, he was certain that the caller, whoever it was, would not drop the call.
Reluctantly he stood up, trying to look angry at his lover. A task which failed completely when the same, choose that moment to snuggle even deeper into the cover. Wearing an expression on his face that melted the Stone-Face of James Ellison into a dopey dreamy smile.
"I really hate it when you do that." he whispered softly.
He caught his morning coat and made his way down.
"I still bet it is for you" he muttered under his breath.
"Ellison!!!" he growled into the telephone, in a voice that he would normally only use for the lowest form of dirt that crawling on the street.
The Person on the other end however seemed to be unresponsive to it as he asked to speak to Blair Sandburg. Jim knew that he had heard that voice before.
However lacking the nessary awaken Braincells for the task, he simply stopped trying to remember from where.
"He is asleep. Can you call later."
"NOOO I CAN....." The panic had shown clearly in the voice. He heard a deep breath being taken at the other end of the phone, a second and a third one, then the voice returned. "I would really appreciate it if you could get him to the phone, I have this BIG.......big problem her on my hand. And I am certain that he is the only one that can help me. So if you could please."
"okay."
Dragging himself and the receiver up the stairs, he allowed himself dreamy glance at the warm and soft covers and cushion that rested on the bed, before he when over to the task of waking his roommate.
At least he knew, that when he had accomplished this almost impossible task, he would be able to go to bed again.
"Blair"
No response
"Blair" he repeated a bit louder, this time also softly touching his arm as well. "Wake up."
The hoarse answer "I am awaken" might have been more believable, if it wouldn't have been accompanied by soft snoring.
Turning the soft touching, into soft shaking, which at least managed to rouse his partner from his snow-white like Beauty Sleep.
"Do we have to get up," he asked. His voice still sleepy.
Instead over answering he simply laid the receive into his hand and stated "No, but you have a call." With these words he turned around and let himself fall back to the bed.
He knew it would take some time till he would be able to find his way back to slumber. However listening to his lovers voice somehow made the task easier.
"suure.......not a problem.....don't worry."
Jim loved that husky tone that his lovers always had so late at night and early in the morning. Making his heavy lids dropping faster than he had thought
"We'll be there soon.....year I've got you address....you give us 30 minutes."
Hmmmm...........HUHHHH!!!!!. Had he heard right. No must have been a dream. He was already asleep that's it.
"Jim"
"I am dreaming! And if you want to stay alive and well, I wouldn't dare you to prove me wrong."
"Jim..Please!!!. This is an emergency."
"Blair...You are an emergency."
He looked into his lovers eyes, seeing only true concern there.
Signing, he said good-bye to his sleep and went to get awaken.

It tokk till they sat in the car till Blair finally found it safe enough to tell Jim their destination and the reason they went there. After all it could be possible that he might hbe needed there as well.
He clearly remenbered Edgard near panic voice as it had sounded in his eares. "You said that he might be absentminded for a few seconds........YOU DID NOT SAY THAT HE WOULD STAR INTO NOTHINGNESS LIKE A ZOMBIE!!!!!!" He had told them that hey would be there, and that they would take care of the problem.
*"A Zoon-out* At least he was breathing. Or Edgar call would have went to the hospital and not to the Psychopath that had put that idea into his head in the first place.
Reaching their place he they were already greeted by Edgar standing at the door. There were no words exchange as he led them into the flat.
Blair went over to make a short check. Relieved that he had been right, that Chris indeed was still breathing. And judging the expression that Jim wore on his face, he had also figured out what was going on. .
"How can I wake him" there was a certain amount of fear in Edgar's voice and hearing it Blair felt a bit bad. For him and Jim a zone-out was something that they knew, and to a certain point could even prevent.
All that Edgar knew was that suddenly his lover had turned into a crash-test-dummy.
Blair knew, that, had the same situation happened to him, he would have already stepped into a full fledged panic attack.
"You have to try and talk with him."
"I already tried that. He didn't response".
"You have to talk softly and calmly. Talk to him as if you would try and get him back from the other end of a bridge. A bride which you cannot cross, but he can. And now try and talk to him"
Sitting down beside his husbands bed, he let his hand run softly over his lovers slack features,
"Hallo Chris. Kannst du mich hoeren?"There was no reaction. and Edgar continued.
