Reviewer: Maureen Nesbitt (Signed) · Date: 30/03/08 05:41 PM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

Great story, enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for writing it

Author's Response:

Thanks, Maureen! I'm really glad you liked this. Didn't know if I'd be able to get John "right" enough for some people, but he worked for me.

Best to you,
Gaelic

Reviewer: staffy08 (Signed) · Date: 25/11/07 06:01 AM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

Loved it, absolutely loved it.

Author's Response:

Thank you! I'm glad you found it and that you enjoyed this back story. It was the first time I'd written John Winchester as an actual character and not a memory or flashback.

So pleased it worked for you.

Slainte,

Gaelic

Reviewer: Gobigorstayhome (Signed) · Date: 22/05/07 09:43 AM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

Ya know I love ya mor n my luggage.  You have indeed done it again.  You are so versatile, one shots, epics, you can do it all.  I particularly enjoyed getting to know young Dean.  I think you set up the path that would make Dean who we know and love today.  His innocence stolen by evil, and somewhat by a fanatical father obsessed with his own grief and how to end it.  Dean always the protector and the glue in the family.  Well portrayed yet again, kudos my friend.

 

Author's Response:

Grief does crazy things to us, doesn't it? And it reveals itself in many different ways.

Thanks for reading -- I hope you know how much reviews from you mean to me.

BGBSBY.

GS

Reviewer: ciel4 (Signed) · Date: 20/05/07 09:39 PM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

Awwwww Gaelic. I loved this one. I'm always curious about the  non-canon flashbacks in your other stories, and you have elaborated on this one just beautifully.  The whole snow fort escapade was a delight, but it really made me smile when Sam revealed that he had known that Dean was worried that day, even though he tried to hide it. And I got a bit misty when Sam thought Dean might be in trouble for leaving the car. Plus, it gave John the chance to redeem himself in my eyes after the "stupid kid" remark! So. much. love. for these brothers and the way you write them. And so nice to see you here again so soon! 

Author's Response:

Thanks, ciel -- I really appreciate your comments. And I remember you didn't like John's "stupid kid" comment back when you reviewed Into the Fire. I'm glad this made up for that a bit. :)

Fear manifests itself in strange ways sometimes, and I think that John must have been afraid for his boys all the time, every day.

I'm so glad you like the way I write the brothers. There are a lot of fabulous writers out there, and though all are looking at the same things (the characters of Dean and Sam), they are seeing them with different eyes and through different filters. I'm just pleased my filter entertains you and I hope that I keep doing so for a long while.

Best, GS

Reviewer: lam (Signed) · Date: 20/05/07 12:48 PM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

So very cool! I was so happy to see you had a new story up - and hot on the heels of your VS debut! Your story rocked by the way... Really appreciated the reference there to Boondock Saints - Bambers recommended it to me, but I haven't had a chance to track it down yet.  Back to this story... Great insight into the boys. Dean as family protector - like the addition of I screwed up. I suspect that we will see that as Dean's new mantra after AHBL2. I really love what you do with John. It's just too easy to paint him as a villain and forget that he did spend his life fighting evil and saving people too. And there is no question he loved his boys. So, do we really just have to find a loose end in a story to get you to tie it up in a nice bow for us?

Author's Response:

Hey! So happy to see a review from you. :) Thank you for the kudos on the VS story -- it was fun to write and I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I am looking forward to writing the next one -- that team of writers is amazing to work with.

And yes, the BDS -- awesome. Had to work that in there -- just seems like a movie both brothers would watch and like.

Thank you for your comments on this one-shot. As I mentioned to Jude, I'd had the story basically outlined when writing Into the Fire -- I kinda had to in order to figure out who Jack Collins was, y'know? And after talking to a couple people, I decided to bite the bullet and see if I could write it out.

I was mostly afraid of John, so thank you for your comments on how he is portrayed. And yeah, when I heard Dean talking to Sam in AHBL2, my heart was in my throat because he said exactly what I saw... or I saw what he said... or something like that.

Anyway, it was moving. Thanks again and I hope that future stories don't have too many loose ends... but if they do... maybe I start tying bows. :)

Cheers -- GS

Reviewer: freyja529 (Signed) · Date: 20/05/07 08:25 AM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

So many well written, insightful lines/passages, but here are a few of my favorites:

"You're gonna be okay, Dad," he said confidently. "Dean'll take care of you."

John swallowed as he looked back at his youngest. Sam believed those words. John shifted his eyes up to Dean. Watching his son's eyes settle on his brother, John believed those words, too.

