The Power of Speech, chapter 5

[philippa_]

Title: The Power of Speech
Rating: This chapter's a T but previous chapters are Ms.
Summary: An AU where Ryan's father wasn't arrested and continued to beat Dawn and the boys. Ryan meets the Cohens through a different way.

Chapter 5

Comments

[beachtree]

I was hoping we'd get more of this since you had left Ryan, courtesy of Trey, completely lost and alone. Although you didn't say as much here, I'm guessing that Ryan didn't get simply guess the right direction, but that Mark had been out looking for him, either after he'd been gone too long or immediately upon receiving the phone call. It's reassuring to know that both Mark and Lucy aren't only paid caregivers who view their jobs as a way to make money, but genuinely seem to be concerned about the kids, at least as much as time and circumstances allow

[philippa_]

As I said to Anne35, I really wanted Mark and Lucy to be nice characters because so often social workers are made out to be mean in stories. I'm glad people seem to like having nice social workers.

Well, you're close in how I bring Sandy in, but not quite :)

It might be a tad difficult to get him talking as well, since Ryan hasn't spoken at all since he was "rescued." This is where I bring in my non existant knowlege of these such matters!

Thanks for commenting :)

[beachtree]

Not all social workers have to be demonized. There have to be well-meaning ones, as well as those who even overcome the constraints of too little time, money, or support from within- at least on occasion. It's a very imperfect system and they'd be evidence of that. However, there have to be exceptions occasionally, right?

Sandy was badly written so often, especially during S2 and S3, but early in S1 he had his moments when he didn't preach at Ryan and actually watched- and "listened" to what Ryan didn't say verbally, but with body language, so there's always that!

[philippa_]

Exactly my point. Which is why I made Mark and Lucy nice.

Oh God, I absolutely hated Sandy in season 3 and during the Rebecca or Rebekkah parts of season 2. However, he was so wonderful in season 1 that my love has stayed with him now that the worst bits are over. His speech in the "Man of the year" made me love him again. Although I was sad that Ryan missed it.

[radiotardislive]

Just thought I'd pop by to say that I love this story, despite your twisted mind, Phil ;D and that I'm off to review it properly at fanfic.net :)

[philippa_]

Thanks Laura :)

What are you on now? I'm on 52. HAve I nearly caught you up? Or am I still about 10 behind!

[radiotardislive]

I think I'm on 57. And I have so many great ideas for multi chapter fics.. mwahaha.. but none of them are inspired by the prompts, so I can't use them! :(

[philippa_]

Ooh I've nearly caught you up mwhahaha.

Aww well, I'm looking forward to them.

[malinr]

Poor Ryan, oh how you make him suffer. Moore please? Hugs

[philippa_]

Thanks :) *hugs*

I do like to make him suffer but I don't do sad endings so Ryan always ends up happy at the end.

I'm off to write some now. I've had a sudden burst of inspiration.

[malinr]

I'm so happy you are getting more inspiration. Hugs

[muchtvs]

Whew. The story ran out on fanfic so I ran back over here. Chapter four was a cliffhanger. Glad this chapter was posted.

Anyway, this is really, really good phil.

Like as in reall good story telling. The characters of Lucy and especially Mark and even the little girl are written with detail and "life." They aren't just moving the plot along. They are a part of the story.

In chapter four, when Trey called Ryan a mute and Ryan was confused, because he thought he had been talking...that was wonderful, because you managed to really let the reader know how screwed up this kid was, without hitting us over the head with the facts.

Can't wait to read the next chapter. Keep it up!

[mel39]

I really like Mark! He seems good for Ryan.