Jonathan walked into the bedroom where David lay in his bed. The billionaire was even more pale than usual, his breath coming in labored gasps, and his body trembling slightly. Jonathan went immediately to David's bedside, and held his friend and employer's hand in his own two strong ones and leaned over to look at David whose own lids opened to look at Jonathan.  

"He's coming for me. I can see Him. I can feel him." David said in a low whispered voice.  

"Who?" Jonathan asked.  

"Death." David answered and Jonathan flinched at the word. David looked at Jonathan, "I have a few hours yet, my friend. A few hours. I can see so much, such clarity. I can touch the stars, and feel their light on my face."  

Jonathan's eyes filled with tears as he listened to his best friend's fevered litany. He leaned over and kissed David's forehead, hot tears splashing on the pale face. *Not yet. Please, don't take him yet.* Jonathan didn't know if he was asking God, Death or the devil himself. All he knew is that he didn’t' want to lose David. Not now, not ever.  

"His eyes...he's eyes burn like fire. It’s raining? I can't see the clouds. The stars are covering them, and I can't find the clouds, help me find the clouds, Jonathan."  

Jonathan kissed David's hand and said, "I'll help you find the clouds, David. I'll help you to touch them."  

"We touched the clouds once, you and I. When we were on the Himalayas. You remember. We touched the clouds and saw the heavens. It was cold, but it was beautiful." David's words had more clarity than Jonathan had heard since he had come into the room.  

"I remember, David. They were beautiful." Jonathan said brushing the tears from his face.  

"I'm sorry, Jonathan. I made you cry. I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I'm sorry so sorry." David's voice trailed off.  

David smiled at that, and reached up with a weak and shaking to pat his friend's face. "One last thing, Jonathan, then you are free. Bring him to me. One last...last..." David's voice trailed off as his eyes closed. Jonathan became alarmed at first then realized David was still breathing.  

Knowing what David wanted, Jonathan stood up and went to the door. On the other side was one of his men, and he whispered the orders to him. The man nodded, and left the door. Jonathan went back into the room to watch over David as they waited.  

 

Jim groaned, and struggled to wakefulness when heard the familiar sound of the hoist starting up. Before the chain could force him, Jim went over to the wall and kneeled down, cheek pressed against the wall as the chain was shortened.  

Three of Jonathan's men entered room, and Jim followed their movements with his hearing. When they were beside him, Jim felt their hands on him as one of them pulled down his sweats and boxers and rubbed an alcohol pad on his left buttock while the other two held his wrists. Jim flinched as the needle jabbed him, and the sedative was pushed into his body. The men held him until the sedative began to kick in, then blindfolded him, handcuffed his hands, and unchained him from he wall. They lifted his body up and placed Jim on a gurney, which they wheeled out of the room. The sedative was a light dose, just enough for him to feel disassociated from his body, but not enough to put him to sleep especially with him fighting the effects.  

Jim knew where they were going, and wasn't surprised when he distantly felt himself being lifted and placed against the warm covered body of the dying man. Nor was he surprised to feel a hand placed on his head. "Don't struggle, Ellison. David's unconscious so he won't be petting you. Just lie there and sleep. I'm sure you remember what happens if you struggle." Jonathan whispered to the sentinel.  

Jim didn't struggle, but he continued to fight the sedative not wanting to fall asleep beside the dying man whose heartbeat and respiration told him that the end was nearing. Instead he lay there, blinded by the bit of cloth over his eyes, and tried to slowly move into a more comfortable position that wasn't putting too much pressure on his cuffed hands.  

Jonathan allowed the tiny movements Jim made knowing the sentinel was just trying to get comfortable. He watched David's face, and every so often looked at the monitors that told him David was still alive. When the heart rate and respiration increased slightly, Jonathan knew David was regaining consciousness. The hand that lay on the sentinel's head began to twitch then slowly move, running down Ellison's head to his neck then back up again fingers separating the hair and lifting them up as his hand went back to the top of Jim's head. David's eyes opened slowly and his head tuned to look down at the sentinel at his side then up to look at Jonathan. David smiled at Jonathan who smiled back eyes glittering with unshed tears. David's hand lifted and grasped Jonathan's hand weakly.  

