The Beginning

Notes: For a newbie, I just had to write something, anything. This came about from an idea I had from years ago. I may write something of an off tangent later. It depends if anyone likes this. Contact me either way and if you don't like it tell me why. The writer wants to know. Decided to go ahead and post without being beta'ed. Otherwise, I'll just get scared. Sorry, I promise to do so next time.

Watching from the shadows of the building, the stranger stood there and observed the couple before him. "I wonder if they're the ones the prophecy foretells of," he comments to himself. "I hope they are, but right now it doesn't matter. Even if they are'nt we still need finders. I hope I have enough time to train them." Taking another look, he raised his hand and disappears from sight.

"I'm already here, Jim. You don't need to yell. What's eating you? You've got to lighten up over last night, man. I mean, even though she was using you to make her man jealous at the restaurant he owns and dumps you after the first date when he has you not so politely escorted out the door doesn't give you the right to jump on everyone else," Blair exclaims, while Jim sat at his desk giving all the paperwork in front of him the evil eye, looking as if he was having one of those days everyone hates. <I wonder if I'll make his day even worse> he chuckles inside his head at the mood he'll be in once he finds out the paperwork for that convention in Dallas has to be in tomorrow. Walking over to him in no rush at all, he hands him a packet.

"It's the paperwork that administration has been trying to send you for the past month and a half for that convention in Dallas that we're supposed to attend. Jim, how could you put this off so long. If you didn't want to do it, you could have told me and I would've done it in my spare time. I don't need to have this to do tonight as well as the midterm exams that have to be graded. And from the look of things, I'll be the one doing it."

Leaning back, Jim looked at him with suppressed frustration. Giving him a stern look and a fair warning in his eyes, said "I'm sorry Chief, it's just that of all the things that could happen to me on a date, getting assaulted by her jealous boyfriend, whom she told me she wasn't seeing anymore, while she egged him on and then being forcefully escorted out of his restaurant isn't my idea of a wonderful date. The whole restaurant stopped and stared. I couldn't believe it when my hearing picked up the patrons and workers were betting on the outcome. Do you know how embarrassing that is. It's more like the type of trouble you get into, not me."

"And while your at it you can tell your girlfriends that Cascade PD is not your personal mail box. Have them sent to your home, not here," lectured their boss, Simon, "I've just come from a meeting with the Chief of Police and the Mayor. This concerns all city department personnel. We've always had this but now it's being enforced. All personal business has to be handled at home. If you are consistent with violations, that employee is subjected to fines up to 500$. And I don't think you want that, do you, Sandburg. After all, you are the official unpaid advisor to the department. I doubt you can afford to keep paying those kind of fines." He looked at Sandburg as if he had just won a major argument. <Maybe he has at that?>thought Blair, as he was handed the large, yellow envelope.

Squeezing the thickness, Blair could feel the hard substance in it. Opening it, out fell two medallions. Made of gold and inlaid around the edges with silver, they were embossed with dragon heads. One of them had a dragon that seemed to be full of laughter and happiness. On the back of it was the letters in an unusual elegant script BS. Looking at the other medallion, he saw that it had a dragon that appeared mature and responsible, one that could be trusted immediately with one's life. On the back of it was the same script with the letters JE. Looking down he found a short note that said- Watchman and Guide Two lives, one heart To lead, follow and find Guided by fate with Two paths open before you One filled with darkness, the other of light To find the changelings within and without Then the bond of Dragons Will complete the circle of destiny.

Blair just stared at the note, <What is going on? Who knows about Jim and I>. From his desk, Jim picked up his guide's accelerated heartbeat as well as his unnerved expression and gave him a sharp look. Ryf and Simon glanced at the gift in astonishment as if they were wondering who on earth would send this type of present. Then Simon picked one of them up and after studying it said, "Well come on Sandburg. Don't keep us guessing who the note is from. From the looks of these medallions, they're solid gold. Whoever your girlfriend is, she must be loaded,"

"Simon, Ryf, I need to talk with Jim a minute. The note says its actually for both of us. See, the medallions have our initials on it." They leave, with Simon handing the medallion back and giving him a serious look as if he knows that the gift and accompanying note is more serious than he wanted them to know.

"It's not that farfetched that someone would find out about us. I mean it's happened to us before. Let me see the medallions." Blair silently hands him both. Jim looks at them and uses his senses to see if he can tell anything about them. "Chief, I'm not picking up any fingerprints. There's no perfume or identifying scent on them. But they are solid gold. That silver colored inlay feels like platinum." Looking up, he meets Blair's eyes and "Do you realize the fortune we have here?"

