Members: 74
Series: 4
Stories: 79
Chapters: 249
Word count: 1920246
Authors: 10
Reviews: 456
Reviewers: 31
Newest Member: stevenjohn
Challenges: 8
Challengers: 2
A Jericho Fan Fiction Archive
Great Ending! I really enjoyed reading it.
I could just picture how cute Lindee looked in her pumpkin costumes with her 'round cheeks and bright eyes'. I just love how Jake has a soft spot for her. He really does seem taken with her. I thought your Stanley was great - right in character. I just loved his interaction with LIndee , how she reminded Stanley and Mimi of Bonnie and how Stanley recognized some of Lindee's expressions as Mimi's.
I liked how you portrayed Stanley's and Jake's friendship and was glad to see that they seem just as close as ever. The story about Crazy Harold's Bridge really had me laughing. Johnston pretending he was Harold, carrying a lantern to scare Jake in order to teach him a lesson was right in character I thought. Even the part Eric played in the story - telling Johnston about Stanley and Jake's plans - was very much in character.
I really liked your idea of telling us about Heather's world through her TV interview. I can definitely see Heather stepping into her role in Cheyenne but at the same time feeling uncomfortable with the recognition and the extra protection Jake thought she needed. What I found interesting was the contrast in Heather's utilitarian apartment in Cheyenne and her homey apartment in Jericho. These things made me think that while Heather doing what she thought she needed to do there she wasn't truly happy. I really enjoyed how Heather and Jake cooked together and how they opened up with each other about themselves. . I really respected Jake for recognizing Heather's need to accomplish what she set out to do in Cheyenne and for putting her needs above his own by not acting on his impulse to tell her how he really felt before he left her apartment after dinner.
I really liked all the interaction between Jake and Heather at Bailey's and later at Crazy Harold's Bridge. I was glad that Jake won at darts and how he made the stakes negotiable this year. The scene at Crazy Harold's Bridge was so romantic. I just loved how Jake was able to show Heather all of Jericho at one time. Also, the story about Heather and her cat was very telling about how she actually felt about her life in Cheyenne. Although there was a part of me that wished that Heather would just stay in Jericho I did think you ended it perfectly. I do believe, however, that Jake will be making a lot of trips to Cheyenne as well as Heather coming home more often.
Great story! Thanks for posting it.
Excellent! I was looking forward to reading the third part of this story, and was so pleased to see it posted. I really enjoyed reading it!
I loved this glimpse into the future, with the reminiscing about the past that came up as well. So much changes between each year, yet some things stay the same. As usual, you do such a good job of weaving all this information together in a few scenes, between a few characters.
I love Stanley, and was so impressed with the way you captured him in these scenes. He's his usual self in some ways, joking and enjoying the time he has with his friends and family, but he also seems to have grown, and carried his memories of the bad times with him as well, though he may not readily talk about those. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but he does seem a bit older and wiser. He made me laugh, and I so loved his interactions with his daughter. Lindee, as well, is adorable and I love how she reminds everyone of Bonnie.
I laughed so much over the story about Jake and Stanley and the McElvoy sisters at Crazy Harold's bridge. It just seemed like something that would happen with each of these characters - that Eric would pass the message along to Johnston, that Johnston would take the opportunity for this practical joke, and that Stanley would see the amusement in it. Poor Jake - but his reaction is priceless, and so in character.
Being introduced to the present day Heather on tv was interesting - even a little surreal at first, as I imagine it was for Jake and Stanley. I thought it was so interesting, the choices you made with her here, becoming the 'face of resistance' and dealing with the responsibilities that accompany her new status. On the one hand, it's completely like her to take this on, and on the other hand, it seems like a completely strange and surreal life for her to step into. I think you did a great job capturing that, a sort of ambivalence Heather feels, and that she is both great at her job and completely out of place in Colombus at the same time.