"Du musst zu mir zurueckommen. Kannst du mich hoeren, ich bin hier, und ich vermisses dich. Du weisst das ich dich liebe, ich glaube nicht das ich es dir noch zu sagen habe. Ich hoffe das du es laengst weiss, aber ich widerhole es trotzdem jeden Tag.. Es ist nicht nur damit du es weisst, sondern auch weil ich es einfach sagen moechte. Ich mag das Laecheln welches es auf dein Gesicht zaubert, selbst jetzt nachdem wir schon so lange zusammen sind. Ich moechte das du zu mir zurueckommst. Ich weiss nicht was ich tun sollte wenn du es nicht tust. Ich weiss nicht wie ich ohne dich leben sollte."
There was soft stiring being heard from the figure on the bed, and then slowly and suddenly his eyes opened.
Edgar looked at Blair with an expression in his eyes that asked for more that simply an explaination.
He took a deep breath that almost sounded like a sight.
"Maybe we should all go into the living room and talk." he suggested.
"Maybe we should"
And Blair suddenly knew that this had been only the beginning of what would certainly be a very long night.
Part 3
by Strange Music-;
Warnings and Disclaimer see Part 1!!!!
They sat down on the couch, Blair right beside Jim, while they waited to the other two men to dress and get into the living room as well.
Soft voices were coming out of the bedroom, speaking in a laguage that neither of them knew and still they understood so much of what was spoken "Was ist passiert?" a sleepy voice asked.
"Ich weiss es selbst nicht, Blair, sagte das er das alles erklaeren kann." A still worried voice answered. "Wie fuehlst du dich?"
"Muede, aber das ist kein Wunder, schliesslich und endlich ist es mitten in der Nacht."
They heared a quick kiss, and then the two men came into the room.
Both of them looked liked they ment buisness, the loversglance had completely disappeard out of both their gazes.
"So, explain."
Blair took a deep breath and started.
When he was finished half an hour later, he looked at them, expecting the disbelieving expression that he had seen so often through his life. What he did not expect was the wonder that displayed itself on Chris's face and the relief that show on Edgar's.
They looked at each other.
"Das koennte alles erklaeren." Chris wispered intense.
"Vor allem weshalb es keine medizinische Erklaerung fuer diese *Ausfaelle* gibt. Besonders nach dem Unfall hatte ich Angst das es vieleicht an einem Gehirntumour liegen koennte."
"Ich habe dir ja gesagt das ich in Ordnung bin." Looking directly at Blair. "So you say that this is perfectly natural what happens to me."
"Well, not exactly, it *is* natural, but it is not natural."
Three pair of eyes that stared at him disbelieving made him rephrase that sentence.
"I just wanted to say. That even when it is a natural occurrence it is not something that is happening naturally."
The gazes stayed blank.
"A Occurrence in the naturally system of a man or women that is considered natural but is not considered natural enough to be documented.
"You mean. It happens naturally but not often enough that people would know about it and it doesn't happen in a regular basis." Edgar laughed at the smiled that brightened Blair's face.
"Exactly!!! I could kiss you Edgar."
The same second that this sentence had left his mouth he found himself to be the target of two angry cop-glances. Both of them clearly *NOT* amused.
"Hug?" he suggested softly. One nod and a protective arm that secured him to the couch was all the answer that he got.
"Well, in all my studies all over America I have only found 10 People with 1 or two heightens senses and only 1 with all five."
He was prepared at the gaze that Jim threw in his direction. *Don't tell* and he answered it appropriately *Are you kidding*.
Neither of those two men in front of them had known Jim long enough to win his trust, he would never have thought........
"It's him isn't it" Chris asked directly, nodding to Jim.
*I am dead* The gaze that Jim threw in his direction didn't do much to convince him otherwise.
"No," Chris intervened "He didn't say anything. I just concluded that all that talk about you at the Station suddenly makes a lot more sense. And then the gaze that you threw at him, sorry Detective, but that was not very subtitle. Don't worry, your secrets safe with me. As safe as the other one. But I guess that was obvious, that we wouldn't be telling the others at the station about it."
