Lucky, I read this the day you posted it and told you privately how much I loved it, but I'm just coming back to comment now--my apologies for the delay.
This is one of those wonderful chapters where a great deal takes place, but much of it is very subtle. I just loved Sally (well, loved her more than ever, I should say) for the way she handled Slade. I had faith in her, but the real pleasure lay in seeing the way you described the scene. You've done an amazing job with Sally--she is such a remarkable character, one of my favorite OC's in any Moonlight fanfic. You've captured her beautifully--strong, determined, and flexible, but definitely a person of the time, not a modern woman by any measure. I love the way she won't discuss her delicate condition with Josef, even after having shared her blood with him--not to mention been through hell with him. There are some things a well-brought-up young woman simply doesn't discuss with a man.
I also love the fact that she apologizes to Slade for shooting him! It's such a Sally thing to do.
As is her chiding of Josef for criticizing himself...that is a lovely little moment.
Cool, cool moment, also, when Josef suddenly reminds Sally of her little brother. However old he really is, one shouldn't forget how he
appears; and his impishness is one of his most endearing qualities. That's an example of the subtlety of this chapter. You do so much here, so quietly, that it might be easy to overlook. That's one of the things I like about your stories...they are much deeper than they may appear at first glance. Take that conversation between Josef and Slade. You illuminate so much about them as individuals, and also about their relationship, in just a few short paragraphs. We see how they began, and how they will develop. It's just a pleasure to see how you crafted it.
Finally, I absolutely love the ending. It reflects Slade's thoughts. No huge, exciting drama... just a quiet arrival in the wee hours, unnoticed. Almost an anticlimax, but then again--isn't that the way most adventures end? Of course, the story's not over yet--I don't want it to end, actually! I wish I could keep following their lives. Maybe that's the greatest sign of a well-told tale...you really don't want to say goodbye to the characters. You want to find out what happens. I can already tell I'm going to feel that way about Sally, Slade, and Josef when you finish this wonderful story.
at her not allowing Josef to talk about her delicate condition!! She is one of my favorite OC's.
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