Bonded in Love - Angelee

The Littlest Guide

"No. Absolutely not."

"You must. Blair has already been proven to be a guide."

"My son is two years old. Two, god damn it. He is way too young to be a guide."

Blair sat quietly in the chair as he watched the big dark-skinned man and his mommy arguing. He had no idea what they were arguing about. Just that it had something to do with him. And that was only because he kept hearing his name mentioned.

He sighed softly. His mommy had forgotten to pack his books and he'd already eaten his animal crackers. He was bored. Without his mommy or the man noticing, Blair got off the chair and wandered off.

He didn't know he was in a Guide testing facility; where everyone who reached the age of two had to come to be tested. It was mandatory. For the sake of the world's most treasured and rarest of beings-the Sentinel.

Blair didn't know that the blood test they drew from him showed a high level of pheromones that proved to the world that he was a guide. All he knew was that the blood test hurt and he had cried. He did get a chocolate candy for his tears as well as a Batman band-aid for his owwie. The chocolate he'd mostly eaten, now mostly worn smeared all over his face. The band-aid he wore on his right index finger like a badge of courage.

He didn't care about that any more, all he knew was that he was hungry and thirsty. He looked back at his mommy and the man balefully. They were still arguing. He'd have to go in search of what he needed by himself. He was, after all, a big boy.

As he searched for something to eat and drink he heard someone crying. He didn't like that sound. It hurt him. It hurt him in a way he didn't understand. He followed the sounds. It led him into a room where there was a tall, mean-looking man standing over the boy he'd heard crying.

"I know it hurts, Jimmy. They're getting a group of guides together for you now. Hang in there, son."

"Oh, God. Dad, it hurts. My head feels like it's going to explode."

"I know, son. I know. If I could take the pain away, I would. You weren't suppose to come on line for at least ten years. Hang in there, help's coming."

"I 'elp."

Blair walked up to the two who were looking at him curiously. What they saw was a tiny child, a baby really, with a wild mane of curly hair framing wide, blue eyes and a pert little nose. And a face covered with chocolate.

"I 'elp." The tiny little boy said again. Coming up to them unafraid. "No cry. I make better."

Blair went to Jim opening his arms. "Up." He demanded.

Jim reached down doing as he'd been bossily told. "'urt?" Blair asked sympathetically.

"Yes."

Blair sighed sadly. He wiped the tears of pain still coursing down Jim's face with tiny hands. The Sentinel moved into it as the touch eased the pain in his head as if by magic. "No cry. I make all better." He was told softly.

Jim had come online less than twenty-four hours before He'd never known such agony in his whole ten years of life. He hurt. Oh, god-how he hurt. But as the tiny, little munchkin with the chocolate-smeared face made himself comfortable in Jim's lap, it didn't hurt as much. He actually felt a lot better.

Blair, for only being two, knew exactly what he had to do. He moved his curly hair away from the side of his neck exposing it to the Sentinel. "Nose here."

"Huh?" Jim asked distractedly.

"Nose here."

"You want me to put my nose on you neck?" Jim asked. Shaking his head trying desperately to clear the fog.

Blair nodded. "Yes, here. Sniff."

"Sniff?"

"Yup, sniff. Now." Blair demanded impatiently.

"I can't. You're too little. I need someone older."

Blair's blue eyes narrowed. "I not little. I two."

Jim kissed the tip of Blair's tiny nose. "Yes, that is old, Chief." He said smiling down at the child in his lap. "But you're too little to be a guide. I need someone older."

Blair was starting to get very annoyed with this boy. He was refusing his help. A help he was willing to give. "I not too little. I test." Blair held up his band aid covered finger. "See? Doctor say so. I you guide. You mine Sentenell."

Jim shook his head. "No, baby. You're too little. Besides the doctor is coming with a bunch of guides for me to choose from. I hear them coming now."

"I no baby. I Blair. You mine. I you guide. Sniff, now." Blair demanded.

Jim felt funny. As if the room was starting to spin dizzily. His nose was starting to pick up a scent. A scent that was hypnotic and compelling. It was calling him. Cinnamon. Hot and spice.

With a start he realized it was coming from Blair. Blair was calling to him. Releasing the scent into the air.

Yet he shook his head resisting. "No, baby. You're too little. I can't take you for my guide."

"I not too little." Blair told him angrily. "You mine. Sniff."

"No."

"Yes." With that Blair stood on Jim's lap. Practically getting into Jim's face. "Sniff."

"No. Dad help me." Jim pleaded with his father. "Take Blair. Get him out of here."