Jim and Blair nodded.
"Which brings me to my next questions? Does Captain Banks knew about it and should we tell him"
"To your first question." Jim answered gently "He knows about us since almost the beginning. And about your second. Frankly, I don't know. We told Simon because he was our friend and we didn't feel like lying to him about something so sacred like love. But he is the only one that knows about it. All others are only guessing and joking."
"What does the Captain say to the rumors?"
"He said he would take care of them tomorrow." He looked down at his watch "or better today."
Feeling Blair's gaze laying one him he turned around to face his lover. "Yes?"
"May I?"
Jim only moved his hands toward Chris as to emphasize *Please be my guest* "Okay, so which of your senses have undergone any big change in the time since the accident."
"How did you know about the....." He realized that all the sudden Edgar had found incredible interest in the white of their ceiling. "He told you didn't he?"
"We just talked."
Looking still at his lover he answered without moving his eyes away "I am sure you did."
"To answer you question..........Well in the beginning I didn't notice any difference, but then I would start having those temporary time looses. For a second I would loose my grasp on reality. It was never as bad as today, still it was bad enough that Edgar had been worried that I might have a braintumour. I even went to get myself tested, with no result. In a way I am grateful for finally getting an answer, even if that answer throws up even more questions than before."
"When was the first time you notice something different?"
"The first time was at that bar..........."

Half an hours later all of Blair's questions had been answered and half an hour after that, he had slept away peacefully in Jim's arms. Followed by Edgar only 15 minutes later.
Leaving only the two Sentinels awaken for talking.
"You know how we met." Chris laughed softly at the memories "My girlfriend threw me out of my flat, and after they stole my car. He was the only one that offered me a place to stay."
"Did you." Jim asked as he was softly striking over his sleeping lovers cheek whose head was peacefully resting in his lap. "You know.....know?"
"That he was gay? Well the first time I remember seeing him was the morning I woke up in his bed. So that question was never asked? The only question I had to ask was. How do *I* feel about it." Absentmindedly he drove through Edgar's hair, whose sleeping head was leaning on his shoulder. "I knew that he was in love with me. He practically said so the moment I moved in. So in the end it just came down to me and my feelings. And at that moment they were a mess. Waking up in another man's bed is not something that you take easy, if so far you have considered yourself straight. It took time and the
practical bang over the head till I got the clue......Beside it didn't exactly help that he, at the time I lived with him, was dealing with stolen cars."
Jim's raised eyebrow, he answered only with a chuckle.
"That's a long story." Looking down at Blair. "How did you two meet."
"We meet three years ago. About two month later he moved in. However it still took another two years till he finally moved up to my bedroom. It all started with one of those undercover Jobs. Only that this time it
would be in a Gay Bar. Until that day, I hadn't even known that he could be anything but 200 % straight, and all those gazes that he was throwing at me, at least in Simon's option, where lost to me. I never even thought about making a move on him till that day."
"What happened?!?"
"I dressed up" Jim smiles fondly as his mind wandered back into the past.
---
The trouser that he had worn that day, had seen the inside of his cabinet for far too long. So when he finally had made it inside he realized that practice breathing would not be something that he should exercise today.
Which also meant that the trousers fit exactly the job they where meant to be.
He had just been slipping into a matching white muscle-shirt when Blair's head had appeared on the stairs. A quick run-down left only a very unhappy expression on his face.
"Not happy Chief?"
Another run-down and a disbelieving shake of his head.
"You are *NOT* planning on wearing *that* trousers in that bar, are you."
"What's wrong with those trousers."
"They are too tight."
"Sandburg, they are supposed to be tight."
But Blair had not been finished "And for God's sake, do you have to wear such a tight shirt, I can count your rips through it."
"What am I suppose to wear, a trashbag." For a few moments he could see that Blair was actually considering the option. "Down" he shouted friendly, underlining it with his finger pointing toward the stairs. An order that was obeyed without question, but not before Jim had seen something else in Blair's eyes, something he had not expected *Jealousy*.
---
"That was the first time that I actually though that this littler bugger, might not be as straight as it seemed. Then one moth later he heard me talk to an old lover of mine on that subject. He picked up the phone and listened in on that call. Two hours later everything was put clear between us and 1 Day later was the first time that I entered the Bull-Pen with a slight limp."
