Another Mode of Belonging by gritkitty (R)

[magician113.livejournal.com]

                                                         (note: all story-related icons so far courtesy of Starfox screen caps)
Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: medium
Author on LJ: gritkitty
Author Website: http://bifictionalbedlam.slashcity.net/guests/gritkitty.htm
Why this must be read:   This is another poignant story that is the trademark of the talented gritkitty. 

Did I say I love POV stories? I do, especially Jim’s. It’s so easy to think of him as a “surface” kind of person – what you see is what you get. But we glimpse his depths in canon, and being able to get into his head is wonderful.

 

Shortly after Blair becomes a detective and they become lovers, Blair discovers that he's fathered a child and the mother has abandoned the little girl. He decides to raise her and Jim tries to figure out his place in the new family dynamic.

 

He moved his foot to the accelerator and drove home where he parked and got out of the truck and walked up the stairs to the apartment that used to be enough, used to be fine for two men but now was crowded with Legos and dolls and plastic dinosaurs and wooden blocks scattered on the floor, a highchair in the kitchen, a potty-chair by the john, a crib in the spare room.  He thought longingly of sunny blue skies and roaring surf as he braced himself to face Blair in a pissy mood because it took great effort to soothe Julie's fussiness, especially when she was sick. 

Outside the door, he sensed stillness.  A heavy scent, the quiet ambient sounds of the building's slow decay, the humid sighs of Blair and Julie, asleep.  Jim entered, closed the door silently, and stole to the couch.  Blair lay sprawled there, one foot on the floor, knee bent.  Julie lay draped over his chest, snoring wetly into his shirt.  Jim passed his hand over her head, not touching the damp hair but feeling the aura of heat around her body.  Ninety-nine point one degrees, he judged.  Down from this morning's misery of 103.6. 

"Chief."  Jim touched Blair's arm, ran his fingers up to the shoulder gently.  Blair's chest inflated, raising Julie's head.  He woke a little groggy and greeted Jim softly.  Jim reached for Julie; with Blair's help, he lifted her without disturbing her slumber.  Her sultry laxness roused Jim with tender power, and despite his yen for freedom he responded to her absolute trust.

 

Happy Father’s Day to all those men who step up to the plate, biology notwithstanding.

Another Mode of Belonging 
 
(don't forget feedback to the author!)

Comments

[betzz.livejournal.com]

You're doing an excellent job! I enjoyed all your recs so far and that one's no exception.

[magician113.livejournal.com]

::blushing::

Thanks so much for your kind comment. I'm amazed at how many truly excellent stories are in this fandom. Even with the 300+ already recommended at Crack Van there's authors that haven't been represented yet who are just wonderful.

I saw at the sign-up sheet that you'll probably be next to drive. I look forward to *your* recs.