"I know, Sam," John said.

 Sometimes it was easy to patch with thread and gauze, and sometimes Dad would grab a bottle of whiskey and retreat to his bedroom, more absent when he returned then he'd been when he was away.

 The last thing he was aware of was the taste of salt on his lips as his brother's tears fell.

 He washed his son's blood from his hands, watching the red swirl down the drain, watched his hands – his capable, strong hands – tremble. He'd killed men with these hands. He'd made love to his wife with these hands. He'd held two brand new, squalling babies with these hands. But they were not enough to keep Dean from the darkness. Not enough to save his son from feeling the pain of the darkness.

 I cursed him years ago… I cursed him when I took his home from him, turned him into a solder, protector… He is our guardian.

Witnessing Dean's transformation from child to warrior was heartbreaking. His reaction after patching John up and after cutting Jack made me realize anew that he wasn't always able to stitch up wounds and inflict violence upon those who threatened the innocent; he was forced to become the man ihe is today in order to protect his family. And you, my friend, portrayed that tragedy beautifully. Cake, A1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Response:

Lady, you are the best. You really are -- thank you not only for the multi-site reviews but for taking time to make each one of them so thorough. I am thrilled that those parts spoke to you, and that you saw as I did the way Dean went from child to warrior.

There's some cake waiting for both of us later this week...

GS

Reviewer: sojourner84 (Signed) · Date: 20/05/07 06:52 AM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

Morning!

I went to bed early last night, so I didn't get to review this until now, but it was so much fun to wake up to.

Highlights:

Dean's nature and responsibility just blew me away. You really nailed his sense of duty to his family which is so heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time. 

"I got ya… I got ya, Dad," Dean muttered reassuringly, somehow managing to pull him in through the opened door and kick it closed in one motion.

*** 

Thirteen. Dean was thirteen goddamn years old. John stood still in the living room, his legs braced apart, his body trembling, watching his son collect himself. He tried to remember being thirteen. 1967. Before 'Nam. Before his Dad had left. John had been a kid at thirteen. Dean hadn't been a kid in almost a decade.

*** 

"You did good, here, son."

Dean opened his eyes, flashing a look of irritation at John.

"I shoulda been with you," he said, pushing himself to his feet and stepping over to the bathroom sink.

And you just warmed my heart with Sam and his innocence and all around adorableness. 

"…so that overnight it would freeze the door closed, and then Dean kissed Ellie."

This caught John's attention. He looked over at Sam.

"He did what now?"

Sam giggled. John blinked at that. Sam actually giggled. John had almost forgotten what that sounded like.

"He kissed Ellie Walker."

"All right, Squirt," Dean said, stepping up to John and setting the supplies down on the couch. "Enough already."

The action in this was so seamless and clear you felt like you were watching it, and I definitely forgot to breathe a few times.

Dean's injuries...I saw someone comment on your style earlier, how you can suck someone into the disorientation of Dean's pain. It's really true! You feel like your mind is clouded like his is as he suffers from an injury. That takes talent. I think that is why I forget to breathe, because Dean's still working on that, you know?

I was waiting for this one shot and I am so glad you wrote it. Awesome work! Take care.

-Sojourner 

 

 

Author's Response:

I am grinning so big right now -- thank you for such a thorough review! I love that those passages worked for you and that you enjoyed young Dean and young Sam.

Thank you for the compliment about how I write Dean's injuries. I am really glad the words have that effect on you because I find myself feeling that way as I write (breathless), and I really want it to come across.

Thanks for your support of this -- I really do appreciate you and take your feedback to heart.

GS

Reviewer: LovinJackson (Signed) · Date: 20/05/07 02:46 AM · On: A Life Less Ordinary

Hey Girl

Just thought i would drop you a line here as well while i was reading thru your stories getting them fresh in my mind again ... they are always a joy to read.

I was just thinking that this story would have been the first time that you had written a pre-series story yeah? Makes it even better that you nailed it :P seriously great work I do really love the way you portrayed John in this one!!!!!

Ur Amanzing!

Luv Tara x0x

Author's Response:

Thanks, Tara. Yeah, this was my first attempt at pre-series stuff... you are so awesome at it that I wanted to see if I could match up. Plus, I had to fill in that hole I created when writing Into the Fire.

I appreciate your leaving multi-site reviews -- so thoughtful! And I'm thrilled that you are re-reading my stories! *claps* Could not give me a higher compliment. Thank you!

Take care -- GS