Jake's reaction to her was very interesting too, as was his growth over the year since we saw him last. You also captured a great sort of inner conflict with him as well - he's realized he's comfortable being where he is, and living where he wants to be, in a place that is home, yet he also feels the restlessness of someone who wants something more. I was as surprised as he was to see Heather come back, even though I would have imagined she would because the story is about the tradition between the two of them.
I loved all the interaction between Jake and Heather. You capture these two so well, in every scenario you put them in. I was glad Jake got to win at darts this year, and change up the tradition a bit. The return to Harold's bridge was great, and you really did keep me in suspense until the end as to whether or not they would finally stop holding back all those things they've been thinking about while they thought no one was looking. I was glad to see them finally take that step. And the ending was perfect!
Great work, Sandra, and thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Penny! it was fun to go ahead in the storyline presented to us on the show and put my own spin on what I would like to see happen. That, of course, resulted in Jake and Emily being far, far away from one another. ;)
So this was my very first time writing Stanley. I was hoping that I was getting him right. When I write, I try to imagine the scenario playing out in my head. I'm guessing most writers do this. Anyhow, if I can't picture it happening, then I know I'm not on the right track. For some reason, I could picture Stanley sneaking his baby into Bailey's when Mimi wasn't looking. I mean, any guy who pipes up and says, "This isn't Red Dawn!" is a different kind of guy. I heart Stanley, but I have to admit that I was intimidated at writing him. I think that sometimes he is portrayed as clownish, but there is so much more to Stanley than that. I'm glad I was able to convey his multi-faceted nature.
Jake and Stanley's remembrances of the night at Crazy Harold's Bridge were fun to write because the two were coming from such polar opposite vantage points.
Glad you liked the introduction to present-day Heather. I have to admit that the interview was a bit of a cheat. I needed a way to fill in the gaps of what happened in the last year, and I thought it would be an interesting way to tackle that. As I mentioned to Marzee, I don't think the face of the resistance is the role that Heather would seek out, but like much that happened to her on the show, she sort of fell into her situation. Being the trooper that she is, she's going to do whatever needs to be done, even, as it turns out, at her own expense.
I have to admit that I looked at this part as being my "And now Jake's grown up" chapter. He was getting there in part 2, but this part solidified that in my mind. Of course, Heather had to come back to this Jake, the Jake who would be willing to admit his feelings, the Jake who would be willing to move forward with her.
Thank you again for your comments!
Lovely conclusion, Sandra.
I appreciate this story for the fact that it is Heather who makes her way out into the world, and who becomes the famous one. It's twist I haven't read before and it is refreshing. Still though, my romantic emotional leanings just want to yell that there has to be somebody else who can do all that political crap -- that or they can find a way for Heather to do what's absolutely essential from Jericho. Maybe Jake can become a frequent commuter to Columbus? Heather needs more than 90 minutes of teaching a week to keep her human, to keep her whole.
As for the rest... Lindee sounds adorable in her pumpkin costume .... loved 'hearing' Heather's interview with Larry King .... laughed at Heather disguised as a nun. I'm glad that Jake finally won a darts match, and especially happy about the terms that were eventually negotiated.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your comments, Marzee. I hadn't really thought about it, but I don't recall a story where Heather went out in the world and became a national figure, either. Hmmm. She's certainly not a character that would pursue fame, but I guess in this story, her choices led her down the road of recognition.
I can't tell you how I agonized over how to end the story. Like you, the romantic side of me wanted to have Heather just toss everything aside and move back to Jericho. I just couldn't make myself write it, though. It didn't seem realistic, given their circumstances, i.e. they are finally admitting their feelings and willing to explore where it takes them. Heather moving back to Jericho to be with him seems premature, though in my mind, that is what would eventually happen. Likewise, in my mind, Jake is inextricably tied to Jericho; I can't imagine him living in Columbus, though certainly, I can see him visiting frequently.
And yeah, Jake had to finally win at darts. He was due bragging rights and everything that goes along with it.
