Alright, my review took me longer than I thought but real life is currently fully packed with unexpected stuff.
First of all I really loved your story and I think it fits perfectly between the seasons 3 and 4. Wished your story would be a real episode (or a two parter
).
Like I said before your last three chapters have been a emotional ride on a roller coaster.
For part 19 I was expecting that Mac finds an empty appartment. Ok, I was close as Nikkis stuff was already packed into the moving transporter but she was still there. Nikki being so reluctant and cold towards Mac was a hard read. I could really feel his confusion, the shock, his growing anger and him being hit pretty hard by her words. Offending words can be harder to bear than any physical pain and that I think you caught the situation perfectly. Mac felt "used". She claimed she never loved him - phew - something that is hard to hear and to accept after the wonderful time they've had. And as if Nikki's reaction wasn't enough Mac had to find out that his best and fatherlike friend wasn't also honest with him for almost three weeks. Mac's recovery or not, Mac deserved honesty about Nikki's absence and her future plans. Well, I'm asking myself didn't she even call him in the hospital while she was on her arrangement in Washington? You also pictured Pete - caught in the middle- pretty well when he realized how devastated Mac was about Nikki's actions he wasn't even aware of.
When you described how Mac drove away without a destination, completely under the influence of absolute emotional chaos, hurt, sad, angry and desperate; I felt the same as a reader. I was Mac in that moment. I wished I could comfort him, telling everythung is going to be alright, but we as the reader's knew he has to deal with it on his own. *sniff*
My own discription of part 20 would be: "Leave me alone". Mac taking distance from everything and everyone was written so well. I can't really describe it but I did have a vivid image of Mac in front of the hospital when he "pushed" Pete back. I had a lump in my throat just by reading it. I just wished Mac could have let his tears flowing. We felt he was on the edge to. Him not showing up in the restaurant was absolute understandable. I also liked the part when Nikki realized what big mistake she made. Her and Pete's desperate attempts to reach Mac while time is running out.
Well, I was so sad when the last part was posted because that meant the ride was definitely over. What an ending! I soaked in every word and it also felt like I was with them at the airport. You caught a typical character of Mac - first thinking of his own faults. When both started to apologize - that was certainly hard to write. The stone that felt from his heart when Nikki told him the truth and that there will always be an "us" could be heard all over the world
. I definitely liked the last chapter, how it turned out even though their ways part. And it would fit perfectly during the seasons although Mac and Nikki will be suffering under heartsickness for a while. Sad but beautiful ending. I had to smile when you mentioned Penny's message on the answering machine telling Mac of her inheritance of the house. Nice move toward season 4.
I'm really sad the ride is over. It was a real joy to read.
You've asked me if there's a part I thought it was special. Tough question and tough to choose. Well, I definitely liked the beginning part with his tour in the mountains and finding himself being caught in the thunderstorm. That was catchy. I couldn't chose among all the other parts as they all fit together and were all good. I think I mentioned before that I like especially during their growing romance that you left room for our own imagination. I don't like every situation to be described
PS: For the quote part - I'm still on it but haven't watched any MacGyver episode's lately exept for the reruns (in German) each Saturday and Sunday at Nitro
I'll try skipping through some episodes after this post.