For some strange reason, I saved both stories to my hard drive and never got around to reading them. I've just spent the last five hours devouring both stories and I had to tell you - WOW. I really loved both stories. I've never been much interested in Jess as a character - to me, she was a catalyst - her death was the reason why Sam returned to the Hunt. Here, you have made her a fully-realized character - one we only got the barest hint of in canon.
The circumstances you set up here: John and Dean's reasons for allowing the rift between them and Sam to continue, the relationship between Sam and Jess...it's your usual completely believable and thorough world-building that, in this case, is like a glimpse of a 'road not taken' in canon - but so much better.
BTW - that first together scene [trying to avoid spoilers] in the motel after Dean dealt with Jess's car? Beyond hot. Nuclear, in fact. Just sayin'. I might have needed a cold drink after reading that.
Lines like this? Dean had wondered for almost ten years what Sam’s skin would taste like The longing implied by such a deceptively simple phrase is intense - as always, your use of language and imagery is surpurb.
My only complaint? The third part that is totally implied by the ending of the second that isn't here. I don't know if you're considering making this a trilogy, but if so, please know you'll have a reader waiting enthusiastically for that story. There are a couple of very loose ends that need tying up, imho. Not that I'm trying to pressure you in any way. If your muse says two stories in this 'verse, so be it. But I can hope, can't I?
Thank you for a wonderful story. Now, I'm going to get about four hours' sleep before I have to get back up, but after a story this good, I don't mind the short night's sleep. ;D
random comment is random: angst-muffin?!! ROTFLMAO
Warning: This Might Be a Little Incoherent - It's 5:30am Here
The circumstances you set up here: John and Dean's reasons for allowing the rift between them and Sam to continue, the relationship between Sam and Jess...it's your usual completely believable and thorough world-building that, in this case, is like a glimpse of a 'road not taken' in canon - but so much better.
BTW - that first together scene [trying to avoid spoilers] in the motel after Dean dealt with Jess's car? Beyond hot. Nuclear, in fact. Just sayin'. I might have needed a cold drink after reading that.
Lines like this? Dean had wondered for almost ten years what Sam’s skin would taste like The longing implied by such a deceptively simple phrase is intense - as always, your use of language and imagery is surpurb.
My only complaint? The third part that is totally implied by the ending of the second that isn't here. I don't know if you're considering making this a trilogy, but if so, please know you'll have a reader waiting enthusiastically for that story. There are a couple of very loose ends that need tying up, imho. Not that I'm trying to pressure you in any way. If your muse says two stories in this 'verse, so be it. But I can hope, can't I?
Thank you for a wonderful story. Now, I'm going to get about four hours' sleep before I have to get back up, but after a story this good, I don't mind the short night's sleep. ;D
random comment is random: angst-muffin?!! ROTFLMAO