Comments | fannishliss: SPN FIC: "The Night Weighs Heavy" (Sam Winchester, Gen, PG13)

fannishliss

SPN FIC: "The Night Weighs Heavy" (Sam Winchester, Gen, PG13)

Jul 24, 2009 07:13

TITLE: "The Night Weighs Heavy"
SUMMARY: Sam's not a hunter any more. He left that world behind when he came to Stanford. But now his world is dissolving into a series of horrifying nightmares and he can't shake the feeling that it's all his fault. Is there any one who can help him?

PAIRING: canon compliant Sam/Jess (background only)
RATING: PG-13 ( Read more... )

futurefic, sam, story

Comments 14

pandarus July 27 2009, 03:00:35 UTC

Well, damn, I don't know WHY you've not garnered any comments, love, because this is a very nice and thoughtful piece. Mind you, I think it helped to know that it was inspired by Jacob's Ladder up front, perhaps? Because I'd caught a glimpse of the Author's Note bit before I read it, and that told me where we were. But, yes - very evocative. Poor wee Sam - he does have a lot to make his peace with.

If it were me, I'd post this to spn_gen, spnforthesane, spnrulesfree, wincest_free and there are probably some Sam-centric communities too? Because it deserves to get a little more exposure!

fannishliss July 27 2009, 11:20:59 UTC

thanks so much for the comment! and I very much appreciate the ideas about comms, because i don't recognize 3 out of 4 of those -- i will try it!!

I know, poor Sam! I wanted to just send him straight to tir nan og, and he wouldn't budge.

davincis_girl July 27 2009, 03:46:31 UTC

I was just getting ready to ask if your remembered the movie "Jacob's Ladder" (which is one of the creepiest movies I've every seen) when I saw your author's note. You nailed that feeling. I could tell that all was not right with the normal world, and had that tension in the pit of your stomache feeling throughout. Excellent work.

I didn't love the ending as much as all the rest. I think it is because I realy enjoyed that unreliable reality feeling and then suddenly all the mystery was cleared up for me. Maybe I didn't have this issue with Dean's story because he was having such a good time and the ending just added to that. This time I have to switch gears from dread and nightmare to the happy reunion and I had trouble doing it.

Sorry I didn't see this earlier and post a comment. I've been behind on my flist.

fannishliss July 27 2009, 11:33:55 UTC

thanks so much for your comment! I know it's been a busy weekend. :P

I REALLY appreciate your concrit about the ending. It was really an interesting challenge trying to come up with Sammy's side of The Long Haul, because his transition to the afterlife was not going to be easy. I felt like Dean's was like a big "Surprise!" party ... Sam's wasn't going to be like that.

I wanted to have Dean show up and Sam to feel that now everything would be all right... that kind of big feeling of relief when the person you truly rely upon comes to help.

Perhaps i distracted myself with Dean's pretty, glowing apparition! and should've focused more there on sam's feeling of intense relief. -- but i also wanted to convey how just making the call allows him to get past some of his guilt, how Dean is the one judge whose opinion really matters to Sam. So that making that call is the step necessary to crossing over -- admitting his feelings of guilt and asking for forgiveness -- and being willing to let Dean come for him.

bowtrunckle July 28 2009, 18:14:22 UTC

Very nice. Not having seen "Jacob's Ladder", it took me until the reveal at the end to figure out what was going on. I knew all was not right with the morphing of characters ... the pediatrician (Alistair), the Batista (Ruby 2.0) and the lunch girl (Lilith?). But poor Sam, alone without Dean. I'm glad you ended the fic with the boys reuniting. For me, the "character death" warning isn't a problem as I think there's plenty of ways to make death about new beginnings, renewal, hope, and reunions, it's "separated boys forever and ever" that has me running for the hills. Now that I think of it, the latter should be a viable warning.

Some places you could post to: spn_brotherlove, spn_gen, and/or supernaturalfic.

fannishliss July 28 2009, 18:32:24 UTC

dear bowtrunckle, thanks so much for reading and commenting! I am super excited that you got who the creepy characters were -- i thought the pediatrician should be a giveaway! the lunch counter girl was in fact creepy grownup lilith. :)

thanks for the tips about where to post. I went over to spn_gen and the warnings about NO RELATIONSHIPS PERIOD sounded so dire that I backed away. But I guess I should be brave!! I am also excited to look at spn_brotherlove -- that sounds like me.

Cheers!!

angi_is_altered July 29 2009, 11:46:43 UTC

THAT was a fucking masterpiece! DAMN! Poor Sammy! I give him a lot of grief, but deep down you know he wants to do right. You captured that so well. Job well done!

BRAVO!

fannishliss July 29 2009, 13:25:46 UTC

Thanks very much for such a nice comment! Not many folks will brave the MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, so I really appreciate you reading and commenting!!

Sam is truly a hero to his core, but so many things he's done weigh heavily on his heart. In the end, I think, he just needs to feel like his regrets are acknowledged, and Dean is there to help him let it go.

I love your icon!!

angi_is_altered July 29 2009, 13:27:25 UTC

Not many folks will brave the MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, so I really appreciate you reading and commenting!!

Well, when a story is as well done as this I have to give it high marks.

norwich36 July 29 2009, 15:34:15 UTC

Jacob's Ladder is one of my favorite movies, and I really love what you've done with this. I love Sam's subtle sense that something is off about everything, and how he remembers his life through the dreams. And this just about broke my heart:
“I just feel like it’s all my fault, and I know the worst of it is, if I only had Dean here with me, I’m sure we could figure it out together. But I left him. And I haven’t talked to him in so long.”

But I really loved the ending.

fannishliss July 29 2009, 18:54:12 UTC

Thanks so much for taking time to comment!

I'm really glad you liked the story, and that the Jacob's Ladder bit worked for you. I saw it many years ago, but it left a strong impression.

Here is my wee!Sam icon, so happy, with Dean watching over him. The part you quote is sad for me too -- it's meant to convey that Dean went on ahead of Sam -- but yet again, Sam is reliving their separation as though it's all his fault. Poor wee Sammy, he needs a hug -- and at last, he gets it!!