William Ellison watched quietly. His son had been in such agony. Eased by a tiny slip of a boy. This same boy now demanding Jim make the final commitment of a Sentinel to a Guide. A baby with the will of an adult. Knowing exactly what he wanted and he wanted Jim.

"I don't know, Jimmy. Blair seems to know what he wants. Why are you refusing him? He made you feel better, didn't he?" William asked. Watching in amusement as Blair wrapped his tiny arms around Jim's neck when the threat of being taken away from his Sentinel had been very real.

Jim tried prying the little arms away. Finding Blair to be really strong for such a little tyke. "Yeah, he did. But he's got his whole life ahead of him. I don't want to take that from him."

"So do you, son. You're only ten years old. Your life hasn't even started yet. But you're a Sentinel. Blair, here, may be a little young, but he seems to be a Guide. Your Guide, at least according to him."

"B...but, Dad, I..." Jim's voice trailed off as he noticed Blair sending out more of that odd, hypnotic scent. He shook his head desperately trying to clear it. "Don't, baby." He protested weakly.

Blair tightened his arms around Jim angling his curly-head. "Jim, mine. Sniff."

"I...I can't."

"Can. Nose here. Sniff." Blair told him pointing to the exact spot he wanted Jim's nose with his left hand. With his right he tugged at Jim's head.

Jim unable to fight the comforting scent surrounding him. He finally gave in with a heartfelt moan. Burying his face against Blair's neck; pulling the tiny little body tightly to him.

He felt Blair running gentle comforting hands through his hair. Could hear him making soft cooing noises.

Jim had never felt anything like it in his life. It was as if he was being offered love. Pure, clean, untarnished love. So pure it made his heart ache. It felt so good. So very good. He pulled Blair to him tighter. Wanting more. Keening softly.

Blair gave it. Releasing another flood of scent. Jim's keening increased as it caressed his frayed nerves. Healing all the wounds caused by coming online so suddenly, so painfully.

Something else was happening at the same time. Blair was releasing another scent. Subtle, so subtle, yet to his Sentinel nose clearly defined. Mixed with the heat of cinnamon, there was the clear fragrance of oranges.

With a start Jim realized what Blair was doing. He was releasing the scent that would bind them together for all time. There was no place on this planet that Blair could go that Jim would not be able to find him. He would always know where his Guide was. Always.

Just as the scent would make sure that Jim was his and no others. Would want no other. Ever. As Guide, and as soon as Blair was old enough mate. Blair was making sure Jim knew exactly who he belonged to.

Jim smiled inwardly. For someone so young, Blair seemed to extremely possessive. He no longer fought the bonding. It was hopeless in any case. Blair had seen to that. They now belonged to each other for all times.

Jim buried his finger into soft curly hair as he sniffed hungrily at his guide's neck. He didn't hear the commotion that had taken over the room as the guides from every corner of the planet came woo the youngest Sentinel ever. Jim was deep into the bonding his little Guide had begun.

Finally, the bond firmly in place, they slowly pulled apart. Ignoring the noise in the room. Lost in each other and the bond they now shared. "Better?" Blair asked his Sentinel.

"Yes, baby. Thank you." Jim told his Guide smiling.

"No more pain? All gone?"

"Yes, all gone." Jim said licking at the chocolate covering Blair's face. His tiny guide giggled happily in his arms.

"Jim, silly."

"Yup."

The noise in the room rose to a level they couldn't ignore any more and both of them looked at the dozen or so people yelling and screaming at each other at having lost the only Sentinel every having come on line so young.

"They mad." Blair told Jim.

"Yup."

"Blair, baby. There you are."

A lady with bright, red hair came running toward them. Jim growled at her menacingly when she reached for Blair.

"Hi, mommy. No touch. Jim get mad."

Naomi Sandburg did as Blair said. Not so much because he said it, but because the young boy holding Blair was eyeing her as if she intented to do Blair bodily harm.

"Blair, honey-what did you do?"

"I be good, mommy. I 'elp, Jim."

Naomi wanted to reach out to her son. She couldn't as the growling increased in intensity every time she tried.

Blair turned to the boy holding him. "No growl. Mommy no hurt."

The growling promptly stopped. But icy, cold eyes continued to glare at her. Daring her to take Blair away from him.

"What has happened here?" She asked Simon who'd come up to them. The doctor she'd been arguing with before she noticed Blair was missing.

"They've bonded."

"No." Naomi said horrified.

"Yes. Much to the disappointment of every guide in the room." Dr. Simon Banks looked at the newly christened Sentinel and Guide pair. They were both ignoring the two adults as Jim began licking Blair's face like a cat cleaning it's offspring or mate, much to the delight of the child he held. His clear blue eyes shone happily at every swipe of Jim's tongue. Blair's bright laughter filled the room. "Except for maybe one." Simon added.

