LINK: It was something he never thought he would find himself battling again, but it seized him before he could stop it.

38.7. Care

Co-written with agentsullivan
[Follows THIS]Dazed could really be the only way Ali could describe how she felt in the wake of the last twenty four hours. First coming home from hospital, and then thing with Andrew's birthday presents, and finally the whole alcohol nightmare. The few hours Mark was here seemed like a distant memory, but she knew she ( Read more... )

Don't you know
That everyone around you
Has felt the pain you feel today
You're out of control yeah--and you want someone to tell you
When you wake up in the morning it'll only be a dream
You're out of control...
- Out of Control, Oingo Boingo

[Follows THIS]

( When it all got too much, he couldn't even be strong enough to resist the temptation to drown out the pain again, the pride in himself of his eighteen month sobriety falling with him... )

24.1.2. "Sorrow you can hold, however desolating, if nobody speaks to you. If they speak, you break down." - Bede Jarrett

Co-written with agentsullivan & notskywalker
[Part of all HERE and HERE]The discussions between Andrew and Ali's doctors had been lengthy and draining. It took awhile for them to come to a decision with the advice of her psychologist that she should be ( Read more... )

60.5. "Loneliness is just about the scariest thing out there" - Joss Whedon (from Week 23)

Co-written with agentsullivan
[Follows THIS]Ali didn't wake up quickly. Andrew watched her as she roused gradually, almost as if she was fighting off regaining consciousness. He rubbed her hand softly, trying to give her something to focus on so she wasn't spooked waking ( Read more... )

LINK: He didn't want the devastated anger to consume him, but he didn't know if he had the strength to stop it.

2.21. It's a Motherfucker
Being here without you
Thinking 'bout the good times
Thinking 'bout the bad
And I won't ever be the same
It's a Motherfucker - The Eels

Co-written with pullmysteth
[Follows THIS]Andrew had never dreaded being in the back of an ambulance more than he did that night. He wasn't a paramedic then, just a terrified husband-to-be and ( Read more... )

77.10. Pain (from Week 62)

Co-written with agentsullivan & pullmysteth
[Follows THIS]It was almost like a dream sequence when Andrew burst into the bathroom with Emma right behind him. Ali was sobbing uncontrollably by then, and feeling like someone had plugged her ears with cotton wool. Everything sounded muffled and she could hardly even see through the tears. She hadn ( Read more... )

LINK: She said her first word, and it was me!

39.10. Parent

Co-written with agentsullivan
[Follows THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS]It was just on dusk, and while one part of New York wearily signed off the for the day to head home after a hectic work day in the chaotic city, another part was just warming up to see the nightlife that promised to come alive, no matter what day of the week it was. Ali was ( Read more... )