It's difficult to articulate why I enjoyed this so much, but I'll try.

Firt of all, I liked the descriptions of the different stages of drunkeness. While I don't recall Blair saying anything like that on the show, the words you used in this story had a ring of authenticity. He sounded like the Blair I know.

I also enjoyed the way the story was constructed. Each time I thought I knew where the story was going, it shifted a bit to become something else. In the end, it all fit together and each preceding scene was sho wn to have mutliple levels of meaning, like the play on words about the shot and the way that represented the shooting.

And I liked that it felt complete while not necessarily wrapping it all up. There are many ways this could go, but it ends on a hopeful note.

And I love how they get together, in the end. With the words, "I can't do this anymore" everything that we've been hearing hints about takes on new meaning because we know that part Jim's anger was not just about losing a partner, but was about losing Blair.

Very satisfying read and a definite keeper. :-)