Chris laughed "You also told them the story about too much work-out."
"Well it was true, wasn't it. With someone like Blair it can only be called workout. He is the only person I knew that I think actually *has* coffain in his blood. I don't know where else he would take all that energy."
Another laugher came from Chris "You know the second time that we landed in bed, we still were far from being lovers. Edgar's mother had come over for a visit and once more I found myself without a place to sleep. Edgar offered me his, with the promise that he would be good. And after finding out that the car standing in the garage is not a good place to spent the night I took him on his offer. When his mother found us the next morning he had his hand and his foot spread over me. I know how it looked, especially after I had just spent all my efforts telling his mother that I am *not* *gay*. She just threw one look at us lying like that and meant. "Despite the fact, that at least one of you two is *not* gay, you make a real nice couple."
"Mothers......There was this time when Naomi, that's his mother came to visit......."

The next morning had them both sitting at the Bull-Pen, with eyes that spoke of much too much talking and not nearly enough sleep.
"So what Blair says is that I have only three heightened senses."
"Only. Pal, one of those senses is touch, believe me, you will be happy with that and with taste you will you fun as well and I don't even want to start on hearing."
Much too deep into their conversation, they almost didn't see the two Officer before the nearly stood in front of them.
It was Chris who first caught in on their conversation, nodding to Jim to listen into their direction. He identified one of them as Officer Targa.
[You Sure?]
[Yes, It has to be them, I saw them together yesterday and today as well. I mean make me eat a broom and call me dummy, but I can tell you, if those two aren't the pair that everybody is talking about, I don't know who is.] Targa whispered back
[I would have never guesses, I mean Brown maybe, but Rafe. That's coming as a real surprise for me. I mean I did think that he was too good- looking to be a *real* man.]
[You noticed that he is *good-looking*]
It was that time that Jim used to raise his voice, before those two in front of him might be getting at each other. Shaking his head disbelieving he exchanged a short amused glance with Chris and then shouted "Hey Dummy." Seeing that he had their attention he continued "One of those guys you are talking about is married and the other one is completely in love with his wonderful fiancé. They are good friends, and not a *bit* more."
Having said he part, he turned his gaze down again, but not before wishing Targa, the louder one of both Officer a heartfelt "Good Appetite." and showing him the way to the next Hardware store.
The brooms at the Station where used for better things that being chewed on.
After all that's what they had the coffee for.
When the two had finally disappeared, still muttering under their breath, he turned back to Chris "Can you believe it. That this was what we were worried about all the time. They weren't even close with their suspicion. They didn't even think that it might be one of us."
"I don't want to play the doomsayer here. However I *would* suggest that you don't jinx it."
"Why? What can go wrong?"
The next two things that happened almost reached his mind in the same instant. The first thing was the memory that Simon had promised to him to take matters in his hand today, and the second was the loud voice of him booming over the Bull-Pen.
"Okay now everybody listen to me. I will say that only once. Those rumors that have been spreading in the last few day, I do *NOT* want to hear them anymore. All Officers here have a life outside this job that is their own and as long as it is not illegal, I don't care what they do in their sparetime. So if it is either Officer Anka's upcoming divorce or Detective Ellison living arrangements. I want to no speculation about either of them." With these words he turned around an was gone again.
Leaving the two men with a rather certain hostile suspicion of what would awaited them next.
[Ellison, he *is* still living with that punk Sandburg, isn't he?]
[Yes, and have you seen that touching all the time and have you seen those gazes they trade.]
*How much worse can this situation get.* Jim thought blankly. However the time for thinking was up the moment the door opened.
"Guys, our dealer just called. Get your bags ready, we've got ourselves a catch to make. Ellison, Schwenk get yourself finished up for your performance, this is your call."
Part 4
by Strange Music-;
Warnings and Disclaimer see Part 1!!!!
*Finals*
Was there anything that hell could offer that was worse. Giving and grading those test was something that he didn't wish his greatest enemy.
Okay, they were still young, but god, they should be old enough to know what to do.
He could still remember the moaning when he had sent them handwashing before the test.
