With A Little Help From My Friends

[dylan_dufresne]

Title: With A Little Help From My Friends - 33/47
Author: dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: R-ish, maybe.
Summary: A new chapter of Dom’s life begins, struggling to find a balance, and ghosts of the past.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta, frojane.
Special Thanks: To loki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has

Comments

[ex_rogerpit]

This is going to be a big change for both of them, both short term and long term. Dom has found his 'passion', as Billy once put it, and he's now determined to help as many as he can. His frustration is understandable - there are lots of people, even in our own communities, that get swept 'under the rug' as it were without so much as a second glance. It's remarkably easy to look the other way when you're the one with a roof over your head and a meal on the table. Dom isn't like that - he's been where these people are, and he understands where they're coming from.

He's also come to a big realization: that the first step toward solving a problem is acknowledging the problem exists. That will be his biggest hurdle, I think. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses.

[dylan_dufresne]

While others can look away and pretend the problem doesn't exist, Dom can't. He's lived it. He knows the pain and desperation, and is compelled to do everything he can to try to help.

Thank you very much.

[crsty1961]

I understand about passion in a lover from Billy's point of view. Lyn was determined to be a truck driver. The down side of his job is 7-14 days out 2 days home. Now he says he feels like a stranger, well in a way he he is. I'm raising my son basically alone. We have our own routine. He unfortunately disrupts that. One thing we've tried to maintain is talking about things with each other. Billy not talking is going to make it worse in the end. Now Lyn and I try and make as much of his 2 days back as possible. Billy needs to talk to Dom and say come home when you say you are, make time for us, learn to delegate at job so you can leave at night and not feel guilty. Dom needs to prioritize better or their going to have problems.
So the angst begins, is this going to be a big or little bump?

[dylan_dufresne]

My uncle is a truck driver, and my cousins rarely saw him as they were growing up. Trying to balance home life and supporting your partner is a tough one. Billy and Dom are definitely struggling with it.

Yes, the angst begins here. Let's just say it gets bumpy.

[promisethstars]

Well, Dom and Billy have certainly come a long way in the last few years, haven't they? Dom's found a great job, one that he loves. Granted, they aren't spending nearly enough time together anymore. But Dom knows that he can help these people, he's been there, done that.

[dylan_dufresne]

Dom's focus is being pulled in a new direction, and it's a struggle to balance home and work, especially when you see so much suffering.

Thank you.

[daydreambeleevr]

we've finally moved past the end of the original MN3. :bites nails:

So many things about this chapter had an impact for me. It's understandable that Billy feels like he's taking a bit of a back seat to the Center and Dom's work. I know Dom wants to help the world, but he better find a way to keep some balance in his life or that job will eat him alive. You can't face that level of hopelessness, see people flailing about in misery, and not have it suck you under.

The part with Michael was lovely and thinking about Eric was just sad.

:now for the tenderhooks of anticipation:

k =)

[dylan_dufresne]

Yes, we're into unfamiliar territory now. Stop biting your nails, honey, or you'll have none left!

I can see why people burn out in those types of jobs, where the need so is great, and there's never enough. I don't think I could do it.

Successes and failures. Michael's story ended well, but Eric's . . . I think it's the not knowing that makes it so difficult.

Thank you.

[daydreambeleevr]

I have worked in jobs (not quite like Dom) where what I did every day made an impact on the people on my case load. I worked for my local District Attorney's office, processing child support payments. I had to deal/listen/comfort far too many people that were living in complete despair. Parents living on assistance, not making ends meet were tough, but the really bad ones were the parents that had lost their child to the non-custody parent (kidnap) playing mind games and not bringing the child back at the end of visitation. That happened more times then I like to remember. Sometimes just letting them cry on your shoulder was the best you could do. It never seemed like enough. I was totally out of my depth. I started working there when I was 19 and was burned out by the time I was 23. (and I wasn't lucky enough to have a gorgeous Scotsman to go home to)

Srsly? If Dom can't learn to find a way to lock a part of himself down, close that little tiny part off, he'll drown in the misery and helplessness of it all.

[dylan_dufresne]

What an emotionally draining job that must've been, especially for someone with such a big heart, like you. I can't even imagine trying to comfort a parent who's had their child stolen.

Dom needs to set boundaries, and accept that he's not responsible for saving the world. He can be dedicated and still have a life outside of work. A life that he enjoys.

:::hugs you:::

[corazone]

Wow - i was close to tears at the wedding and now their developing separation is tearing at my heart. Poor Billy, there is a thing as being too understanding...It's so hard to find balance. When I was training I was at work more than I was at home and after awhile work started to feel more like home than home did. I know I had to do something when my husband started feeling like a stranger... Unfortunately two of my friends weren't so lucky. One her husband ended up having an affair and the other they just drifted apart... This hits a bit close to home...

On a happier note, I still can't believe that you took a slice out of their life and expanded it into another novella. The detail is fantastic - I know i feel as if i'm living their lives with them. Lovely tight descriptive writing. Can't wait for more.

Oh and instead of them writing a book on romance I think you should. They are so over the top but I don't care because I'm a closet romantic - so big happy sigh...

[dylan_dufresne]

Billy wants to support Dom in something that means so much to him, but at what cost to himself? I'm sorry about your two friends. I think it happens far too often, and so much hurt comes from it.

Thank you for your kind words. I always regretted skipping over the events between the last chapter of MN3 and the epilogue. As you see, a lot of things had to happen before they got to that point.

As for the romance ideas - I got them out of a book, so I think that gets me off the hook. :)