Awww.  This was a fabulous ending.  A very touch scene with Dean and Sam in the bathroom.  And I loved how you had Dean having nightmares throughout just as Sam was.

Another great story, Jules.  As always, I'm looking forward to more of yours.

Author's Response: Thank you, Vanessa. You know, I had tears in my eyes when I was writing the bathroom scene. As for Dean's nightmares, there was that brief instant in the pilot when Dean slides to a halt in the bedroom doorway and looks up at the ceiling - and there's just a flash of horror on his face before he lunges into the room to haul Sam to safety. So I tapped into that, figuring that it would play on Dean's mind to a certain extent. Even though his nightmares were not as heartbreaking as Sam's, I still think that the manner of Jess' death would have affected Dean because of his mum. And of course, being so worried about Sam's state of mind would have helped fuel the nightmares too. Thanks so much for reading -I'm honoured that you love my work, as I'm a huge admirer of yours.....Jules

I loved it.  You did a fabulous job. 

Author's Response: Thank you so much. I usually work hard on my stories, but this one had extra special treatment. I wanted to get this right, and not just because of the dedication to my grandfather. I'm so happy that you loved it....Jules

aw, chic-flick galore! poor boys... but i really think you captured what that week would have been like, for both of them. Fantastic story, and I hope everythings going ok for you now.

thanks for a great read!

cal

Author's Response: Thank you so much, Cal. It was a pretty good chick-flick moment - I'm so glad I pulled it off...*wipes sweaty brow*... I don't know how many times I watched the pilot and Wendigo to get Sam's reactions and state of mind. I think I know both episodes off by heart now - lol. Not too much of a drama, since Wendigo is one of my favourite episodes. Again, thank you, both for reading and for the lovely review...Jules

Dean's search for Sam showed perfectly how this feels, the fear building up and you're getting more and more frantic by the minute, very tense. Dean's anger so understandable, a sign of his worries, but it seems he could reach Sam somehow with his outburst, Sam's heartfelt excuse proving it. Still - and I really never fully realized the extent of this and I'm thankful you're filling the blanks here for us, if possible this makes these two even more lovable - it is an extremely hard and desperate time for Sam, hurts to read how much he suffers and Dean's wounds are open again, too; you're writing it in a grand way though!

Author's Response: Thank you, Bia. It is a very tough time for Sam. The sheer horror of what he saw that night coupled with the visions (which we didn't know about then) adding guilt to his already broken heart must have been such a burden for the young man. The sudden death of someone you love is bad enough without all the extra Winchester baggage. And Dean's not unaffected - the look on his face when he ran into the apartment and saw Jessica on the ceiling must have brought back such horrific memories - because I think that little Dean might just have caught a glimpse of his mother before John shoved baby Sammy into his arms - he was in the hallway after all, and quite close to the door. Anyway, that's my theory - lol....Jules

yup, this is so screwed... Great chapter, lots of turmoil for both brothers...

Author's Response: It is, isn't it? Thank you, my friend. The turmoil won't stop, but there is  break coming. Tissue alert. Oh - and Lucie is about to make her appearance the week after next, in the new story...Jules

This story is another reason to look forward to Fridays :-)

Thanks for not making me cry so much this time! 

have a great weekend...and great Thanksgiving next week!

kat

Author's Response: Aww...thanks so much for that, Kat. I'm glad I could make your Fridays special. Oh - tissue alert for the epilogue. And I hope you have a good Thanksgiving - we don't have that particular holiday in Australia, but I fully understand the concept.....Jules

So very sorry that I haven't reviewed the last chapter.  I have been so busy lately.  I have been following this story very closely.  i must say that I just love it!!!!!

I love the last chapter.  I love how you make us feel Dean's big brother bonds and poor Sam's grief and pain.  You are doing such a great job with this story!!!

Again I feel very bad I haven't been up to date in reviews.  My girls have been keeping me very busy.  My youngest is very big into basketball.  She has had a lot of practices and games lately.

So glad to hear that you are on the mend.  I do hope that you are fully recovered and feeling great very soon.  Still keeping you in my heart and sending hugs to keep you feeling better.