Trying not to have a too bright smile at the black smears that he after that saw on a few palms.
Some where cleverer than that, after all it had taken him 3 month till he had found out that the reason that the pencilshaper of Jones, was so well- need during test was because of the little paper with notes struck inside.
Or same where even dumber, like Edward's here, who forgot his *little helper* inside his test, when he handed it over to him at the end.
And the mistakes he didn't even want to think about.
When he taught all year long, he loved to spoil himself with the notion that his students *did* listen to what he had to say, only to be proven otherwise when the finals came.
3 hours grading and he hadn't even started yet.
The soft knocking at the door was almost a blessed welcome distraction.
"Come in"
He was almost surprised when the sight that greeted him, was not that of a student, but rather the sight of a very grown-up man.
"Edgar? What are you doing here? How did you....."
"I asked Jim and he told me.......You don't mind do you?"
"No no, not at all. Please sit down." He stood up to clean a chair for him.
Vowing in his mind, that some day he would keep that chair clean all the time or at least maybe half the time. "What brings you here?"
"It's about Chris and that Sentinel things you told us about yesterday.
Those senses, how are you and Jim managing all this, especially since Jim has all five? "
"We manage" Blair answered, smiling secretly, but after a few seconds he turned serious. He sat down in front of Edgar "It takes some training, but in the end I am sure that you will manage just fine. You've got some time?"
The other man nodded.
Blair threw a painfilled gaze at the still ungraded test lying behind him.
"Well I got time as well. So let's start with the basics. What is a Zone-Out, how can you recognize it and especially how can you prevent it and if necessary resolve it."

They sat down at the large table, Chris at the left side and Frank Schlegel at the right.
Jim, posing as the interested buyer was sitting beside Chris. He had been introduced with a gaze that left no room for objection and no one did.
Now all they had to do was get enough information to get those guys behind bars for a *VERY* long time.
After that they would be home free.
Something that he, for the first time in years, was not looking forward to.
He knew why, that wasn't very hard to find out. Finishing this case meant getting back to vice, something that as time went by, seemed little more appealing each day.
But at the moment that should be the least of his of his worries, if his mind wasn't one the job completely during the next hours, the *last* thing that he'd have to worry about would be his Job.
"Herr Eisenbahner"
"Herr Schlegel"
There where no greetings exchanged, only a simple exchange of names.
In cases like this formality won clearly over courtesy.
"Es ist schoen sie wiederzusehen. Wollen sie und ihr Begleiter etwas trinken? Wein, Bier oder ein Glas Wasser?"
Chris looked at Jim. "You want something to drink." Jim only shook his head.
"Fuer mich ebenfalls nichts." He threw a gaze back at Jim. "Und ich denke das wir zumindest anfangen sollten so zu tun als ob wir in Verhandlung stehen bevor, Mr. James hier misstrauisch wird. Und schliesslich ist er es der das letzte O.K. geben muss. Ich bin nur ein Mittelsmann." "Isn't is so Jack?"
Jim nodded.
Schlegel looked surprised at the exchange "Er versteht kein einziges Wort von dem was wir sagen."
"Kein einziges. Sehen sie her.......Hey, sie sind doch einverstanden das ich mir einfach Fuenfundsiebzig Prozent des Gewinnes behalte in ihnen nur Fuenfzehn Prozent gebe. Schliesslich sind sie ja zu dumm den Unterschied zu merken. Isn't is so Jack."
"Yes it is."
"Sehen sie, ich haette seine Mutter beleidigen koennen und er haette mir vielleicht noch dafuer gedankt." But he also noticed that Jim was slowly but steadily getting annoyed with the game.
"Get on with it, stop playing with him. You are not a cat and he is not a mouse." He whispered angry under his breath so fair that only Chris could hear. "They said that you should win his trust, not become his damn blood-brother."
"Vielleicht sollten wir mit dem geschaeftlichen Teil anfange." Pointing toward Jim, "Er wird nervoes."
"Okay, I biete ihnen 50 AK-47, 200 Handgranaten und 30 Kg Plastiksprengstoff zu einem Gesamtpreis von 70.000 Dollar."