"They must be worth over $10,000" Blair exclaims, with his eyes lighting up with avarice at the idea of selling the medallions. <After all I am a poverty stricken student> "No you aren't doing what I think you're thinking of doing. We need to find out who in the hell knows about us. I will not have another blackmail attempt tried on us ever again." was Jim reply's to that mercenary look.

Giving him an expression of petulance, like a child, as if his most cherished dream was denied, Blair comments, "Well, there's no return address, so there's no way to track them that way. So, how are we gonna find out about the sender. I don't think these medallions were made here in Cascade. They look like original pieces and if that's so they were probably created by commission from a private maker. I doubt we could even find the creator because usually those type of masters only do it for hobby or by word of mouth. Sometimes only for friends. And there's also the other possibility of them being far older than we think they are. They do seem to give the appearance of great age. Or maybe that's just an impression I get from wishful thinking."

"Yes!" One word implied a wealth of meaning. Blair knew that he meant it with his entire being. One of the things that Blair loved about Jim was his sense of integrity. Very few people had as much honor as him. Thinking of that led his mind to other thoughts. Trying to suppress them hadn't worked before so why he should imagine that they would work now was crazy. (Oh God! Why now? Why the hell do I have to be in love with a man. A straight man at that. God, he's so beautiful sitting there. What do I do. I can't keep acting like everything is normal around him. Sooner or later, I'll slip and reveal too much.) he wailed within his mind, while acting as if there was nothing was wrong.

"I gotta go. There's a meeting of faculty at the U and I have to attend it, unfortunately. When I get home I'll do the paper work for the convention and then we'll talk about what to do about them. Why don't you go ahead and hand mine over. Since they were sent to us we might as well take advantage of wearing them. It's not often I get to wear an expensive piece of jewelry." Jim, with laughter in his face, silently hands Blair the medallion with his initials. "Chief you'll never change." Before placing it in his hands, though, he looked down at the laughing dragon. "You know, the expression on this dragon is just like you. Whoever had these made must know our personalities even if they don't know us. That dragon is laughing like it's a part of him. You do that too you know. One thing that can be counted on around you is being able to laugh."

"I know. Yours appears to represent the ideals of responsibility and honor. Those are personality traits that anyone would say you have," Blair remarked while placing the medallion around his neck. When he did, the light seemed to play around it. It seemed to glow brighter with an ethereal light. Becoming too brilliant, he looked away. Quickly, he looked down again and it just glowed with just the dull gloss of gold. (God, I must be so stressed with loving Jim, I'm seeing things.) "Bye Jim" hair flying around him, he bounced out of the precinct.

( God, when is this love for him going to go away. I always fall out of love after awhile. I'm not capable of loving someone forever. So why the hell am I still in love with him after three years of living together. It seems that I would have learned to dislike his slovenly habits, not enjoy berating him all the time about the house rules. I wouldn't have fixed the door on his room and I wouldn't be letting him stay for free as well as loving him with all my heart if that were the case. I wouldn't be in love with a MAN. Dammit, I'm straight. I've always been attracted to women. So why am I suddenly not only physically attracted-hell, might as well call a spade a spade-in lust to, but in love with as well. Something is going to have to give. I can't keep acting as if we are only best friends, even if we are.)

Jim looks down at the medallion, and all of a sudden peace comes to him. He has this feeling that everything will come out right. Before he even realizes that he's doing it, he puts the medallion on. The next thing he knows, he forgets about the it and starts working on the reports on his desks. Anyone having seen what just happened would have the impression that a spell was placed upon him.

Without looking up, Blair commented, "Hey Jim, I've almost got the paperwork filled out. Man, I didn't know so many forms were needed just to go to Dallas. I mean, there are even questions here that I wouldn't think would be necessary to even ask. Like do you smoke, and for how long. Do you need special facilities for handicaps and if so what types and for how often. Jim, we wouldn't even be going to this convention if we had physical disabilities. As a cop, you sure wouldn't have disabilities or you couldn't do your job. Why would they even be on the form."

"Actually Chief, that's not quite true. This convention is about law enforcement in general and there will be many civilians at this convention. There are civilians who work in our police department. Many of them have handicaps. And even cops can have some disabilities, such as diabetes, where insulin or medication could control it. And as for the smoking, I imagine that's to find out whether to book the hotel for smoking or non-smoking rooms."

"None of us do. That's why I kinda put off the paperwork. The last time I had to go to one of these, I just about blew the roof. If there's one thing about my job that I hate its that," nodding his head at the pile of papers laying beside the computer. Looking amused, Blair stated the obvious, "I can see what you mean." Getting up to get himself a cup of tea from the stove, he asked, "What kind of case did Simon say we have?"