Heehee...and I'm glad you could tell that was Larry King. I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that . I should've known that I could count on you to, though.
Thanks again!
Wonderful...It has the air of something that will make my shippy heart go pitter-pat when it is complete...PLEASE, please don't leave me hanging for long. I love that you are dealing with the canon...Braver than I am...I tend to block out things that upset me.
I hope it works out soon...If you need a beta I'm here...I know I am new, but will work for fic.
;o) Sid
Awww...thank you, Sid! I hope the third part will be satisfying to you. I do have it written; right now I'm just tweaking a couple of things, so you shouldn't be left hanging for too long.
As for dealing with canon, it definitely has its limitations. On the other hand, writing this lets me address some of the things that I found bothersome with the second season, so in that respect, it's all works out for me. Granted, the third and final part of this story will not be canon as it--you guessed it--goes another year in the future to well beyond the end of the show.
Thank you again for your comments. :)
Nice work, Sandra!
There is so much to talk about in this one scene, I'm not sure where to begin. I think I'll start with that though- I love the way you can capture a whole world in a contained space. I think I said this once before about something else you wrote, but this is another excellent example. Within this one room at Bailey's, within one conversation, you tell us so much history, so much of what has happened since the last scene we saw in the same place. It's really well done!
I really loved the sense of change we saw in Heather here. It's a little heart-breaking in a way, to see how much older and wiser she's gotten, but also positive and optimistic, in a way I think. You've shown us a Heather who is strong, who's a survivor, and I just love how she's stepped up in this world and really contributed to it on a large scale. Sad I as I was to hear she was leaving town, leaving Jake behind as soon as he gets back, and no longer doing the job she once seemed to love, I thought it was so, okay, for lack of a better word, cool that she was going to Colombus and meeting with the president!
Jake, too, shows interesting changes here, though in some ways, it seems more like the same old Jake has come back to a much-changed Jericho. I think maybe it's a bit of both. An interesting sort of contrast. I really liked how he seems to have a bit more clarity about what he wants now, and really felt for him when he realized it was too late, he had to stay silent as Heather went out to make her mark on the world.
Your writing of dialogue is so smart and funny. As usual, you write these characters using their wit to conceal a lot of feeling too. There are so many lines I'd like to quote, but I think I'll go with the final lines again, because I just loved how they mirrored the last chapter:
He cocooned her hand between both of his. “You better. Or else.”
“Or else? Or else what?”
Or else some of the goodness and hope will be gone from my life. Or else I’ll never have the chance to… Jake’s eyes widened in realization. Over the course of his months away, his thoughts kept returning to her. He never thought about why that was until now. He wanted her, and she wanted someone else and a different life than Jericho had to offer.
So when he spoke, he camouflaged his feelings. He owed her this. He owed it to her to let go.
For now.
“Or else I won’t have anyone who can kick my ass in darts.”
Excellent, and I look forward to part three!
Thank you for your feedback, Penny. It's been interesting to write this story for one of the reasons you mention--writing the subtle changes in the characters. They are the same characters, yet they are changed by their experiences. There's that old saying about the more things change, the more they stay the same. I think that may be applicable here.
From a selfish standpoint, I also wanted to use this story to address some of the plot points from season 2 that aggravated me immensely, and this chapter enabled me to do just that.
I also thought you brought up an interesting point about the characters' use of wit to conceal feelings. I know many people who use wit, sarcasm, wry comments--you name it--to mask deeper feelings. It's a safe way to express things that are otherwise too difficult to express adequately.
Thank you again!
Sandra,
All I can say is you can't leave it off there! I'm not usually one to ask for more, now, but this is one time I have to. Still take your time... at least we won't have to wait the year I'm guessing Jake's going to have to wait!
I think it's good that for once Jake's the one watching someone he cares about leave him behind. That's a lesson he needs to learn, and which will be (as my father would say) character-building. He might start to appreciate what his mother has been feeling all these years!
