Bid Him Come, Bid Him Go

Fanfiction
Title:	Bid Him Come, Bid Him Go
Author(s):	Legion
Date(s):	online posting (before 2001), print zine (2001)
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	The Sentinel
Relationship(s):	Jim/Blair
External Links:	online here Bid Him Come, Bid Him Go alternate link on AO3 (locked to registered users)
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Bid Him Come, Bid Him Go is a Jim/Blair story by Legion.

It was inspired by a song, "Lammas Night."

This story was printed in the zine Favorite Things where it is bracketed by two illustrations by K9.

It was also part of the 852 Prospect Archive and imported to AO3 along with the rest of the archive in 2013.

Art from the Print Zine

• 

  art by K9, "Jungle Jim"

• 

  by K9, "Indy Sandburg"

Reactions and Reviews

The song that goes with this story is beautiful. I recommend downloading it.

Several years after being rescued from Peru, Jim is injured in the line of duty and finally leaves the army. He returns to Cascade to find a place to live and, after an extensive search, ends up in a loft on Prospect that had once been owned by a Dr. Blair Sandburg, who went missing on an expedition a year before and is now presumed dead. Jim finds he's not alone in the loft, however, and it doesn't take long before he and Blair's ghost become awfully chummy...

The premise of this story is apparently taken from a song by Meredes Lackey; I, on the other hand, recognized it from the movie Just Like Heaven, which I saw shortly before reading this story and which I loved beyond all good reason. There's just something intriguing about the idea of a man and a ghost falling in love, especially when they do so in a story without any death warnings *wink*, that makes the closet romantic deep inside me squee with happiness. Add in a few nods to canon, an interesting storyline involving Joel and Daryl, and several scenes involving sex and a cherry-red '69 Mustang and you've got a fan-girl's wet dream.

Side note: there's a confusing explanation about possible endings in the author's notes, which don't make much sense to me as both endings are present in the story as is. Maybe what's currently on 852 Prospect is a more recent draft and Legion forgot to change the author's notes?

Oooh, ghost stories! This is probably the best 'ghost' story in the archive. Good characterization, hot sex, written by Legion... what more could you possibly want?

Of Legion's stories, this stands out easily as a favorite....

Why you should read this story: Dedicated attention to plot, great use of supporting characters in an alternate universe, Jim angst, and surprisingly carnal sex, given the circumstances. This exemplifies good story-telling.

What might throw you off stride: The premise. Suspend your disbelief, man. It's worth it.

I first read this story because it was a Sentinelization of an anthology I quite liked, but it really has a character all its own. Lt. Colonel James Ellison, discharged due to injury, buys a forclosed loft in Cascade while he tries to put his life back together. But while the previous owner may be dead, he certainly isn't gone...

Bid Him Come, Bid Him Go by Legion is an imaginative, eerily beautiful tale. According to the author's notes, she took inspiration from a ballad called "Lammas Night" by Mercedes Lackey. In her version, Jim Ellison, retired from the army for medical reasons, moves into the loft. Its owner Blair Sandburg, lost for over a year in the jungle, is presumed dead. However, Jim quickly discovers that he's not alone in the apartment. Legion provides two different endings, so you're sure to go away satisfied.

What if Jim and Blair never met until Blair might already be dead? I love here how Legion has presented Blair-as-ghost, growing to be more and more of a presence in Jim’s life until he’s almost but not quite there, they’re together but they can’t quite be, and both of them living with wondering if they’re crazy. There’s a real sense of connection in this fic.