A Companion by Any Other Name

Fanfiction
Title:	A Companion by Any Other Name
Author(s):	LilyK
Date(s):	2006 September 23, 2009 (asr3)
Length:	11500 words
Genre(s):	Slash, Sentinel and Guides are Known, Drama
Fandom(s):	The Sentinel
Relationship(s):	Jim/Blair
External Links:	ACbAON at ASR3 ACbAON at AO3
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A Companion by Any Other Name is a Sentinel story by LilyK, originally published in the zine Angel On My Mind Issue 6, by Requiem Publications.

Reactions and Reviews

[jane_elliot]
A Sentinels-are-known AU, where Companions (Guides) are trained and then enter into a contract with a Sentinel. Jim picks Blair (of course), but the Blair Sandburg of this story is not the Blair we're used to and Jim can tell something is wrong. Can he find the real Blair Sandburg, or will he be stuck with this nice, quiet, frustratingly amenable Companion forever?

Sentinels-are-known AUs that don't incorporate some form of slavery are few and far between, so I always get super-excited when I see one. LilyK's version is excellent -- Companions sign an employment contract with their Sentinels, one that can be broken if either party mistreats the other. You also have an interesting mystery when it comes to Blair's behavior; it was a bit jarring the first time I read this story, but during the re-read it made a lot of sense (and made me want to hug him to bits). Jim is also well-done; he's a bit gruff and no-nonsense, but he also knows that Blair is an employee and potentially a friend and he treats him with kindness and respect. In fact, my only issue with this story is that it's a bit bare bones, especially at the end, but by now you all know that my most common complaint is that stories aren't long enough. A well-done, enjoyable Sentinels-are-known AU.