Once more turning back to Jim "He is offering 50 AK-47, 200 Grenades and 30 kg TNT..." he took out a calculator "that's 66 Pounds for a Price of 70.000 Dollar."
Jim only shook his head "That's too much, the most I am willing to pay is 50.000,--"
"50.000,-- Dollar und nicht mehr." He told Schlegel.
"Die Waren sind ihren Preis wert, sie wuerde sie nirgentwo billiger bekommen."
"He says that the are worth the price he wants."
Again Jim shook his head "I am not going to pay that much money on his word of the mouth alone, I want to seen them."
"Er moechte die Waffen sehen."
Apparently Schlegel had counted on something like this to happen, because he only stood up and went to the back of the hall. Indicating them to follow him. "Sagen sie ihm das dies nur ein Teil der Ware ist, der Rest ist auf meinen Schiff in Hafen." He explained as he opened the first box.
"He says that the rest is one his ship."
"Did he?" The smile that Jim wore one his face must have looked very strange, but Chris knew that the one he was answering with wasn't necessarily better.
"Yes, all those nice weapons."
"To bad that he won't have the fun of spending the money."
"Yes, too bad."
This time it was Schlegel who found himself in the role of the guesser, and according to his face he didn't much like this position at all. "Was sagt er?"
The two man continued their game, constantly ignoring him.
"You think we should give him something instead?" Jim suggested.
"Yes, how about something decent in metal."
"WAS SAGT ER?" Schlegel screamed angry.
Chris looked back at Jim who produced a pair of handcuffs from behind his back.
"Ich schaetzte er sagt 'Sie sind verhafted." He looked at Jim "You *did* want to say that he is under arrest, didn't you?"
"Couldn't have said it better."

"You know, he was touching me all time, even before we got together. A slap on the head here, a touch on the arm there. If he wouldn't have told me to my face, that he was completely straight, I would have jumped him the day after he moved in"
"Yes, I remember that touching" Blair moaned "Also drove me half out of my mind. Does Chris also have this thing with those houserules."
"No houserules, but the first thing he did after moving in with me was to clean up my kitchen. I told him that we should get married and he lost the omelet out of his pan. Okay so at that point he still considered himself straight.....I showed him that he was wrong"
The younger man was doubling over with laughter "Edgar did anyone ever tell you, that you have on hell of an evil mind."
Still pretending to look innocents he only raised an eyebrow "Why? I only know what I want."
"You couldn't tell me. Why he has a number tatooed behind his ear?"
"Ohh, that simple...There wansn't enough place for the whole adress."
For a few seconds Blair didn't quiet know whyt to make out of the comment, than he simply filed it under, 'One of those things that couples do - Which no other human being will ever understand.'
They talked a lot that day. Some things serious, some thing light and some things that made them laughed so hard that tears flew down their cheeks. Despite their big difference, there was still so much they had in common.
Enough to let them consider the possibility of friendship.
And when Edgar finally left, they both knew that they would see each other again.
Even if only, to complain about living with a Sentinel.

The rest of the bust was quickly done.
Being literally caught with his hands in the cookiejar, any boygroup couldn't have sung more and more annoying than Schlegel did. "I am innocent" was a sentence they heard almost every 5 minutes, followed by the inevitable, "I was framed." They didn't know if it was because he wasn't willing to talk more or if they were simple the only senteces that he knew of the english language.
But in the end they got their information, plus about a doucend names.
He had sold them everything he had known just to get his neck out of the sling.
In the end it had only bought him 5 years less from 30.
At least after that time, he might even be able to speak English.

The two Sentinel both returned very weary to the Bull-Pen. After all it had been a long day and all the paper work promised to make it even longer.
Sitting down behind his desk, Jim first stretched thoroughly to put that complaining muscles of his backside to peace. It worked, when after a few minutes he finally heard them pop.
"You look like I feel!" Chris observed smiling, earning himself a rundown of Jim's gaze.
"If you feel, like you look, that might fit just fine." For a second he looked like he wanted to add something but in the end he only shook his head.
"Yes?" The inquiring question from Chris came.
"Nothing, just found myself almost thinking out loud." He clearly didn't want to talk about it.
