Rules of Endearment

Fanfiction
Title:	Rules of Endearment
Author(s):	PsychGirl
Date(s):
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	Sentinel
Relationship(s):
External Links:	online here
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Rules of Endearment is a Sentinel story by PsychGirl.

Reactions and Reviews

Many stories take scenes from the series and use them to show the relationship moving forward. This one takes a new look at that trope and adds another layer. Psychgirl takes pages from from the 1972 Army Rangers Field Procedures Manual: Section 45 - Rules of Engagement to illustrate the progression of the relationship between Jim and Blair.

You’d think, with these various rules being spelled out at the beginning of each story section (Level 1: The subject responds to and complies with verbal commands. Close combat techniques do not apply.) that the story was going to be in Jim’s pov. Guess again. This is a look at how Blair sees their relationship.

We go from the first time Jim calls Blair “Chief” to when he rescues him from the serial killer, Lash, on through to when Blair accepts a badge and becomes Jim’s official partner. Blair has learned to know the man he originally started just wanting to study, seen his strength, loyalty, trust issues and Jim bringing Blair back to life in the fountain and it takes him awhile to realize that Jim has difficulty saying how he feels. They finally become lovers and there’s this delightful exchange:

“Well, not we - you. You have rules.” Jim gave him a mock aggrieved look and he laughed out loud. “Oh, yeah, you do. Serious rules.”

“What, like don’t flush the toilet after ten?”

“No, like how you show affection. Rules of endearment. It took me a while, but I think I’ve got them figured out now.”

This story was originally in my LJ fanzine, warriors_6 and I still love it. It’s clever, touching and the insight into the characters is right on target.