Jonathan allowed his hand to be placed on Jim's head with David's hand resting on top of his. David then slowly moved Jonathan's hand down Jim's head and neck brushing over the steel collar that encircled the sentinel's throat, and then back up again. "So soft." David said and the tone of voice told Jonathan that his friend wasn't completely coherent. "Soft, like a cat's fur. Beautiful, so beautiful. I can't believe its real. A real sentinel here. Beautiful, soft. Like a cat's, did I tell you. Like a cat's." David insisted and Jonathan nodded, "It is. As soft as a cat's. You're right."  

David released Jonathan's hand, and placed his own on Jim's shoulder feeling the warm skin beneath his hand. He absently rubbed his hand over the warm skin, and looked up at Jonathan who had removed his hand from Jim's head. "I don't need the stars or the clouds, Jonathan. I have you." David said and with that he closed his eyes, and the alarms on the monitors went off as David's heart stopped beating. Jonathan hurried to turn off the alarms seeing that the noise was too much for the sentinel who squirmed beside the body of his friend.  

When the alarms were off, Jim did not stop struggling, not wanting to be lying next to a dead body.  

Jonathan held Jim down not really in the mood to deal with the sentinel. When a hissed warning to stop did not cease Jim's struggling, Jonathan quickly stripped Jim's sweats and shorts, and swatted Jim's butt five times in rapid succession. The blows hurt, and startled the sentinel who immediately stopped fighting long enough for Jonathan to spank Jim three more times, then re-cloth the sentinel. Three of Jonathan's men entered the room and took the sentinel at Jonathan's order. "Take him back to the room and chain him. Then pack." The men nodded and left the room pushing the gurney.  

Once he was alone, Jonathan looked at his long time friend. The DNR orders that David had signed had kept him from trying to bring his friend back. He reached over and closed the eyelids over the dark and now unseeing eyes, and bowed his head allowing the tears to fall freely.  

 

An hour later, Jonathan straightened himself up knowing that there was much to do. He called the doctor, who said he would be over to declare David dead, and sign the Death certificate. Jonathan then called David's private airport and told them to get the jet fueled and ready. He then called David's lawyer.  

Jonathan found his men, all those who knew of Jim's presence in the house, and told them to get of the airport.  

"I've got to make sure the staff won't be implicated, and wait for the doctor to show. The lawyer is taking care of everything else. You guys take care of yourselves." He told them, and they said they're goodbyes. Each man had a million dollars and had chosen a country to live in. Homes had already been set up for them in the country of their choice, and their families where already there and waiting.  

Jonathan went down to the kitchen after having sent the staff home. He took a dolly and loaded it up with a few boxes, then wheeled it down to Jim's room. The sentinel watched his entrance, laying on the mattress the chain having been shortened.  

"Inside the boxes are some MRE's (Meals ready to Eat) and bottled water. I don't expect you'll be here very long. A couple days. I'll leave you the remote for the television. The food and water should last four weeks just in case. Another box holds about two weeks worth of clean clothes and shower supplies. You shouldn't be here that long. When I leave the room I'll release the chain to its full length." Jonathan told the sentinel as he unloaded the boxes from the dolly. Jim said nothing as he watched Jonathan. The ex-Navy Seal left the room, and locked the door behind him. True to his word the hoist released the chain so that Jim could move about the room.  

Jim checked the boxes to find that Jonathan had told the truth, and then went back to the mattress. He fell asleep sometime later.  

Dr. Michael Barrington entered the mansion surprised that no one had answered the door. He knew that even if the staff had been dismissed for the day, Jonathan at least would be there. Thinking perhaps that the ex-Navy Seal was indisposed at the moment, Dr. Barrington used his own key to get into the mansion. He walked up the stairs and headed for David's room. When he opened the door and looked at the bed where he knew David's body would be, he stopped in shock and the blood drained from his face. Laying beside David's body was Jonathan, the .45 caliber semi automatic pistol laying a few inches from his hand, and the back of Jonathan's head blown off from the force of a .45 caliber full metal jacket hollow point. Swallowing back a lump in his throat, Dr. Barrington walked toward the bed.  

There was no note, nor was one needed. The reason for Jonathan's action was clear. The two hands clutching each other were enough.  

Dr. Barrington contacted the police, and within a few minutes a couple of uniforms were there along with a detective. The forensics chief declared it a suicide, and the house was not searched very thoroughly so the hidden rooms in the basement were not found.  

The bodies were removed from the house and tape placed over the doors. Dr. Barrington left and contacted David's lawyer to tell him what had happened. The man was not at all surprised.  

