Chapter Text
Jim scanned the wide expanse of ocean and wondered when his terror of open water had vanished. Probably when Sandburg became a permanent part of his life. That's when so many things became better. He looked at his partner, standing next to him at the railing, and smiled.
"Are we almost there? Can you feel it?" Blair asked, certain Jim would be able to sense the magnetic North Pole.
Perhaps he could. Jim did feel a thrum building in his gut. Whether it was the magnetism at the top of the world or the excitement of fulfilling a dream was hard to say. "Nah, not yet, Chief," Jim replied, pulling Blair into a one-armed hug. "Remember this is just the first leg of the journey."
*****
Much to Jim's surprise, getting a berth on this state-of-the-art ice breaker hadn't come as a result of his old military contacts. Instead it was a chance meeting with a Royal Canadian Naval officer as they shot the breeze during a joint task-force debriefing, masquerading as an impromptu fishing trip, that got them on the ship.
The bust was huge--a Canada-U.S. smuggling ring that landed personnel on both sides of the border in their respective military prisons. Over roasted fish and beer, the task-force members had shared their "bucket lists", and the grateful commodore arranged to grant one of Jim's wishes: a trip to the North Pole. There was only one drawback: the ship was traveling in the dead of winter. They'd reach the Pole by Solstice.
Blair thought he was nuts but, as with most things, he tended to indulge Jim. Grumbling for a solid week as they packed, Blair finally looked at Jim, his happiness and excitement erasing years from that beloved, care-worn face, and shut up. Of course, that didn't mean that Jim was entirely off the hook. Blair got some spectacular sex in the days before leaving; not really a hardship for Jim. Knowing that they'd probably have to abstain for the duration spurred them to greater heights of creativity and intensity.
In the end, Blair's own sense of adventure finally kicked in. The clear skies provided a stunning view of the aurora borealis. Blair spent a scandalous amount for a new Logitech digital camera so he didn't have to worry about running out of film. It had a "review" feature, "so I'll know if the picture I took sucked. I can take another one right away," Blair enthused.
*****
Jim gave Blair an indulgent smile, which morphed into the goofy grin he'd displayed since they started this journey. The tingle in his gut was getting stronger, just as a sailor approached to let them know it was time to pack it up. "This is our stop, Chief. The dogsleds and guides will be waiting for us at the station."
Blair's eyes widened; the reality of their situation hitting home. Jim wondered whether Blair had that same look right before he jumped out of that plane over Peru. Perhaps, but Jim had no doubt Blair would follow him as staunchly now as he did back then.