Smokey I finally read this. What a beautiful piece! It was so sad at times that I did tear up but it was so well written and captured Nick so well that I forgive you for making me cry! All of the thoughts and conversations seemed so in character that it almost makes up for the fact we didn’t get any of this on the show itself. Overall...just...wow! You are such a good writer.

I wish we would have been given more of an aftermath for Grave Danger. This was great. Thanks!

I have two words for you "perfect ending!"

This is one of the best stories I've read in a while. -heads off to read more-

I've been reading the words of SmokeyTV for more than a decade. Not in this capacity, but in a long and lovely personal correspondence. Have talked with her too, face-to-face, in other cherished moments. I've been paid to write, and edit the writing of others. Over the years, the best storytellers I've known are the ones who write as they speak. There's an grace of language and cadence this type of writer can offer. An ease. A flow. Smokey is that type of writer. So glad she's using her gift of literary lyric. I think she channels Nick exceptionally well, and that may be because there are strong similarities in their characters. The icing on this cake? It was fun to see Smokey tossing about sundry forms of fuck. Brava. (For the story, not just the fuck stuff.)

You know that I suck at detailed fedback - hell, I suck at feedback, let's face it. But, here are my thoughts.

What to say about this beautiful piece of writing? It's somber, poignant, yet healing and even funny in its turn. Your characterization, as I've said before, is flawless. You've kept things really in sync with the show overall as well, which for this canon girl is a rare and precious find. Besides being one hell of a piece of writing, this gives us the Grave Danger and For Warrick closure that we wanted as fans, but were not given, and it does so in a way that is true to the characters. It's not overly dramatic, but it hits the spot. It reminded me of all the reasons I love these characters.

I loved it. I know that as a writer you fought your way through it, but you found your way and found a friend and fellow artist to boot - and what's better than that? You should be very proud of this - I'm proud of you!

Very, very, VERY well done, Smokey The Writer ;)

Jacqui

Weird to post two reviews back to back, sorry I'm so late to the game. I loved the whole thing. I feel like you gave us closure to the whole Grave Danger situation that the writers never did.

The idea for the whole thing is amazing. I don't know how you came up with the completely distinct but thoroughly accurate interactions between all the characters and Nick but I'm very impressed. They were emotional, powerful, and felt entirely honest to the character, the series and the episode at hand.

As much as I love me some Super Dave, the first and last chapters hit me the hardest. There’s a poignancy and a vulnerability present in Nick's relationship with Warrick that just can’t be duplicated with other people. And you caught it and wrote in beautifully.

But the whole thing is awesome. I could gush about every chapter but I won't :) I will say that every chapter is a gem in its own right and left me pondering the relationship between the relationship between the two characters featured.

Rock out Smokey!

Smokey I've got tears in my eyes! Really really good chapter. I'm glad Super Dave (see I can't call him David either) got a turn. I like the awkwardness of Super Dave talking to Nick, and I love the effort and time that Nick put into finding the right words though it clearly pained him.

So it's over now, huh? Man this is so sad...

You know it's kind of crazy... at the one hand I love having the fact that this great story has gotten an even better ending but at the other hand I would have want to read a lot more of that:D

You're a great writer. You got me thinking about the whole situation a lot more then I thought about it before... I even watched "Grave Danger" and "For Warrick" yesterday again... and you made Nick's thoughts so believable for me:)

The feelings he must have had at Warrick's funeral must have been so intense and so much for him to take...

I love the way you wrote about Rick's locker and how Nick took the most important step forward at the end... that was just so beautiful written:D

And how he felt all the stares of the others on him when he walked through the lab... I really believe he felt that way:)

How he and Mandy looked in each others eyes, just like he needs someone who's simply there for him in this hard situation. But it was also clear that he needed to do this alone. He needed to take this step forward alone and he needed to forgive himself for not being able to save his friend... the hardest thing of all.

The joke with the gum in the ears made sense:) I was asking myself also why Rick thought Nick would kill himself by blowing himself off and with gum in his ears...;)

That Nick was joking about that shows that he worked through this experience and that he was ready to move on. And so he did it while opening the locker. You need to be a strong person to get through this much drama like Nick had gone through.

That was a great story and I couldn't be more honored for being able to review it:)

I hope you'll keep that up and start a new story when the right idea comes to your mind:) I'll be there to read and review it:D

I thought the chapter with Catherine was awesome, and then I read the last chapter, where you succeeded in simply blowing me away. I actually had tears welling up. This was a simply wonderful story, Smokey, and I certainly hope to see further writing from you. Thanks for a great fanfic!

Wow, just wow!

That was a fantastic last chapter. I can imagine Nick going through all of that. He and Warrick were so close.

I liked you mentioning the case they betted on. That was one of my favorite cases they worked together.

I'm glad that you had Warrick tell Nick, that he thought Nick killed himself.

Nick's been through so much and I'm going to guess that losing Warrick was one of the worse things. I'm glad he found the courage to open Warrick's locker.

This a great story, Smokey! You did an awesome job!

Another great chapter!

You definitely captured Catherine. I could see this playing out. She has always understood Nick and has been there for him.

I'm sure that's the mother hen in her.

I'm glad that Nick feels comfortable telling her how he feels, he really needs that in his life.

I really liked how kept mentioning him fidgeting with his ring. Though, I'm surprised he didn't cut his finger off with all that twirling. :)

This was awesome.

I really enjoyed this chapter, especially the part about Nick asking Warrick if he was really gonna kill himself, why would he worry about his ears. That was funny.

Loved the little Nick and Mandy moment. Me like.

This was a beautiful story, Smokey, you are a wonderful writer and should keep it up.

Man Smokey... you really have me speechless here... that was so amaizing:D

You know I love the relationship between Cath and Nick:) They're sometimes really like mother and son:) And you wrote it so great:D

Like But a Chance wrote so well in her review I love the interaction with Nick's ring too:D You're genius you know that? You made your readers so damn happy with that one:D

It looks like Nicky made some progress in that chapter:) He really talked about his feelings and I was so sure that if he would talk about it, he would talk with Cath:D I'm in 7th Heaven now... and now I find it sad that there is just one other chapter left... you should write more soon:D

You write Nick so well. I always have the feeling to be right there watching him... that's a talent to do so and you have it:D

I love the ending so much...

"...He looked at her. “I’m sorry, Cath. I know you’ve had more than your share of crap to deal with too. I just…sometimes I wonder…what the hell is the point of it all?”

“Just to get through it, I guess.” She shrugged and gave him a small smile.

His deep brown eyes were staring at her, his long, dark lashes shiny with the remnants of his tears. “Why?”

Catherine’s smile had grown into a large one. “So we can keep on living.”"

I can just imagine the picture with his shiny long lashes:)

The things that happened after Grave Danger weren't discussed and shown in the show and so there is so much room for stories about it. I read many of them but this one is special. Special cuz it's dealing with the mental point, all the feelings Nick had after it and not to forget the feelings the others had...

It's simple you need a medal for that one:D Great work Smokey, can't wait for more and I really hope you keep on writing:D

SmokeyTV.

Another fantastic chapter, excellent writing. I like the analogy of the ring to Nick's disposition; turning the ring gave him comfort, but turning the ring...the comfort...also became binding, constrictive, choking. All the fear he felt was wrapped up in one unconscious nervous tick. The interaction between Nick and Catherine was very true. Those two have always shared a bond of sorts, at least in my opinion.

I look forward to more, keep up the outstanding work.

Take Care,

Kell