I quite liked this, Owl, as much as any fic I've read recently. No overdose of guilt or sentimentality, yet the feelings are there all the same. Nice piece.

P.

A very nice story! It brought out one of my favorite mottos (just ask my kids) - 'Happiness is a choice'. Though happiness in Quentin might be a stretch, if anyone could accomplish it, it would be McCormick. I liked that he was able to share those positive moments with the one who was perhaps having a harder time seeing the silver lining.

Thanks for taking a few minutes off from baseball to write about baseball. :-)

This was an extra special story.

These guys talking about what is usully unconfortable for them to talk about.

I do think there was sure some guilt there where Hardcastle was concerned when Mark was speaking of his SQ days.

Hardcastle had really came more and more to like this kid and so he was feeling a bit guilty for Mark being put there.

He really did come to realize Mark never really belonged there.

I guess donating equipment to the SQ team is Hardcastle's way of making things up to him I guess.

Wonderful story.

JeanneZ84

This is a very nice look at the guys chatting about something that rarely comes up. And better than that, you've managed to show an evolution of the relationship without ever having either one of them go off the deep end emoting. I'm forever grateful to you for that. :-)

A wonderful little scene, and I will second the motion that I love HC's final suggestion. Perfect.

Turn-about is fair play-it's interesting to see Mark being open about prison stuff for a change and the judge being the guy who's stepping back from it. And, as always, you handle everything with a deft, light touch.

Loved how Hardcastle chooses to come around in the end, and his ever-practical approach to fixing the world-one ball game at a time.