Take care and awesome job on the writing.

hugs, Jane

Author's Response: Oh, Jane, don't worry about it, hon. Real life grabs us all by the throat and drags us kicking and screaming away from our favourite obsession. And with Christmas mere weeks away, everything is in high gear. Thanks so much - I'm chuffed that you love this one. LOL - I think I've just about memorised the pilot episode by now! Hope you enjoy the epilogue...Jules

Great update.

I love that Sam is almost scared by Dean's anger "Never in his life had he seen his big brother so angry. And Sam never expected to see that anger unleashed at him." Dean/Jensen certainly has the ability to more than make up for his shorter stature with his sheer presence in a room with Sam especially when pissed.

Equally Dean mourning his mother's death when he finds the photo is just as moving in a completely different way.

Looking forward to the epilogue next week, but equally I shall be sorry to see this story end, it has been excellent and very moving.

Author's Response: Thanks, Midge. I think that Sam has a healthy respect for his brother's anger - and that deadly right hook.... And yes, Dean does do menacing really well. Aww, thanks for that -  I'm so glad that you have enjoyed this. I've put extra heart and soul into this one...Jules

poor Sam. He's so lost, and for the moment even the best big brother isn't enough.

Author's Response: Hi, my friend. No, even his awesome big brother isn't enough for Sam at the moment. He's broken, hurting, afraid, and full of guilt, and he doesn't feel he deserves the care and comfort that Dean wants to give him. Dean might just have to be cruel to be kind, to break through Sam's self-imposed isolation....Jules

This was a really well written chapter, you got across so well the feelings of having to attend a funeral of a loved one - the reluctance to get going beforehand, the jolt when you see the coffin for the first time, and the awful finality when they lower it into the ground. I can understand Sam's guilt and grief, but poor Dean really is trying his best. I hope they can try to bear that in mind when they finally meet up again, but I have a feeling fireworks are coming.

Re your hand, that sounds like a nasty germ you picked up there - I'm sorry you've had such a time of it but I'm glad to hear you are on the mend at last :)

Author's Response:

Thanks for that. That's a bit of personal experience bleeding through. And you're right - fireworks are coming. Dean's not a happy big brother - in fact, he's pretty much out of his mind with worry, so when he finally finds Sam, it's not going to be pretty....

Thanks, hon. The infection has just started up again, but I'm back on the antibiotics, so hopefully it will die back down by next week. This is one stubborn bug, I tell you....Jules

Heartwrenching scenes at Jess's funeral (and I so needed the tissues), not for nothing it is so often called the hardest way, the final goodbye, for Sam this must have been painful beyond any boundary, the end of so many hopes (what a wonderful intimate gesture he gave the engagement ring to Jess with the flowers, so sad but very Sam, loved this scene); without Dean there at his side I think Sam would have already followed Jess to the grave. Especially the lowering of the casket was oppressive, no wonder Sam collapsed, that's the moment you know it's forever! Very bad turn Sam in his bad condition is missing, Dean has to find him as quickly as possible, it's a crucial point for Sam now - intense grand chapter!!

Glad to hear your hand is finally getting better, but this still sounds very serious and painful, so again get well soon and take care!

Author's Response:

Thank you, Bia. I know what you mean. When my man died, I hesitated at the door of the little chapel, because I knew that once I walked inside and saw the coffin, then it would all be too real. It was the same for my uncle's funeral three years ago, even though I was at his bedside when he died.

Yes, this is a major turning point for Sam, but it won't be the only one. He still has to make the decision to hit the road with Dean - and he's not quite ready to do that yet. Lots of angst to come....Jules

Geeze...no kidding there had to be a tissue warning!  I am still sniffy.

Your had sounds aweful.  My cat scratches me all the time.  I will have to be careful.

Have a great weekend!

 

Author's Response:

Thanks for that. You know, I've had cats for most of my life - I've had this particular little monster for sixteen and a half years, and it's not the first time she's shredded my skin. But this is the first time that anything like this has happened. I can only put it down to the fact that I was just getting over a Lupus spike the week before, and my already cactus immune system was further down than normal.

Glad you heeded the tissue warning. There's another one coming up in the epilogue. Thanks so much for reading....Jules