Rhythms of the Heart

You may be looking for the early X-Files music vid site Rhythm of the Heart.

Zine
Title:	Rhythms of the Heart
Publisher:	Griffin & Associates Press
Editor:
Author(s):	J.M. Griffin
Cover Artist(s):	K9
Illustrator(s):	K9
Date(s):	March 2003
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	The Sentinel
Language:	English
External Links:	sequel announcement
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

cover by K9

Rhythms of the Heart is a 103-page slash novel by J.M. Griffin. It has a sequel, House of Tomorrow.

Rhythms of the Heart collects Heartbeats (previously published in Essential Sentinel 2) and the sequels Over the Moon and Tender Is The Night. [1]

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."

Summary

From the distributor, Agent With Style: "Blair joins the police academy, but quits only days later, suddenly leaving Jim and Cascade behind for a new life abroad. Years pass, then one day Jim returns home from work to find he has been entrusted with the care of Blair's 6-year-old son, Eli, who has shown up on his doorstep unannounced. While Blair has gone missing in Africa, Jim must raise Eli, discovering the trials and tribulations of parenthood. You'll ache for Jim as he sometimes stoically and sometimes emotionally regrets the mistakes he and Blair have made that separated them. Come witness the evolution of the Major Crime gang and the powerful changes in Jim's life, from the return of Blair to Eli announcing when he turns 16, that he has found his Sentinel, Nick Luna, and he's in love. This zine is amazing in that through Eli and Nick, we get an A/U of what could have happened between Jim and Blair at that age, but it's even better because we have our Jim and Blair together while at the same time getting this engaging glimpse into 'what could have been' by seeing it actually happen to Eli. The sense of 'this could have been Jim and Blair' doesn't distract in any way from Eli's story or character, though, and you'll find yourself quite entranced with Eli and Nick's evolving relationship as they continue to mature and learn to love and live together, while Jim and Blair can only try to keep up!"

Reactions and Reviews

I would like to heartily recommend a mostly new TS slash 'zine by J.M. Griffin titled Rhythms of the Heart. I say 'mostly new' because the first two parts can be located on the archive. I'm not sure if these parts have been revised for the 'zine (but I'm very glad they were included!). It looks like the new parts begin on page 49. In this story Blair had joined the academy but quit only days later, leaving Jim and Cascade behind for a new life abroad. Years pass, then one day Jim returns home from work to find he has been entrusted with the care of Blair's young son, Eli. There follows some trials and tribulations of parenthood. I suppose, by definition, this is a 'kid fic' and I know some don't like that, but this just didn't have that feel to me. I ached for Jim as he sometimes stoically/sometimes emotionally regretted the mistakes he and Blair had made that separated them. I also really enjoyed this author's interpretation of the evolution of the Major Crime gang and Jim's life. The parts found in the archive end with Blair's return, about six months after Eli comes to live with Jim. The new part in the 'zine picks up years later, when Eli is 16. From here the story mostly focuses on Eli and Nick, though we get plenty of Jim and Blair, too. I quickly came to love these original characters. The story had a neat feel. One thing I really liked, though I don't know if it was the author's intent or just my perception, was that it was almost like getting an AU of what could have happened between Jim and Blair at that age. But it's even better because we get *our* Jim and Blair being together while at the same time we get this neat glimpse into 'what could have been' by seeing it actually happen to Eli. That sense of 'this could have been Jim and Blair' doesn't distract in any way from Eli's story or character, though. I found myself quite entranced with Eli and Nick's evolving relationship. I would be very interested in reading more from this universe as they continue to mature and learn to love and live together. An additional bonus in this 'zine is the gorgeous art by K9. The color cover is absolutely stunning (it's not sexually graphic). There are several (five I believe) full page black & white interior illos. The duel portrait of Eli and Nick is beautiful. I'm half in love with Nick myself! LOL!

Links

• Heartbeats Part One and Part Two at 852 Prospect