What a great, well thought out story. I literally Could not stop reading! Awesome-sauce

This has go to be one of my all time favorite stories.

only talking, no action but the story catch me from the first words - amazing ! they are so milt and mark and frank - how can i get ever over this guys after stories like that - they more i read, more know about them, the more i love them - specially mark -
THANK you for that story !

I just love this story, no matter how many times I read it. Good job.

Hello! :-)
Found this again while I was bouncing around the site tonight. I could have sworn I favorited this the first time I read it a few years ago... Oh well, it's been favorited again.
Just wanted to say that this has always been one of my favorite Hardcastle & McCormick stories. And I agree that this would have fit perfectly in the series & would have made a great episode. Every time I read it I can see the action play out in my head like an episode. I think you've voiced the characters perfectly.
I am a big sucker for some McCormick angst and have had a big crush on DHK forever. I think I let loose with a tween girl squeal when I noticed it was DHK standing next to MW on a episode of NCIS last season! lol heaven... ;-)
Anyways, love the show, love this story, love McCormick, love Hardcastle (in a Uncle Bill sort of way lol). Can't believe you only have 9 comments on this story! Thank you for posting it!

Excellent!

I can't believe this was left out in limbo. It's one of those stories that fills an empty space in the canon so well that there's simply no alternative for me. It's also the keystone of the "Aftermath" story cycle-a story with so much presence that I would have sworn it had gotten posted previously. ;-)

good story.

Another one of your great stories that should be episodes! I like how you wrote about the aftermath of Randell's death and the parole hearing. Having Frank supporting Mark at the hearing was great.

This should have been an episode. It fit so perfectly into canon and tied up all those loose ends that HAD to have been there after the events of "The Birthday Present". The emotions were real and so in character and Frank showing up when he did, well, was just so "Frank". I cheered-I cried. but most of all, I totally enjoyed getting so wrapped up in a story that I forgot all about life for awhile. Thank you so very much!

CB

Well, hooray for belated treats! This was brand-new for me, and I have to say, I was tickled pink to discover a nice 'new' juicy story. And it was most definitely satisfying! You wrote with such a depth of detail and insight that I could _feel_ the emotions right along with each of the guys. The entire thing was so completely in-character and believable. You really made my day.

Your Frank was to die for! So nice to have him there, and I nearly cheered aloud when he showed up...well, where he showed up. He fit perfectly into this story, and I thank you for including him as one of Mark's 'people'.

Wonderful job, and I can't wait to read this again. I don't suppose you have any more 'forgotten' items in your files?

Cheri,

I am so happy this story was finally posted.I read this from the CDFanzine it's in of course and now I finshed reading it again.

I loved it now as much as the first time I read it.

That really sure didnt seem fair even the possiblity of The relationship Mark has with the judge getting severed.

I know Mark was going crazy with the idea of it.

I know anyone would.

Cheri,this was a great story of friendship and caring.

It was wonderfully written.I just loved it.I am always happy when stories such as these Hartwarming kind are posted.

Wonderful job.

This was extremely beautifully written.I was able to not only picture it all but I could actully hear there voices.

JeanneZ84

Thanks for posting this here! I enjoyed the re-read, and really, couldn't put it down. It's one of those perfect fillers where you know the end...but still want EVERY LITTLE DETAIL about what went on after the last hospital scene and the next adventure.

Perfectly written, wonderful detail! It's not just one that I could "picture" happening (which I certainly could given your amazing writing style), but also one that I could feel. The emotions were so clear, and so intense.

And, I too liked seing Dalem this way. And who doesn't love it when Frank comes to the rescue.

THANKS for giving this to us again :-)

So very realistic, so very believable, so very intense and detailed. This is one of those special stories and I can't believe it got overlooked before. All the dialogue is spot-on and the actions are just exactly what people would have done. This fills in all the results and emotions that would logically follow the episode, and it's written in such a clear and penetrating way.

One of the things I especially like is that someone we always saw as unlikeable turns into a human being here, and, in a sense, helps to save the day. And, of course, there's Frank, who makes any story that much better. Beautifully done, memorably presented.