Perfect! I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read the rest of your work.

Although this story does embody strong writing, I really can't relate it to the characters of Sam and Al from QL at all. It's like two completely different people who have had those names tagged onto them.

It's very easy to see that the author greatly favors Al over Sam which is fine. Unfortunately, that comes at the cost of making Sam a much weaker, annoying, and whining character than he ever was. Even Al, as he's written here, is simply a caricature of the fine performance Dean Stockwell gave week after week in the role.

This easily could have been a favorite story had the author chosen to remain true to the characters Bellisario created instead of turning them into what she wanted them to be. Al's just too tragically perfect and Sam's just too much of whiner and somehow comes off so much...dumber...than he truly is.

*looks at watch* It is now 1:31 AM my time, past the time I usually sleep, more of an early bed than a night owl. I tend to ramble sorry, anyway...

The reason I stayed up was to finish this brilliant work. That's what it was, utter brilliance. Each character was weaved with such complexity and such heart, that I fell in love with each one ('cept Chuck o course). So many tiny details that I fell in love with. The ribbons, how you brought them back was just *sighs* perfect.

The reactions, the characters, the settings. The start, and the finish. A never ending loop of life.

Maybe I shall review again to pinpoint just which specific parts I liked, but for now, know this...of all the QL fics I've read...this is my favorite. This is probably the one I'll keep coming back to, maybe finding new stories interweaved within.

This story is my love, and I adore you for writing it, and for sharing it.

Thank you kindly

A very sleepy (very happy) reader signing off

-STC

A beautiful and touching work... right on par with the rest of your writing. I'm not sure what to praise most: the excellent and enthralling backstory, or the premise itself. Brilliant as usual.

Nicole,
I just had to add that I love the characters of Hannah and Alex. Well done. I love learning about people from Al's life. No one writes Al like you do. No one. And you do a wonderful job with Sam too. I can't say enough good things so I;m going to stop here. ;-)
Fantastic!

This was such a superb story...set up so much about Sam and Al's friendship and I love how it had the circular set-up, framed as it was. The backstory itself, top-notch. Definitely a superior and well-spent read! Thank you for sharing!! Brava!

What an amazing story! I loved it! Nicole, you write Al and Sam like no one else can. The whole concept of this story was fantastic. And I love that Al is the one who helped saved Katie from her abusive marriage. And bringing in A.J. from JAG was great! You can be sure I will read every story you post.
I'm your #1 fan (in a non Misery/Kathy Bates kind of way.) ;-)

Well, Nicole, this was a really satisfying story. In fact, I just recommended it to someone as a really good prequel. You do an excellent job of fleshing out Sam's and Al's pre-leap characters, good and bad, and exploring how they complement each other. I suppose I should be sad, but I'm not really; your version of Al has lived a helluva life, and I think the way you ended it sums up the spirit of the whole series:

*He knew God watched over Quantum Leap and had been standing beside the two of them an awful lot during the leaping years. They weren’t going to be abandoned now. He just knew it. But Sam realized that even if Al succumbed to the disease, it was something that was inevitable. What wasn’t inevitable was the idea of giving in without a fight. “Okay, I’m not ready to give up. I’ll let you off today, but starting first thing tomorrow morning we’re going to get into this and find options for you.”

The scientist expected an argument, but he heard Al say, “If you can buy me time, I’ll take all you can get.”*

Very profound, Nicole. Well done.

I love the way you write. I read this whole thing in one sitting (it's late and I'm going to be trash tomorrow at work) but I could not stop. I really like that both Sam and Al have personality flaws that are completely in character for both of them. The dialogue is smart and cool, and there's enough description to really get a picture in your head of the setting.

And lines like this, "Gooshie was giggling like a child whose birthday party was going to be visited by Sy, the Reptile Guy," had me laughing out loud. Priceless.

I'm interested to see how the frame is resolved, with present day Sam and Al winding up the story. And I hope you explain why the timeline is different (you indicate that what happened in Leap Home II was a lie; that's intriguing) and Sam's married to Al's daughter. Very interesting, wonderfully written.

Poor Al. He certainly takes a lot of beatings in your stories. Your writing style is to be envied. I'm sure we all in the QL fandom are thankful that you decide to dedicate your time in weaving excellent tales of Sam and Al.

So the Road Trip's not over yet! What happens next?

So far, excellent, as is all your work. Keep going, please!