"Jim, I've studied just about every ancient culture known to mankind and I've never in my life seen anything like these things. They resemble eggs far to much to be coincidental. What would be the security reason for a device to hold valuables for it to be made in the shape of an egg. To me, that just makes it even more obvious to would be thieves."

"I never said it made sense. I just said he's considered to be the expert here. You can ask him all the questions you have to your hearts content tomorrow." Yawning, he said tiredly, "I'm sorry, but after the weird couple of days I've had, the loss of sleep is starting to catch up with me. I'm afraid I'll have to pass on dinner."

Too tired to remove any of his clothes, the medallion pulled out of his shirt and fell on top of his chest. Glowing with a soft incandescent light, it seemed to emit gentle, relaxing waves that indicated sleep. The glow increased until his whole body was encased with light. All of a sudden it winked out. Jim was more calm and relaxed in his sleep, as if he'd just entered a wonderful dream.

The panther ran through the forest with something chasing after him. Leaves hitting him, jumping over anything in his way, he continued until he reached the temple. Looking around he searched for something. Suddenly, a man stood there, dressed in ceremonial garments of the tribal shaman, with a mask of authority. The panther stared at the spirit and just stood before him, silently.

Suddenly, the shaman states, "You have been brought before the temple of judgement and divine ordinance. From here comes all choices and fates that people must make and follow if they are to lead their destined life. Your life is at a crossroads. If you do not choose the correct path, then you will die."

"The decision is now. You are Guide. That holds certain responsibilities and requirements which you perform excellently, but the bond is not complete. That which is hidden from you, the many truths which rule your life, must be revealed or you will know no peace. And there are many hidden truths. Each truth requires a choice. But before you can make that choice, you must find the truth. On the path you follow, if you will search for what you are told to search, trust the advice of the stranger, and believe in what you know not to be true, then you will find unity."

The shaman disappears as instantly as he first appeared, leaving the panther before the precipices edge. He looks down into the blackness and knows suddenly that he must decide. The first choice was before him. He plays it safe and his life would go on but his soul would die because of no completion. He also knew that his soul wasn't the only one who would wither from incompleteness. Decision time! He looks down into forever darkness and contemplates. Thinking it over, he knows there is no choice for him anymore.

All to quickly, he's flying. Moving fast through the air, with only his powerful wings to keep him in flight. Undulating within the winds, he's joyous of the freedom of movement. He twists his long head around and keeps his wings beating to an instinctive pattern, looking for his mate. Armored body hovers within the air, his magnificent dark reddish copper scales glean within the moonlight. His pale golden underside faces the darkness below. Feeling changed, it needs its mate. It needs completeness.

Bursting up from his pillow, Blair wakes from the most realistic dream he'd ever had in his life. He'd always dreamed vividly, but even this dream was beyond normal. Still sleepy and drowsy, he could still feel the air pounding against his wings as he was held aloft in the boundless sky. He remembered the flight and the freedom that came with it. He remembered the choice and his decision. He knew, instinctively, the life he had to have if he was to find the happiness and contentment he needed within his life.

After making his herbal tea, he enters the living room. After relaxing for awhile, finishing his drink, he heads back to bed, passing the base of the stairs on his way. Hesitating, he looked up at the loft bedroom and knew that a decision, the first of many revealed from his dream, had to be made.

(What am I going to do? There's so much Jim doesn't know about me. I've never even had the courage to reveal my deepest secrets. Even if I don't reveal my heart to him, I'm still faced with holding in the secret that is the foundation of my life. How do I tell him or better yet, what do I tell him. Just because I'm different from other men (not referring to homosexuality) doesn't change the fact that I'm primarily male.)

(Pro-I can finally tell him about myself. Con-But I could lose him out of my life for good. Pro-I don't have to worry about accidently revealing my secret. Con-He probably doesn't feel that way and that would totally destroy me. Pro-He would most likely understand about being different and doing everything you can to keep a secret. His Sentinel senses are as strange as my secret. The problem is that there has been no one I've wanted except him for----The Hell With This!)

Looking at Jim laying on top of the bed, fully clothed and sound asleep, he thought (God, look at him. He is the most beautiful person on the face of this earth. He's had such a rough couple of days, with all the embarrassing things happening (falling into a pile of manure was just one of them), its no wonder he's worn out. Its just my luck to have to make this choice under these conditions He could be willing but so exhausted that he can't do anything.)

Quietly slipping off his clothes leaving his medallion on, he leaned over Jim. Starting with his face he kissed every inch of his face from his proud sloping forehead, around his flushed cheeks, and then lastly his mouth. Gently, hardly touching him at all, he kissed him. Seductively teasing, the delicate lip- nips became a passionate lip-lock.