 

Blair Sandburg walked into his apartment setting his backpack down near the door, and hanging his jacket on a peg. He put the mail down on the countertop, and went to the fridge to get something to drink. He had gone by the Major Crimes department, and Simon had informed him solemnly that they still had no clues to Jim's whereabouts. The note Blair had been sent had given the guide some hope that Jim was alive and would be returning. Simon wasn't sure they should believe the note, and Blair knew that Simon believed that when they found Jim it would only to be to have a body to bury. Blair couldn't allow himself to give up the tiny fragment of hope; otherwise his despair would truly know no bounds.  

Sorting through the mail, Blair found that he had a certified letter waiting for him at the post office. Glancing at the clock, Blair noted that he had a few hours before the post office closed. Aware that any message might just be another note, Blair pulled his jacket back on and headed for his vehicle. He drove to the Post Office, and handed over the yellow slip of paper and signed for his certified letter. Looking at the return address, Blair murmured, "Dyers, Byron and Finch, Attorneys at Law. Why would lawyers be contacting me?"  

Shaking his head, Blair went out to his Volvo, then since the curiosity was about to eat him alive, Blair opened the letter. It was a formal letter, typed that said Blair was asked to be at the reading of a will for a one David Keith Mandorian II. 

"I've never heard of this guy." Blair said to himself. He knew it wasn't one of Naomi's endless successions of men. He was sure of that. "Maybe I should contact them and make sure that it isn't some kind of mistake."  

Decided, Blair drove back to the apartment, and called the lawyers office getting the number from the letter. The secretary answered the phone, and Blair mentioned the letter. The secretary seemed to recognize his name, though why, Blair couldn't say, and transferred him to someone else.  

"Mr. Sandburg. My name is Wallace Finch. Our firm represented Mr. Mandorian who died recently from cancer. You are mentioned in his last will and testament, and we need you to be at the reading."  

"Why would he do that?" Blair asked confused.  

"Mr. Mandorian was very interest in anthropology, and had sent donations to the Rainier University and also helped in several grants that you qualified for." Finch said as explanation. Blair nodded to himself. Perhaps the man had left money for Rainier, and had chosen Blair to represent Rainier since he had been the recipient of the grants.  

"When is it?" Blair asked.  

"Tomorrow at 7pm here at the office." Mr. Finch answered.  

"Alright, I'll be there."  

 

The next day, Blair straightened his tie as he walked into the offices of Dyers, Bryon and Finch and went directly to the secretary's desk. The older gray haired secretary directed him to the correct office. Blair shook hands with the lawyer and noticed that he was the only one in attendance. "Where is everyone else?" Blair asked.  

Mr. finch answered, "Most of the beneficiaries have already received their money before Mr. Mandorian's death. And the main beneficiary committed suicide the day of Mr. Mandorian's death and that has yet to be straightened out. Normally because of that we would not be reading the will until it was settled, but Mr. Mandorian was adamant that this part of the will be taken care of without delay."  

"Okay." Blair said as he took a seat at Mr. Finch's direction.  

"Now, Mr. Sandburg, I will read the part that pertains directly to you. 'And to Blair Sandburg, a graduate student at Rainier University, I leave the contents of my basement museum, this key, and the secret it unlocks." Mr. Finch handed over a small key, which Blair took and studied it.  

"His museum?" Blair asked.  

"Yes. Mr. Mandorian was also an anthropologist and an archeologist. He has collected quite a few artifacts. Here are the directions to getting to basement museum since it is well hidden to discourage thieves, and the password to get through the lock. Also a private letter from Mr. Mandorian that he wished for you to read when you reached his home. Here is the address and the instructions on how to shut off the alarm. Mr. Mandorian was adamant that you be allowed access."  

*Stranger, and stranger, * Blair thought as he took the papers. He signed on the lines that Finch pointed out, and then shook hands with the lawyers thanking them. He left confused.  

Blair decided that he would head over to the mansion the next day since it was so late. He headed home where he showered, then fixed something to eat. Blair graded papers and worked on a term paper before finally heading off for bed.  

 

The next day Blair went to his morning classes. He managed to get through them without being totally distracted by his own curiosity. When lunch came, Blair left the campus and drove to the mansion using the directions given to him by the lawyers.  

He turned off the alarm, and went inside. The place was huge, and Blair looked about him in amazement, and then opened the letter.  