ICAM that it's good for Jake to watch someone he cares for leave him behind for a change. Often, that makes a person more appreciative, though I suspect that Jake realizes to some extent what he's losing by having to stand by and watch Heather leave.
Well, Marzee, the good news is that you won't have to wait for a year like Jake. The bad news is that I'm as slow as Christmas. Thanks for hanging in there with me and for your comments!
I was happy to see that you posted Part 2.
I really like how you are writing a strong Heather. The things I particularly liked about Heather in this part are:
I found Heather's thoughts about Beck interesting. I left wondering though about the state of their relationship. I felt that you may decided to let the readers draw their own conclusions (and I think you already know what mine is!). I can understand how Heather feels about Jake needing to know that she didn't wait for him. I also like it how you left it to the reader's interpretation as to whether she actually did or not.
In a way I can understand Jake's feelings toward Beck . . . how he feels torn between feeling gratitude and putting a fist in Beck's mouth. Despite all the things that Beck has done to protect Jericho, I would think it would be very hard to forgive what Beck did to try to break him. I'm glad that he apologized to Heather for the hurt that he caused her and how she remembered every detail of the kiss she gave him before he left for Rogue River.
I thought that the reference to Bonnie and how Stanley and Mimi are rebuilding their lives and expecting their first child was especially poignant.
One of my favorite parts is below because I think it summed out what Heather and Jake have come to mean with each other.
Quote:
"Good,” she replied smoothing the front of his jacket, feeling the coarseness under her fingertips. His eyes fell to her hand before he reached down and took it in his own. Her eyes fluttered slightly before she continued, “There’s a lot of work to be done. Folks’ll be glad to have you back. You’ll give them hope.” She fell silent before adding, “Hmmm.”
“What?” His fingers stroked her palm lightly causing her heart to quicken.
The way Jake held her hand was more than friendly, and sitting next to him, she found herself wanting so much more. Suddenly all her talk of not having regrets went out the window as she began to speak, as reality set in that he was back, she would be going, and for the first time, regretted it, regretted the possibility she would be leaving behind.
I really liked how Jake understood that going to Columbus was what Heather needed to go and how he felt he owed her to let her go – at least for now. Also, I liked his realization as to why his thoughts kept returning to her. This was my favorite part. I really liked what is expressed in this part and the similar but slightly different ending to the first part.
Quote:
“I’m a big girl. I’m ready for this,” she repeated. “Besides, having a full military escort sure isn’t going to hurt. Guess it pays to have friends in high places. I’m going to be fine.”
She spoke cheerily, almost too cheerily. It reminded Jake of when she left for New Bern, plunging full speed ahead into hell. Could he let her do this? Could he let her leave knowing that she might never come back? But as he looked at the excitement in her eyes, the fiery determination, how could he compete with that? He couldn’t make promises, not with things being unfinished with Emily, not with things being unsettled all around them.
He cocooned her hand between both of his. “You better. Or else.”
“Or else? Or else what?”
Or else some of the goodness and hope will be gone from my life. Or else I’ll never have the chance to… Jake’s eyes widened in realization. Over the course of his months away, his thoughts kept returning to her. He never thought about why that was until now. He wanted her, and she wanted someone else and a different life than Jericho had to offer.
So when he spoke, he camouflaged his feelings. He owed her this. He owed it to her to let go.
For now.
“Or else I won’t have anyone who can kick my ass in darts.”
I'm looking forward to the next part!
Thank you for the detailed feedback, Skyrose. I always felt that Heather had the potential to be a very strong character. Certainly, we saw signs of this on the show. This was a natural progression for her. With everything that she's been through and risked, I couldn't imagine her being willing to sit back watching while others try to figure out solutions.
Season 2 left us with some interesting fodder where the Jake/Heather friendship is concerned and the Heather/Beck relationship. Like you suggested in your review, I am leaving the status of both up to readers' interpretations in this chapter, though the next will flesh out both somewhat.