Gradually awakening from his sleep, Jim is absolutely stunned. (Please don't let this be a dream). He answered the kiss from Blair with passion strong with its ferocity. They kissed with everything in them. Grasping hold of his arms, Jim pulled Blair down to his bed. Breaking away from Jim's lips, Blair moved down his body, kissing and sucking the salty skin until he reached for the long beautiful throat.

Suddenly, with all choices made, Blair rips the shirt open. Back to kissing, Jim was trying to help as Blair was tugging his shirt off, and pulling at the openings of his pants, his erection bulging for all to see. So lost to sanity, somehow, his shirt and pants were completely removed, his shoes and socks thrown on the floor. Nothing left except the medallion, which was overlooked as if it wasn't there. Nude, Blair gulped and stared. He couldn't believe that he was facing his deepest desires for so long he couldn't remember when they'd even started. In return, Jim stared at his most avid, cherished dream.

Looking Blair over, he stared at the most beautiful man he'd ever seen in his life. Rising from his groin was a staff as strong and firm as a pole entered in the ground to hold up the tent. Seeing the same desires he had, Blair silently took Jim's hand and placed it upon his cock. Gently, as if afraid to move, Jim moved his hand up and down Blair's cock. The friction from the action he'd been waiting for all his life it seemed was almost enough to make him come right then.

Having a moment to wonder how he had waited for so long, Blair was held firmly down in bed as Jim leaned over him, constantly staring at his exquisite deep baby blue eyes. Lost in the scent of arousal and the unique scent which was only Blair's, he tasted the head of the cock that he held. Precum leaking from it, he placed his fingers against the opening, feeling the proof of his manhood. Reaching down, he took the shaft into his mouth, firmly sucking for all he was worth. Seeking the eruption of desires from his beloved, he sped up his movements.

"Jim, please--I ah--I can't think when you're doing that. I want (gulp) to come (gasp) with you." Seeing the same thing that he knew was in his mind, Jim looked at Blair, knowing that fate was what had brought them together and that they would never be separated. Reaching up, his mouth captured Blair's and passion was suddenly an all consuming force. Tasting, feeling, sensing everything about his lover's body, Jim immersed himself into his guide. Breaking off the kiss, he followed with soft, sucking kisses all down his body. Coming to his nipples, he sucked upon Blair's hardened stub. "Aagh! (Gasp!) Jim! Please! I need-" "You need this, don't you?" Asked Jim hoarsely as he caught the nipple between his mouth, sucking it for all he was worth.

Sensing the hardened erection pushing him in the chest, Jim, continued on until he reached his cock. Needing to take it into himself and taste what he'd always craved for, he captured the tip in his mouth, precum leaking out tantalizing his taste buds with the feast to come. Swallowing a little at time and releasing, he kept at it until suddenly he was taking it all down his throat. Faster and faster, he worked it until suddenly Blair cried out, "JIM!" and came in thick, copious spurts in his mouth, tasting the rich, bitter fluid that was the central part of Blair, he entered a realm of dark and light.

Suddenly, he awakened from an intense wonderful zone, hearing a concerned voice calling to him. Looking up into his guides face, Jim was aware of that hardness that was a part of him and hadn't been taken care of. Seeking the answer within his eyes, Jim silently asked a question. Blair smiled and pulled him up suddenly. Laid down flat on the bed on top of the man he loved with his entire being, Blair sought his lips again, tasting himself within the mouth of delights. Passion again exploded between them as Jim felt the hardness awakening again. Kissing, touching, tasting, hearing the passionate cries each sounded, seeing the body in all of it's glory, it was enough to cause Jim to finally say, "Blair, I need to be within you! Please!"

"Jim, there's no need to prepare me. I've been meaning to tell you, it's just I've never found a way to come out with it. Now, the only thing that I can do is show you instead of tell you." Then, finished with his brief speech, he again pulled Jim down to lay upon him. Locking his lips upon Jim, Blair stimulated his lover's senses all at once. Too lost in himself to realize much of anything now, Jim only became aware that something was different when Blair parted his legs and positioned himself exactly as a woman would. Feeling the hardness of Blair between them, he quickly found himself pushing into a wet, slippery entrance. Pushing into the passage slowly, he reached a barrier. Finally realizing where he was at, what he was doing, and the impossibility of it all, Jim stopped and looked into his guides eyes.

