Jeez, all that. But I loved the bomb-defusing scene. I could really see it in my mind, and the banter and trust there was so recognizable. I love that Doyle cut the other line and that it turned out to be right without some sort of defensive display from Bodie. (Still wondering where all that damage went, though.) I like the structure of the chapter, and the descriptions are great. And there's Gabe again, and a chapter break that really makes me want to read on.

I just ... I feel as though a storyline that means "life has nearly broken both of them but they save each other" and one that means "they're already survivors, each in his own way, and all they need is to respect and trust each other" are both perfectly plausible, but they do not mesh. Then the writer ends up slicing and mixing them up, and I'm getting whiplash here. Plus the "Bodie actually IS perfect" subplot doesn't help either storyline.