Chris knew how a man with a problem looked, and he also knew from experience that *not* talking about it didn't make it better. However he also had a very good guess what was on the other man's mind.
"It's about the rumors, isn't it?"
The grimace with which Jim answered only gave him right.
"Come on, it's not like they are sure. They are just looking for a victim and the two of your are the best that they can come up with. After that Rafe and Brown they wanted to pair. And after all it is not like it isn't true."
A silent sight and a grimace that disappeared between two hand that clasped over Jim's face.
Chris took it as a sign to continued. "I've been there. I have walked in your shoes. And from that I can tell you that you only have two choices.
Either you tell them they are wrong and go on hiding. Or tell them open to their face and live with the consequences. When I had my big coming out at the Station back in Germany. I told them that they are inclined to their own option. And then I told them that after all I am not the only one with a secret here. That they all have the one or two secrets to hide.
After that the rumors quickly died down as did the comments. So what will you do?"
"I don't know.....all I know is, that we had enough trouble during the last few months and I finally want to have some peace."
The hands had moved away from his eyes and he was now looking directly at Chris.
"I know what you mean." He thought about the problem for a second and in the end the solution that presented him was as simple as it was easy.
"All they need is a target.......You know what, I still own you and Blair a lot for helping me with that SenseStuff or what you call it. If I give them a Target you and Blair will be free to choose when you want to come out instead of having to deal with it now."
"But you can't. You'll have the same trouble that we would have. I can't ask somebody to take a burden from me that I have chosen myself, when I choose Blair."
"Yes you can. Look it from the bright side. In one week I will be back at vice. There everyone know that I live with a man, and that there is more between us that simply *living* together."
He jumped from the table and stared to walk into the middle of the room, but not before Jim was able to catch his arm.
"Thanks", he whispered softly "I own you for this."
"Yes you do." Chris smiled, "and I'll remind you the next time we'll meet for dinner."
Then he took his position.

At first Simon didn't quiet understand the tension that was building up in the Bull-Pen. Till he finally heard Officer Schwenk's voice cut clearly through the mumbles.
He stepped outside, to listen to, what promised to become something interesting.
"First of all. Some of you might not know me. I have only been with this Department for the last month and I will be gone next week at the latest.
So whatever I am going to say now, should not bother as I won't be around long enough."
Making a quick stop, he threw a gaze around to make sure if he got everyone's attention.
"During the last few weeks I have heard rumors and accusation about a Member of this department being together with a man. Now I emphasize the word *rumors*, because none of you ever told me so to my face."
The mutter of the other Officer grew a bit louder.
"I can tell you one thing. What *I* do in my freetime, is my thing and as long as I don't make any advances toward any of you, it shouldn't bother you. And for those who don't know the word so far, it is spelt gay.....G.....A.....Y.... Really easy to spell and if you don't know it, just repeat it a hundred time then it should work just fine.
Out of the group the voice made itself heard "But how is that possible, I saw the ring on your finger, how can you be married, if you are gay."
"Simple, because we have that nice little land named Holland, where those marriages are completely legal."
"But on the Photo you are standing next to a women. I saw it, and I remember her because she is rather pretty."
"Yes, she is. And she was at my wedding, only that she wasn't the one I wed. She was there as my Maid of Honor. The man that's standing next to me is the one I married and if you look closed you should be able to see that. After all you can clearly see that we are wearing the same ring."
With that he concluded his little speech, leaving the rest of the Department speechless behind.
The last thing that Simon saw was that Chris walked over to Jim and they both left the room.

They got together at the nerby restaurant, after picking up Blair and Edgar at the Uni. Talking for hours.
Knowing that despite the fact that Chris would be gone next week they would meet again.
Knowing that something had built a small band between them, and that it wasn't only the knowledge that they shared about the senses.
Because like everything in life.
In the end there were only two things that mattered.
Friendship and Love.
And that would matter till.....
THE END
*****************************************
I appologize for mean remarks about students,
but it is NOT good that I listend to a
teacher while I was writting that last chapter.
A friend of the family who stepped in for a visit.
Sorry no offence intended.
BTW everything that I wrote is true even the one that forgot
his cheatpaper in his test, and the trick with the pecilsharper
is coming from my mother ;-)
*****************************************