Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 21:54:05 -0500

The slow wet sound of breathing got slower, softer, stretching itself out of the range of ordinary hearing, and still Jim listened, as if by listening he could stop the fading of a life. When Blair's breath was too soft for even Sentinel hearing, when the hand in his began to cool and the blood no longer moved through it, he sighed and let go. He brushed tangled curls away from Blair's face, a face too strong-featured for beauty; brushed his hand over the eyes which were already closed, just to make sure. It was like checking the locks on the loft at night. Just to make sure. Blair would want it that way.

He bent down and kissed cool slack lips, lips which for the first time didn't press back against his. There was no pulse under his trembling fingers, no heave of laughter as Blair realized he was being kissed awake.

Blair loved being kissed awake. *Had* loved being kissed awake.

"Mr. Ellison?"

He looked up at the doctor, a handsome older woman, who stood on the other side of the bed.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ellison. He's gone."

Dry-eyed, Jim met her gaze. "I know," he said, and then he moved, too quickly for her to stop him: gun, mouth, trigger--

and then he didn't have to live without Blair anymore.

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The End