I'm begging you to update!  I check in every few days to see if there's a new chapter. 

Author's Response: Sorry to keep you waiting, VB!  It's been a wierd and busy summer, but I have updated!

Finally some happy news! You had me going there with the Bob Vance meeting. I was sure poor Jim was screwed.

Only one more chapter, though? :-(

Author's Response: So happy you liked the chapter! I was going to make it longer, but I think the epilogue fills in all the blanks. :-) Happy you enjoyed the story! Thank you for all of the feedback!

What an angst filled chapter! And now a medical emergency on the horizon?

I felt so bad for Jim at the realtor's office. And I loved the way you wrote Pam's piece. I think she WOULD be filled with all the self doubt and guilt and regret that you describe.

I just hope that they don't end up homeless in this story. When the phone rang, I thought it would be for an interview. Didn't expect this twist at all.

Author's Response: I'm so glad to hear that what Pam wrote came across as believable. I think she would be holding back her thoughts, but also worried out of her mind at the same time. It's always nice to hear that something I wrote came out as realistic and in character. Thanks so much for the support, hope you continue to enjoy this one!

Whoa! When it rains... So, did poor Pam have to keep this news bottled up yesterday, or did she just find out?

Good characterizations. There were two grammatical errors that took me out of the story. Both times I believe it was Jim who said something like "you and me will... " Should be "you and I will... "

Author's Response: Thanks for the grammar check. I'm unbeta'd with this so it's much appreciated. Sorry it took you out of the story though, I'll try better next time, and I'm happy that you were able to finish reading the chapter even though the errors were glaring. Thanks for the feedback! :)

10

This is my favorite chapter so far.  I've lived through many horrible hospitalizations with my parents and you did SUCH a good job of capturing the powerlessness, frustration, guilt, and worry of these situations. It's so terrible when you have to be away from the hospital but you KNOW that if you don't get SOME sleep, you will simply cease to function.   I liked that you have Pam able to face Ben with all the tubes and Jim has to work past his avoidance. It's so true that different family members will react in these ways.

The "forest" of IV poles.  What a perfect description.  Are you researching like crazy or have you lived some of this?  Your descriptions ring very true.

Love it! At work, so can't write much...

Well, THIS will be a different ride!  Looking forward to more!  (I'm only dimly aware of Dr. Who.  Is this Eleven?)

Interesting twist!  I like Spencer.

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you liked him - putting an original character into a story is always a bit of a risk, but none of the other characters really fit the bill for what I wanted to do with Spencer.

I liked it!  I thought you captured this moment for Jim very believably.  I like to think he had the courage to tell Pam about the interview and that she didn't just hear about it the next day.  I like the way you depict the news throwing Pam a bit off kilter but not leaving her despondent.  She's still on the adrenalin high of the coal walk and her confession and is radiant as she talks to Oscar.  I like that.

Strong close, too. Pam's smile seeming a "promise and a goodbye" is a lovely image. 

Looking forward to more.

Wow, this was just perfection! I haven't been watching this season, so I didn't read this story yet. I finally watched a few & am reading your accompanying pieces. I just loved everything about this chapter. You really capture their characters well!

Author's Response: Thanks so much VB! I'm hoping you're catching up with this season, minus the rough middle patch, these past few episodes have been some of the best ones and have renewed my faith in the show. I'm so happy to hear that you thought I capture the characters well, it's something that took a lot of time to get into and I think I finally found it. Thanks so much! Hope you continue watching and hope you enjoy the updates to this too! :)

There's so much I like about this.  The matter of fact tone just makes Jim's day seem even more empty.  Ah, it makes it clear how he's totally not engaged.   That's it.

I like how you introduce Andy and Karen namelessly.

I like how you close with the same phrase of the opening.

I'll be interested to see how far you decide to take this. Will the story end in angst-land? Go AU? 

And, like Deedldee, schedule permitting, I'd be happy to help out if you need feedback getting back in the saddle on the other story. I'm not writing anymore but I still like to beta.

10

Oh, I agree!!  You HAVE to continue with this!  What a totally fresh premise!   

Oh, and did Barbara Tuchman come back from the dead, or is this a granddaughter or something??

You could do so much with this.  Please continue.