Okay.  I know I missed the first wave of stories and everyone may be getting tired of these but I'm posting anyway. :) Here's my revival story.

Disclaimer: Don't own them.  Pet Fly does.  No money made but if enough was made, we could buy UPN and we wouldn't be going through this now.

Another Chance
by Cheyenne

My God! No!  This can't be happening.  Blair!  What have I done? What...have...I...done?

Jim Ellison's words rang to no ears other than his own.  His mind screamed at the injustice, but his vocal ability was gone.  He couldn't speak, he didn't want to speak.  Not if it meant Sandburg wouldn't answer. Irrationally it flashed in his mind that maybe if he didn't speak, the world wouldn't go on and...Blair wouldn't be...wouldn't be...  No!  He couldn't say the word.  It wasn't possible.

Maybe...maybe he could take back the words he'd said to his friend...his best friend.

Emotions churned his insides.  How could he have treated Blair that way? He didn't deserve to call Sandburg his best friend, not after the way he'd acted this past week and the things he'd said.

He hung his head in shame at the memory. How could I have kicked him out of his home.  His self loathing reached a peak and he felt his stomach roll at the very thought of his next breath. If Sandburg doesn't breathe, it isn't right for me to breathe. It isn't fair.  It isn't right.

God. Please.  Don't let this happen.  I'll do whatever you want me to do. Be anything you want me to be, just don't let this happen.

The promise was heartfelt.

I've accepted who and what I am, but without him, I'm useless.  I have no control.  Without him, I can't function as the Sentinel I was born to be. He is my control. My anchor.  My Guide.

Jim felt the hands that still held him begin to pull him away again.  He fought once more, desperate to reach Blair before the paramedics placed a sheet across his still body.  He felt his stomach rebel and threaten to empty itself.

With a final effort he jerked out of Simon's arms and clawed his way to his partner's side, picking up the limp form and cradling it to his chest.

"I'm sorry, Chief.  I should have seen what was happening.  I'm sorry," he whispered into damp hair.

Silence descended among the watchers as each felt the heartache emanating from the man before them.

Simon didn't have the heart to pull Ellison away just yet.  Conner, weeping silently, stepped away, unable to watch the heartrending scene.  Cops and paramedics alike turned away, as if the sight before them was sacred and not meant for outsider eyes.

Jim felt the tears begin and was powerless to stop them, even had he wanted to.  He had ceased to recognize the existence of the world beyond the man he held in his arms. Let the world go on, he no longer gave a damn.  His world existed here. He and Blair.

He hugged his friend tighter, burying his face into the soggy shirt still clinging to Blair's chest and began muttering his apologies and promises once more, begging for another chance to set things right with his guide.

Time ceased to matter.  He didn't know how long he'd sat in the dewy morning grass before he became aware of a sound. A very faint sound, but familiar.

*thump*

He listened harder.

*thump...thump*

Jim slowly raised his head and looked into the pale face.   Focusing his hearing, he concentrated on blocking out the surrounding distractions.

A smile played across his face as he closed his eyes and sent a fervent prayer skyward in thanks. I'll not make the same mistake again.  Thank you for showing me just how precious he is to me.

He focused his attention back to his partner and quietly coaxed.

"Sandburg.  Blair. Come on, buddy.  Open your eyes for me.  Come on."

Simon heard Jim's words and shook his head in despair.  He'd known the man couldn't handle those damn senses by himself. Ellison needed the kid more than he realized.  Even as an outsider to the partnership, Simon recognized the truth to that statement.

He'd wondered over the past three years what affect it would have on one if something were to happen to the other.  He'd seen the bond between the two men grow and had watched as each had stood vigil over the other through trauma, emotional upheaval and personal crises.

Now he was witnessing first hand what the loss of one would do to the other.  They were two halves of the same soul.  One incomplete without the other and with Sandburg gone, Ellison was already losing it.  It was inevitable.

Barely containing his own tears, Simon walked up to stand behind Jim, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Jim," he said softly.  "Jim, come on.  Come with me."

He felt Ellison pull away, murmuring more words of encouragement to the body he held.

Simon hated himself for the action he was being forced to take.   With regret he began to turn to motion for Brown and Rafe to help him physically separate Jim and Blair one last time.

He had purposely avoided looking into the gray face of the young man who had been so full of life and energy the last time he had seen him.  He didn't want to remember Blair this way. He wanted his memory to be of the warm, caring and incredibly active young man he had known for three years.

But, his eyes were inexplicably drawn to the pale face cradled in the sentinel's arms.  He halted, stunned by an incredible possibility when he saw the slight movement of blue lips.

Was it possible?  Could it really be happening?  He watched in shocked amazement as Sandburg's lips moved once more and Jim's encouragement became more urgent.

By God, it was possible.

Simon felt himself grinning at the incredibility, then chided himself for doubting that the two men could pull off the impossible.

He motioned the medics forward with a hiss, not wanting to disturb the miracle before him.  He saw them approach as Jim gently turned Blair's head to the side.  The Sentinel didn't seem the least bit put out as the Guide expelled water out of his lungs and down Jim's legs with a coughing choke.

Ellison was oblivious, concentrating only on coaxing his partner to take another breath.

"Come on, Chief.  You can do it.  I know you can."  Water erupted from Blair's lungs once more as Jim raised his shoulders higher.

As soon as he began gasping, the paramedics rushed forward and placed an oxygen mask across Sandburg's face, easing him only as far back as Ellison's chest.

Jim looked up at Simon, his eyes shining bright with tears.

"I told you," he said.

Jim turned back to his partner. Still holding on to him and content to do so until hell froze over.  There was no way he would ever, 'ever' hurt this man again.  Whether with words or with action.  He'd been given a second chance, and he meant to take full advantage of it.  He'd been wrong before and he prayed to God he would never let it happen again.

He felt Blair stir and looked down into the still pale face.  Eyes full of question stared back at him.  He didn't know what had happened, how Blair had wound up face down in the fountain or how much Sandburg himself might remember but at this moment it didn't matter.  Nothing in the world mattered except the fact that Blair was alive.  Breathing and alive.

He gathered his partner tighter into his arms and held on. Content to do so for a very long time.

The End.  (Except for where Jim goes and finds Alex and makes her pay, but that's Fourth Season Opener.)