And the angst continues... Seems everywhere the poor kid turns there's another challenge, though that makes perfect sense. It's good that you're dealing with all of this so realistically - no magical healing in a few days. It definitely would take quite a while to recover from something like this and there would be setbacks along the way. It will be interesting to see how going back to school goes, especially since I don't think his big brothers can go along with him!

Home at last! Great attention to detail with all the things he'd have to deal with when going home. Glad to see that Crane got over being mad at Adam relatively quickly. It's nice how you balance out the seriousness of scenes with some more lighthearted ones as well, for example Daniel falling asleep on Evan, etc. LOL

Awww, so much going on in this chapter, lots of angst for everyone! Nice reunion between Daniel and Ford, and then some nice juxtaposition between Brian comforting Daniel and Adam doing the same for Ford. I have a feeling Adam is in for some harsh words, or more, from Crane though! Just when you think Daniel is on the mend and possibly on his way home, you just HAD to throw something else at the poor kid!

Wow! I read this whole story straight through. It was really, really good.

What an amazing story. beautifully done and researched, and has someone who has had to recover from traumatic brain injury, I clenched my fingers every time Daniel had to overcome something new. I think you portrayed everyone's feelings and emotional swings so very well, too, right down to Guthrie's desperate attempt to return some normalicy to the family and his resulting meltdown.

And a nice, fitting conclusion. Congratulations! Very satisfying.

I especially liked the turnaround point for Daniel - that moment of risk, of going out to Crane and no longer being the victim but the rescuer, and consequently pulling his focus outside of himself and his own worries. I thought it was a nice touch, and though perhaps unintended, an excellent mirror to the set up of the story (with the mine cave-in), where he went from being a victim who was shouldering a lot of blame to being the rescuer. I liked the consistency of character portrayal there - his decision not to dwell on the mistake, or the past, but to take action, and that decision making all the difference. It was especially nice to see that character portrayal drawn out of two circumstances where no one would have faulted him for not taking action. Great story continuity and development, and a nice way to close the circle.

On a writing note, I liked the clever imagery of Crane's progressive analogies as to what may or may not have been actively living in his stomach. ;) Once again, nice job.

Finally, the pulling together of all those threads that have been running under the surface since the beginning. Nicely executed culmination of events.
- I like how you portrayed Adam's frame of mind and the build up to the eventual confrontation, both the discomfort of accepting help from Tom, and then finding evidence that might make him feel like he'd been shut out from his brother's progress and activities (the music, the car), contributing to his fractiousness.
- Crane was due a breakdown, and I like how you did it, with him kind of wondering at his own behavior with Adam.
- Adam and Daniel were both due some perspective with each other, and I kinda like how you had Adam turn Daniel's perspective around on him - the don't assume the worst of me, because I'm not assuming the worst of you. Well done. Good father/son dynamic there.
- Glad they finally got Daniel to hear the full truth about the mine. :)
- And finally, I'm glad you had Crane choose not to drive, even if he wasn't wasted. :)

"Crane felt the sudden, irrational desire to shave." - I thought that line was a clever way to invoke the emotion of the moment. Nicely done.

As for the rest of the chapter - good way to resolve, or at least breach, Daniel playing guitar. Nice moment. And Crane - oh dear.

Good resolution between Evan and Steve. And, people sure love to beat up Daniel. ;) Nice triumphant moment.

Poor little Guthrie. :(

I'm enjoying the development of Steve's character and his growing friendship with Daniel.

Whew, good chapter. Enjoyed the multiple emotions layered between the characters, and the dual levels of communication going on throughout. Nice flashback to how things realistically could have been for Adam at 18. Well done.

I like that you made Steve human, that you've begun fleshing him out here, and didn't leave him as the vague cardboard cut-out of a school bully. Doing that, in a many ways, gives us an additional and deeper perspective of the main characters (good to see the intricacies of the actions and reactions to Steve here) and makes the universe you are portraying in general, a deeper place. Nicely done.

And ah, the pending reaction to the fundraiser. Oh dear. ;)

Another nice chapter. I liked how you depicted the resolution of the fight from the school administration's standpoint, and how you portrayed Daniel's want of equality in the situation - even though the other kid totally started it ;)

Funny how even talking about fictional school fights can make us all sound like fifth graders.

Loved Crane offering his guitar in sacrifice instead of Daniel's. And Ford was great in this. It was also nice to get a closer look at Evan in the mix and see his reaction to the school situation.

I am hesitant to review this because I am in denial about the fact that it is over. What a wonderful, wild ride you have brought us on! Every word was glorious! I love that you have these stories in your head and then can so eloquently write them out. I have had stories in my head for thirty years, too, but am not talented enough to put them on paper. How good are you with telepathy? I could send them to you. Anyways, I think my favorite part of this chapter was Adam and Daniel backstage, just being comfortable with each other. And I loved that Crane bought the gold back. So glad you kept Steve as a good guy, as I was worried about that a few chapters ago. Oh, and Daniel with Jenny - too funny! I am on the edge of my seat waiting for your next story so don't rest for too long. Until next time . . .