Wendy... you're very welcome!
I'm more than happy to show you what lines worked well for me, especially if it helps motivate you. I have to admit - it's difficult to stop myself from pasting the *whole* part. <g>
Anyway... you know I loved the first bit, but I'll point out some favourites again. (Okay, somebody is rushing me, luckily, for some odd reason I fdked in reverse, so... briefly through the first part...)
She’d been unfair to him, wondering if he’d forget her and get on with his life. Clark did care about her. The way he behaved with her on a daily basis showed her that. Protective. Even affectionate, when she let him.
I *love* how you pointed that out. How Lois, who is upset and scared lashes out at first and then pulls herself up short... very nice.
“She could progressively lose the use of these functions. She could become blind, for example. Or paralysed. Or - ”
Respiration. The word the doctor had used jumped out at him. “She could stop breathing?”
I really like that - the jump from the general information the doctor is spouting to the important thing that rings through Clark's head. Excellent! <g>
“Distance isn’t a problem.” Clark spoke abruptly. “I - Lois and I know Superman. He could have the poisons expert here in minutes.”
Nice save, Clarkie-boy.
And now... New stuff! <g>
*ahem*
I tried to pick a shorter bit from the next quote, but I simply couldn't. I *had* two quote the whole thing. It's... it's...
Woodenly, like an automaton, he turned towards the door. His feet moved forward, but it seemed as if it were someone else, not him, who was walking into the ER. Someone else was searching the busy room anxiously, looking for Lois. Someone else was being steered towards a cubicle over to the side, pushing back a curtain...
And there she was, sitting on a gurney, dressed only in a hospital gown. Her hair was still rumpled and her face was pale, but she was as beautiful as ever. And a lump in Clark’s throat almost prevented him from speaking.
It's damn fantastic.
Almost like he's having an out of body experience as he's being led through the ER, and then... he's snapped back into his body when he sees her. When she's in front of him. God... I just... I *love* it, Wendy.
I feel like I was right there, floating along beside him. I was actually shocked at the change - but in a very good way. The kind of shock you get when you're watching a horror movie and you're so deep into the action that when the guy pops up out of the back seat you nearly have a heart attack. I *really* love that line.
I was waiting for it, *dying* for it, and then...
“Lois...” That was someone else’s voice, surely? He never sounded that hoarse, as if he were crying...
“Clark, for god’s sake, pull yourself together!” she snapped. “Don’t you know that’s the last thing I need right now?”
Bang!
And it's
perfect!I absolutely, completely, adore it.
Though thinking clearly had never seemed less possible. After all, if they didn’t find the antidote he’d be writing the story alone. Without his partner. Without Lois.
Love it. Love it. Love it.
That's all I have to say about that. <g>
She glared at him, but then her expression changed and Clark almost thought he saw a tear forming. She blinked and it was gone.
Wow, Wendy. That... that says so much about Lois's state of mind. I love how we see her through Clark's eyes. The hint of her pain - the crack in her mask of strength... I really... fantastic. Just... I need a thesaurus... aha! It's the cat's meow!
The curtain was pushed aside suddenly. “Ms Lane! What are you doing?”
“Leaving,” she announced bluntly.
“But we haven’t finished... there are tests...”
Firstly, I love the Lois characterisation there!
And... that poor doctor has no idea... <bg>
Like here:
“Found the antidote -? What are you talking about? You’re not medically qualified!”
I have to admit... this line made me laugh.
Yes, Doc - that's exactly what I thought too! (Is it okay to admit I'm a science geek?)
“I can understand that, Ms Lane. But you should know that you don’t necessarily have 21 hours.”
I *love* that you (and possibly Jill?) thought of that! I have to admit, as a self-confessed science geek (see above), I'm loving what I'm reading so far. I haven't been able to spot anything that wouldn't make sense. And... not to blow my own horn, it's a testament to your and Jill's dedication.
Lois was dying.
Dying. And this time there was nothing - nothing - he could do about it.
Absolut-
lut-ely fan-
fan-tastic!
Excellent way to emphasise and build the tension. I love the way you stress the key words - they're what's important to Clark. They're what he's focusing on. They deserve more attention. Very nice!
In all of those cases he’d had seconds to react, but he’d got there in time. Seconds to be aware that her life was in danger - but then he’d rescued her and all had been well. This was different.
I think it's brilliant how you stress the time. When he had *seconds* he could save her. Now that he's got hours... And I love how you've drawn the distinction between the two types of danger.
You know... it's not so much the time itself, as it is the fact that he's got time to *think* about the danger she's in, instead of just reacting out of instinct. And I think that's what makes the difference. And I love how you can say that without out and out stating it. <g>
And this:
“They’re a sign that the drug is doing what it was designed to do. And some of them are more dangerous - for example, you could stop breathing. If that happens, then it won’t be a question of waiting for the time to be up.”
Oh... what a place to stop! :p
Dave