Not beta'd, only
spell/grammar checked in Word
Rating: PG
Date: May 17, 2004
Warnings: Implied death of minor character
Category: Drama
Summary: Blair gets some bad news
Spoilers: TS2x18 Smart Alec
Notes: This was written as dues on Sentinelangst, in memory of Roger Lindberg and all other friends who have been freed from the fetters of this world, and part of it was inspired by actual events. The prayer Blair recites is a prayer by Oglala Sioux Holy Man Black Elk. Thanks to everyone who's helped and is helping me to become a better writer. J
A Change of Worlds
by
He was woken from his peaceful slumber by the shrill ring of the phone. "Hello?"
"Blair?" There was a trace of worry in Jim's voice.
Blair rubbed sleep out of his eyes. "Hey, man…what's going on? You are aware that it's 8 am on a Saturday, right?"
"I'm sorry I woke you, Chief, but I didn't want you to find out on TV. Check the Cascade Post website."
"Why?" Nothing can be that important that I can't sleep in for a few hours on a Saturday, for crying out loud....
Jim ignored the obvious complaining tone. "Just do it, Chief. I'll stay on."
Blair walked over to the computer, opened the web browser, and typed in the URL to Cascade Post from memory. And then time stopped. He stared at the front page, took in the picture and the headline, but everything felt wrong. Checking the date, he saw that it was indeed today's paper and that it was not April Fools Day.
Slowly, the page started to make sense – as much sense as something like this could possibly make, anyway – to him; the headline in big, bold, black lettering, spelling out 'Young man killed in drunk driving accident,' and the picture of a familiar, smiling face. Random words from the article gave a short, but to Blair the most he could handle at the moment, description of the tragedy. 'Alec Summers'. 'Car accident'. 'Drunk driver ran him over when he was rollerblading'.
Blair almost jumped with fright when Jim's voice was heard again. "Still there, Chief?"
"Uhm, yeah. Jim, could I...I need some time alone, okay?"
"Of course. You know where to find me if you need me."
"Thanks, man." Blair didn't even wait for Jim to say anything else before he hung up. He walked over to his bookcase and took out a candle and an old book from a small wooden chest. When he had lit the candle, he opened up the book and flipped through the pages for a while until he found what he was looking for, and began reading out loud. "Great Spirit, Great Spirit, My Grandfather, all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike. Look upon these faces of children without number and with children in their arms, that they may face the winds and walk the good road to the day of quiet. There is no death. Only a change of worlds. Only a change of worlds." Blair blew out the candle, then took a couple of deep breaths and tried to reach that other world. He needed closure, he needed to understand, and he needed it now.
THE END