Thank you again!
I was happy to see that this was posted. I really enjoyed reading it. I like how you captured the uneasiness of the townspeople and Heather's longing for simpler days. I really liked the insight into Jake and Heather that you provided by telling us their thoughts. Their conversation, I thought, was very much in character. My favorite part was:
Quote:
“I--I’ve heard stories about Jonah Prowse. Don’t suppose it would do any good to warn you to be careful. This town needs you.” An involuntary shudder ran through her. “And I don’t want to see you get hurt.” The tiniest smile formed at the corner of her lips as she leaned forward and investigated the cut on his cheek, the result of a run in with Mitch Cafferty the day before. “Well, worse.”
Jake’s teeth grazed his bottom lip as he studied her. She was completely guileless, a quality that alternately attracted and scared the hell out of him. It had been a long time since someone cared about his well-being, since someone thought what he did mattered in a good way. “I’m not going to get myself killed.”
The fact that Jake didn’t promise to not get hurt didn’t escape Heather’s attention, but she would take what she could get. “You better not, Mister. Or else.”
“Or else what?” he chuckled.
Or else I’ll have one less person who inspires me.
Or else your parents’ hearts will break, and mine might, too.
“Or else I’ll have to find someone else whose ass I can kick in darts.”
I am looking forward to Part 2!
Thank you so much, Skyrose! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :) Those early episodes of Jericho were an inspiration to me when writing this. I remembered the easy comaraderie the two shared, the way they both did little things that surprised the other, and how Jake was *always* injured. LOL.
Very nice start, Sandra! I can't wait to see how this tradition evolves over the next few years. :-)
Thank you, Marzee! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
I fell hard for these two from episode one. She is what he deserves and needs.
Heather gives Jake unconditional respect and the look in her eyes speaks of her pride in him. Jake needs someone that sees the man he has become not the boy he used to be. I hope you plab to finish this story because it was wonderfully delivered.
Thank you for sharing!
Sid
Thank you for reading and commenting, Sid! I appreciate it!
Like you, I think Heather looks at Jake and sees the man he is now--the man who is selfless, cares more for others than for himself. She does give him unconditional respect, which cannot be said for everyone. She brings out the best in him, and in some ways, I think he's brought out the best in her by making her more confident in her abilities.
Don't worry! I do plan to finish the story. It's just going to be a three-parter. The second part is already completed, and the third is a good portion of the way there.
Thank you again! And welcome to the site, by the way!
I was so excited to see that you'd written a Halloween story, Sandra!
As usual, you've done a great job characterizing both Jake and Heather. In this case, you've brought me back to that specific moment in season one- right after Mitchell's jail break in the middle of the town's makeshift Halloween party.
I love that atmosphere you've captured here, that uneasiness the townspeople are experiencing, the almost dazed way they're having to face a completely new world, and the humour they use to deal with all of this.
The dialogue is spot on, I think. Very witty in some parts, and showing exactly where these characters are, emotionally. I think this is my favourite part:
The fact that Jake didn’t promise to not get hurt didn’t escape Heather’s attention, but she would take what she could get. “You better not, Mister. Or else.”
“Or else what?” he chuckled.
Or else I’ll have one less person who inspires me.
Or else your parents’ hearts will break, and mine might, too.
“Or else I’ll have to find someone else whose ass I can kick in darts.”
Great start to the story, and I can't wait to read more! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Penny Lane! I've enjoyed delving into a different time in the Jericho universe. I always felt like there could have been a plethora of small scenes like this to have taken place, so I thought it would be fun to revisit this time, albeit briefly.
I think that many people tend to use humor to deal with the changes/challenges in their lives. Sometimes when faced with an obstacle, you either have to laugh about it or cry about it. Granted, sometimes the humor can be dark humor.
Thanks again for your comments!