Knowing what he was going to ask, Blair cried out, "Don't ask me this now. Just, please, don't stop." Seeing the future answers within, he quickly pushed into Blair. Gasping with the suddenness of entry, Blair was all of a sudden pushing up into Jim, forcing him in deeper, and was stopped suddenly, some barrier preventing full penetration. Trying to hold on to control, Jim gazed deep into Blair's eyes and silently asked a question. Seeing the answer reflected to him, he gathered himself and thrust swiftly, breaking the barrier that was there. Gasping with the sudden pain, Blair found Jim halting after he was in inside.

"Don't stop! Please Jim. Please don't stop!" Knowing that his lover was no longer in any pain he started up again. Feeling the hardness of Blair crushed between them and his cock buried in the impossible, Jim started slow and increased the pace until they were both so consumed with reaching a goal that they didn't know they'd reached it until they exploded so violently, Blair pushing up into Jim so strongly, he almost dislodged him. Semen exploding from his cock covered his stomach. Jim released spurt after spurt of seed within Blair.

Looking at Blair, Jim knew from whatever he had to say that this was part of it. Reaching down, his hand sliding from the erection to the large sacks and balls underneath, he continued to move down. Blair's breaths were coming in short gasps and was causing him to become aroused again. Ignoring his heart's arousal, he continued his exploration. Suddenly, he came across an indention. Intending to slide over it, as he move his fingers along it, they slid into something suddenly. Looking up at Blair, who was gasping with anticipation all of a sudden, his fingers continued to explore what turned out to be a channel.

"Your not supposed to, Jim. We are rare enough in the world today for it to not be a common situation. Usually, if a child is born hermaphroditic, it just means that a female is born with external male organs or a male borne with external female organs. Surgery is usually performed on the child to change it to one or the other, most often the sex that the child is internally. I happen to be one of the even rarer few who was born with both reproductive organs internally. Naomi, when she found me and adopted me, refused to allow them to mess with my body. She said I was born this way so there was a reason behind it. When I reached puberty, I luckily didn't have the worry that other females had concerning periods. Somehow my body retains it's uterine protective sheath and constantly renews it. I could get pregnant anytime as opposed to only when I'm ovulating. Eggs constantly cycle through and are discharged without causing a period. When I was growing up, mom refused to just limit me to a masculine identity. That was why she gave me a name which could be either female or male. She let me choose the identity that I was most comfortable with and since I was male in all but a vagina, which none would most likely never find out unless I revealed it, I chose a masculine identity. I was more attracted to females and I also found out that I wouldn't have breasts. The doctors speculated that they would most likely only develop if I was to get pregnant."

"But that's just it Jim. I do carry more male hormones and properties than I do female. I don't even carry a reproductive system like human females do. Besides, when we met you didn't even control your senses. Later when you normally might have noticed the difference, my scent imprinted on your sense of smell. Then my smell became normal, something you would ignore or take for granted."

Looking at his beloved, staring into the face of his dreams, Jim realized that it didn't even matter about anything anymore. He had all he needed right here in front of him. Suddenly, he pulled Blair into his arms, in a secure, safe, emotional hug that provided a permanence that he knew he'd need for the rest of his life. Laying down, with his beloved, sleep was starting to again affect him. Getting themselves comfortable in bed, with both of them ready to fall into slumber, Jim mumbled, "Good nite Blair. We're going to have a long talk in the morning." Almost asleep, they were about to nod off, when,

"Hold it right there Blair. Not another word out of your mouth. It doesn't matter if getting you pregnant was the last thing I would ever imagine could happen to you, I'll still be the father of your child if pregnancy does occur. Under no circumstances would I deny any child of mine. If you can even think that of me then you don't have the first clue about who I am."

"I'm sorry Jim, it's just that I-well I-Oh Hell! I've loved and wanted you for so long that I never even thought about all the possibilities that could happen to me. Birth control doesn't even work for me because I have a different internal system. I've never made love as a female and never really been attracted to males, so why would I even think about it. I had to fall in love with you before I'd even consider giving a person knowledge of the most intimate fact of my being. You're the first to ever enter me period."

"I-ah, don't know. I just know that I want you. I've always wanted children. I just never imagined that I would be the one to bear them. As for getting pregnant, all I can say is that I want to stay with you for the rest of my life and if children are a part of that life then I'll accept it as the blessing that it would be if you'll be there to help me raise them."

"Oh God, you don't even have to ask or wonder, love. I'm yours for the rest of our lives." So saying, he captured his mouth and with passion entered into the commitment of his life. Coming up for air, he lovingly caressed his heart and said, "Come on, we need our sleep if we're to talk about the rest of our lives tomorrow. Also, we have that corny case to see to. Let's deal with it all tomorrow. What say you, beloved?"