Brain Drain

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Fanfiction
Title: Brain Drain
Author(s): Shedoc
Date(s): 31 August 2002
Length: ~16000 words / 96 KB
Genre(s): gen, Angst
Fandom(s): Sentinel
Relationship(s):
External Links: on AO3
on FFN
on Author's Website (Wayback)

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Brain Drain is a Sentinel story by Shedoc.

Reactions and Reviews

We only see Jim’s father, William Ellison, in one episode, where we learn that his parental methods kept them estranged for almost 20 years. I don’t believe William had evil intent, and he does show regret for his part. I think Shedoc’s William shares canon William’s wish to make amends. An unusual circumstance provides a way to redeem himself to himself as well as to Jim. [1]

William Ellison is a difficult character in TS, because by all rights, he massively screwed up both his kids with his unbending notions of what "normal" means and how to turn boys into men. At the same time, he raised two boys on his own and kept an album of every important moment in Jim's life. Shedoc shows how sometimes it's easier to be a father to kids who aren't your own in a story where Blair is badly injured while Jim is deep under cover, and the person who steps up to the plate is the man least likely.[2]

I love this one - especially love Pa Ellison's metamorphosis, and the way he's portrayed as a human being capable of compassion and warmth, rather than the cold hearted bastard beloved of so much fic. I always saw William as a sad and lonely, essentially decent man who knows he made mistakes and is trying to put things right with his sons, and that's the William of this story. [3]

References