crack_van | Love's Austere and Lonely Offices by Brighid (NC-17)

Happy Solstice and Happy Father's Day if you celebrate it!

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Blair/Jim
Length: 28K
Author on LJ:

mz_bstone
Author Website: Brighid at 852 prospect

Why this must be read: It’s a terrific Father’s Day story by the talented Brighid. Told from Blair’s POV, who is now a detective and life partners with Jim, the dynamics of a dysfunctional family in crisis unfold.

It’s the middle of the night when Jim gets a call that his dad has had a stroke. Because father and son are once again estranged, this time because of William’s attitude toward their relationship, there are a *lot* of mixed feelings:

William Ellison was horrified. Not that he came right out and said so, but he withdrew almost perceptibly that night at dinner, couldn't look either of us in the eye, and left as soon as it was reasonably polite to do so. Shortly after, the invitations to dinner and golf just sort of dried up.

And Jim got madder and madder, until I couldn't even bring up the subject of his father, couldn't even acknowledge he existed. Until tonight.

Until now, sitting in a hospital waiting room, wondering if William Ellison is going to live through the night.

Blair, brave in all things, steps into the fray. Luckily for William and Jim, Blair knows how to handle stubborn Ellison men. How they deal with the hard knocks Life is throwing their ways makes for a lovely read. The poem from which the title is taken is included, and adds to the poignancy of the tale.

Happy Father’s Day to all who fill those shoes, or try to.

Love’s Austere and Lonely Offices

And just a reminder, as always, to send feedback if you enjoyed the story.