"Do something. Dissolve it." Naomi demanded angrily.

Both Jim and Blair stopped what they were doing to stare at her as if she'd grown another head. They wrapped their arms around each other protectively.

"Can't." Simon told her. Biting down hard on his cigar. He couldn't smoke in a hospital facility, but that didn't mean he couldn't have it in his mouth.

"And why not?" She demanded.

"Because there is no way to dissolve a bond once it's in place." William Ellison told her.

"And who the hell are you?"

"I'm William Ellison. I'm Jim's father."

"Well, then you do something. I want my son back." Naomi demanded.

"Can't."

"And why the hell not? It seems to me all I've been hearing is a lot of can't."

"Because Blair now belongs to Jim." He told her calmly.

Naomi began arguing with the two men. Her voice joining the ones already yelling in the room.

Blair looked at Jim signing softly. "They fight lots."

"Yup." Jim replied. Rolling his eyes in disgust.

"Jim. I hungry. Thirsty. Gotta pee, too. Real bad." Blair told his Sentinel plaintively.

"Okay. Come on."

So busy arguing no one in the room noticed when the persons they were arguing about walked right out of the room, right passed them. Blair held tightly in Jim's arms.

*************************

With the most pressing of Blair's needs met Jim took Blair to the cafeteria. That's where their perspective parents and Dr. Banks found them.

Blair's tiny hands waving wildly as he told Jim a wild tale about wolves and panthers. The Sentinel listening tolerantly. After saving Blair's apple juice from being knocked over time and time again. He was offering his Guide a piece of peanut butter and jelly sandwich when...

"Blair Jacob Sandburg, what have I told you about running off like that?" Naomi scolded angrily.

Blair turned startled eyes toward his mother. "I no run off mommy. I wiff Jim."

"I'm still your mother, Blair Sandburg."

"Yes, mommy-always. But I belong wiff Jim now." Blair told her. Quickly scrambling off his chair and into Jim's lap.

Naomi reached out her arms. "Baby, come with me. We'll figure out how to dissolve the bond."

Jim growled at her pulling his little Guide close. Blair tilted his head sideways. "Shh. No worry. Sniff." Releasing scent to calm his agitated Sentinel. Jim complied, sniffing hungrily at Blair's neck.

"No mommy. No belong you. Belong Jim." Blair told her.

"B...but I'm your mommy." Naomi replied. More than a little bit stunned at the turn of events.

Jim growled against Blair's neck. "Mommy, stop. You hurt Jim. No can let. Go now." Blair said. Soothing Jim with his tiny hands.

"Mrs. Sandburg, you need to stop this." Dr. Banks told her. "The law is on the side of Jim and Blair."

"I won't let this happen. He's just a baby." Naomi replied. Her blue eyes filling with tears.

"A baby he may be, but he is Guide to one of the youngest Sentinels in recorded history. There is nothing you can do."

"I'll file a complaint."

Simon shook his head. "Do it if you wish, but if I were you I won't go to the time and expense. You will lose."

"Mrs. Sandburg, why are you fighting this? All of Blair's needs will be met from now on. And I mean all of them. From clothes to food to college expenses when he's ready. Not only that he will be protected by one of the most powerful beings on the planet. Jim will die before he lets anything happen to Blair." William Ellison told her softly.

"And he will also become his lover." Naomi replied bitterly.

"Yes. That he will, but not until he's old enough." William agreed.

"I wanted more for my child than to be burdened with a Sentinel."

"Mrs. Sandburg, being a Guide to a Sentinel is not a burden. Look at your son. Does he look like he's burdened?"

Naomi looked at Blair who was carefully holding Jim's head against his neck, quietly talking to him.

"Blair, is this what you want? Do you want to stay here with Jim?" She asked sadly.

Blair looked up, eyes shining happily. "Yes, Mommy."

"Jim." The young Sentinel's head came up. "Do you swear you'll take care of my baby? You'll never let anything bad happen to him?"

"I swear, Mrs Sandburg. On my life."

Naomi wiped at the tears coursing down her face. "Well, it seems as if I have no choice. I won't fight this anymore."

"Good. That's good. Come with me to my office. There are papers you need to fill out." Simon told her. Gently urging her out of the room.

"I just wanted him to experience life to the fullest. See the world."

"Oh, he'll do all that. Only now he'll have a Sentinel at his side when he does it." Simon replied. "And I envy him with all my heart." He added. Turning to look at the youngsters cuddling tightly on a cafeteria chair.

To be continued.

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Acknowledgement: Thank-you to Patt Rose for the truly beautiful artwork and to Mary for beta.