Heartbeats

Zine
Title:	Heartbeats
Publisher:
Editor:
Author(s):	JM Griffin
Cover Artist(s):	K9
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	2009, see below
Series?:	yes
Medium:	print
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	The Sentinel
Language:	English
External Links:
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Originally a single story in the zine Essential Sentinel #2, Heartbeats is a slash Sentinel zine by JM Griffin. It, and other stories in the series, make up the zine Rhythms of the Heart.

The zine House of Tomorrow is a continuation of this series.

Reactions and Reviews

Unknown Date

In 2009, the zine was republished under the title Heartbeats in digest form with a color cover by K9. It was given a shorter summary: "This is the story that started it all. Jim Ellison's life is radically changed when Blair's six year old son, Eli Sandburg, lands on his doorstep. Determined to do right by Blair's boy, Jim must also come to terms with his feelings for Blair, who was last seen in a small African country ravaged by a military uprising.... A/U set @2006, first-time. Blair and Jim have apparently had a falling out and have gone their separate ways. Nine years later Jim finds himself the guardian of Blair's six year old son, while Blair himself is unable to escape the political hotspot of Haruwanda, Africa. Part One begins with Jim taking guardianship of Eli (Blair's son) and shows us the many changes the Major Crime department has seen through the years, and lets us have a look at Jim's regrets for letting things fall apart between he and Blair. Part Two shows more of Eli's life and Jim's adjustment to parenthood. Jim also finds hope that Blair may soon return.

A heartwarming jim-and-blair's-son fic with some rough edges stylistically speaking and a very matter-of-fact method of narration. sweet, well-paced, and interesting.

2006

It’s 2006 and Jim is captain of Major Crimes and as dedicated as Simon was, who is now Chief of Police. Blair parted under strained circumstances and in the intervening years has had a son. When the story starts, Blair is in an African country during an uprising. He’s able to smuggle his son to Jim, but he’s trapped in the country and might not survive.

This is a thoroughly satisfying tale that hits several of my weaknesses – the guys as dads chief among them. Jim, who in the show is always quite sweet with kids, is a natural. Despite his less than stellar upbringing, his playfulness and instinct to protect make him great father material. He’s not perfect, and we see him stumble as he tries to figure out what the right thing (or in his mind what the *Blair* thing) is to do in raising a precocious young boy. He’s also stunned by the revelation that Blair loves Jim. He’s not too surprised to discover that he loves Blair just as much.

Another plus for me is that neither Jim nor Blair are crippled by being apart. Jim keeps and controls his senses, and continues to be a successful and dedicated cop. Blair finds a fulfilling life doing something true to his nature. Even though they may be lonelier without each other, it’s not imperative that they stay together.