Thorne/Hendricks

These two are a largely unknown slash, but ever since i first encountered them i have been very taken with them. They are DI Tom Thorne and pathologist Phil Hendricks from Mark Billingham's very successful detective novels. But no no, that is not all. They have recently been brought to life off the page by none other than David Morrissey and Aidan Gillen (respectively).

Thorne and Hendricks are a fabulous couple to slash because they act very much like an old married couple making them very easy to play with. The characters in the books are very slashy; Hendricks is an out gay man who is an adrenaline junkie whilst Thorne is a divorced alcoholic. Both are devoted to their jobs, which they love and hate in equal measure, and their views of the world are jaded and often bitter. But they find love with each other. They are both massive football fans and it is that which forms the foundation for their relationship, that and their bitching about their fellow colleagues and theorising about their latest cases. They eat together, go to the pub together, share sensitive information with each other, ring each other at all hours, confide in each other, talk about their love lives with each other and watch TV together (and fall asleep together). Indeed, by book number 4 Hendricks has moved in with Thorne!

Aside from the lashings of potential slash Mark Billingham bestows upon us there is another reason why i will always love Thorne and Hendricks. And that is the unrequited love story. Hendricks loves Thorne. I mean really loves him. It is blindingly obvious to everyone but Thorne. And when Thorne is a bastard (which he often is) it really hurts Hendricks, but try as he might to walk away he just can't bring himself to do it. They absolutely depend upon each other and would be nothing standing alone.

Did i also mention Thorne happens to be one of the campest straight men ever?

And Hendricks is a big massive flirt?

And that they seem to spend alot of time together at the side of rivers?

They watch late night internet porn together. Obviously.

And engage in lots of phone sex.

Thorne holds Hendricks' hand whilst he has his tattoos done (a square on the pattern on his arm for every boyfriend...i'm pretty damn sure Thorne is the biggest square of the lot!)

And the sexual tension between them is palpable.

And leads to lots of man handling...

Blatant slash!

They proposition each other at the most inappropriate times...

During post mortems:

Over dead bodies:

At crime scenes:

During late night excavations:

And across a shot man who happens to be bleeding to death:

But when Hendricks wants Thorne he is very determined...

He can demand his body at any time...

And Thorne is powerless to resist...

But then Hendricks has alot to offer...

But not everything is rosey in the world of Thorne and Hendricks. Hendricks loves Thorne in ways Thorne has never loved anyone (well maybe his wife, but i'll breeze over that point) and when Thorne knocks him back it breaks Hendricks' heart.

And later, when Thorne accuses Hendricks' of betraying his confidence, he breaks his heart all over again.

In fact, Thorne constantly breaks Hendricks' heart.

And though he tries to walk away, he never quite manages it.

Because it's Thorne and Hendricks against the world...

And Hendricks wants Thorne to save him from himself. And he will save him for himself.

Because they're good together. Thorne knows exactly what makes Hendricks tick.

And exactly how to get him where he wants him.

This is Dave Holland putting Hendricks in handcuffs. Holland in Thorne's DS, his deputy, his partner, and all round good egg. Thorne often gets Holland to do his dirty work for him.

Make a pretty threesome don't they? Hendricks seems to thinks so... ;)



And who knows how their relationship will develop. I may have to keep adding to this blog as and when i a) read the next novel in the series or b) another novel is dramatised and televised.