"Dear Blair,  

I must apologize for worrying you. It was a tough decision to make, but when one is dying priorities tend to reorganize themselves in your mind. In the basement museum you will find all of my sentinel artifacts that I have collected over the years. My obsession with sentinels was equal to your own, only you managed to find what I could not, and in my final days had to steal from you to give myself that final satisfaction. A real live sentinel. " 

Blair stopped reading as he gasped trying to catch his breath shocked beyond all reason. He felt himself on the verge of a panic attack, and tried his best to calm himself so that he could return to he letter knowing it would reveal Jim's fate.  

When he was calm, or as calm as he was going to get, Blair finished reading the letter.  

"I will understand if you cannot forgive me for my transgression. The brain tumor was killing me, driving me insane, and I felt that I needed to accomplish my goal before I died. Those who helped me are safe from prosecution, living well in other countries. They are good men with families who did what they did out of friendship, not money.  

You will find your sentinel, alive and unharmed, in a room just opposite from the basement museum. Both rooms are hidden, the door directly behind the bookshelf in the living room. Not very original I know, but well hidden. To open the bookcase, lift the bust on the second shelf, and beneath it you will find a keypad. The numbers in sequence, 5 9 3 0 will open the bookcase and allow you to go downstairs where you will find two doors. On your left the keypad sequence is 7 6 3 9 and will open the door to your sentinel's cage. The key will unlock the shackle. On your right will be the museum itself. The number sequence for it is 4 7 0 1. They are now yours to do with as you wish. Take care of yourself, Blair. I know you will take care of him." 

Growling with anger, Blair went directly to the bookcase and did as the letter said. The bookcase slid open to reveal a door, which he opened and descended down a ramp into a hallway. He found the door he was looking for and taking a deep breath he punched in the numbers.  

 

Jim paced the room for what seemed like the thousandth time. He looked over at the dismantled remote angry that he couldn't find anything within in it to pick the damn lock on the collar. He had disconnected the shower and the sink as well and had not found anything within them to use as pick. He couldn't reach the TV thanks to the chain. The mattress had no springs in it, so he hadn't even bothered to tear it open. It was only a feather mattress. The MREs were no help, nor were the shower supplies. Jonathan had known exactly what he was doing.  

Frustrated, Jim tried to read the Clive Cussler novel but really couldn't get into the adventures of Dirk Pitt. The room seemed to be smaller that it had ever been. He realized that he was missing the comfort of a human voice. The TV was too artificial for the sentinel. Angry with himself for even missing his tormentors, Jim stalked the room like an angry panther wondering when he was leaving his cage.  

A click and footsteps echoing though the hallway outside his door had the sentinel turning his attention outside the room. A familiar and welcome heartbeat reached his ears, and Jim knew that Blair was there to get him. The hoist started up and the chain was shortened since it was connected to the keypad outside the door. Jim went to the mattress and waited. The last number was punched in, and the door opened. Standing at the entrance was the greatest sight Jim had seen in a long time. The whirlwind known as Blair raced into the room to hug his sentinel while tears sprang from his eyes. Jim hugged him back happy to have his guide within his arms, the heartbeat in his ears, and the scent in his nostrils.  

"Oh god, Jim! I knew you were alive, I knew it." Blair said as he hugged Jim even tighter. "I was so scared. I have never been this scared, not even when Lash had me."  

"Its alright, Chief. I'm here now. I'm safe and so are you." Jim answered. Blair pulled back and noticed the shackle around Jim's neck. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the key. And within a few minutes the hated collar was removed. Jim stood up with Blair's help and together the two of them walked out of the room that had been Jim's cage for three and half weeks.  

Once outside the basement, Jim looked around. "Where are we, Chief?" He asked. 

"Still in Cascade. The man was a billionaire by the name of David Keith Mandorian II. He left me the sentinel artifacts in his will along with your location." Blair answered.  

"His assistant told me he would do that. The man was sick. The brain tumor made him insane. I really don't blame him. I blame his assistant. Jonathan."  

"Jonathan?"  

"Yeah. He's probably in China now, or someplace that has no extradition with the US."  

"Jonathan killed himself, Jim. The same day Mandorian died." Blair said.  

Jim looked at Blair in shock. Then when he thought about it he realized that it wasn't that much of surprise. And Jim knew for certain that Jonathan had done what he had done out of friendship not money. He looked at Blair and wondered for the first time to what lengths would he go to for his friend. Would he kidnap someone, kill someone, all for his guide? The answer made Jim shiver even in the heat, and then he placed a hand on Blair's shoulder and said, "Let's go home, Chief." And when Blair smiled, and the smile seemed to warm Jim within, the sentinel knew the answer was a strong affirmative.  

THE END