Not Bullet Proof

You want me now?" she asked, pointing the gun at him.

Shane sighed. "About as much as caner. So shoot me already."

She was going to. Claire could see it in her eyes…she saw the movement of her fingers tighten on the trigger. But just before the gun went off, Claire jumped with all that she had in front of Shane.

She heard the gunshot, heard Shanes scream, and felt a terrible, biting, agonising, pain in her chest. She knew it had worked.

Shane caught her as she fell and eased her to the cold floor to survey the damage. "Claire! No, don't close your eyes, stay with me Claire! Please, oh god Claire, this is all my fault…CLAIRE!"

Claire struggled to open her eyes, looking p into his beautiful face. He was beautiful, she loved him so much.

A noise behind him made her look. She saw Kim aiming again…but before she could warn Shane, Frank Collins flickered into view just a foot from Kim's face.

She shrieked in terror. Even crazy people could do that when a ghost with the vicious face of Shane's father showed up in their moment of triumph.

"Not my son" Frank said. "You're not hurting my son."

Shane whirled around. "Dad?" he whispered. He sounded dazed and disbelieving. To be honest she couldn't blame him.

Kim fired but the shot went wild and she missed Shane by at least a foot. Suddenly Frank moved closer and she stepped back, tripped over the table and fell on the floor, banging her head and knocking her unconscious. Frank gave her one look of disgust before turning back to shane. He smiled grimly "Hello son".

"You're dead. You're dead."" Shane choked.

Oh god. Everything was getting blacker, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. But once again, Claire forced her eyes to open. She needed to make things right…before she left.

"Claire knew. She knew".

"Shane" she rasped. Shane turned slowly towards her, almost as if had forgotten she was there. Then his eyes widened and he immediately turned back to her. "CLAIRE! Oh my god, you're bleeding so much Claire you-"

She reached out with her last bit of strength to grab his arm weakly.

"Shane, I-I-I'm….sorry"

And with that she fell limp against his chest, her head falling back. Shane yelled, but he was a faint shape now, she was vaguely aware of the warm blood covering her entire torso and a dull pain against her chest. The world was quiet and dark. Amidst it all she made out the words I love you from his lips.

"Love…you…Shane" she managed so very softly and then finally let go.

Shanes POV

it was terrible when she fell back. There was so, so much blood, and as much pressure I put on the wound it just kept pouring out. She was dying and it was all my fault. I was begging her to hold on, to wait until I could get some help. When I told her I loved her, she told me the same back and I was filled with a brief flicker of hope before she was finally pulled under. She needed help, so badly, but no one here was a fucking doctor. I was someone she should trust, yet here I was, sitting my ass here and letting her die… no. I would not let her die. She wasn't dead yet. She was still breathing…barley.

I was vaguely aware of my dad watching in the background. My dad, the dead vampire, whose brain was now in an effing jar thanks to that Myrin bastard. He was watching over Kim.

Kim. My god I wanted to kill her so fucking much. I wanted to hurt her so badly. Make her pay for what she did to my Claire…

No. I needed to focus. None of that mattered right now. All that mattered was keeping Claire alive.

That was all that had ever mattered. It killed me so mu that these past few months I hadn't been with her. Hadn't protected her. Just after we'd got back together, this had to happen! Why does it always have to be Claire?

Why not me?

Far away, I heard the faint wail of sirens. An ambulance. Frank must have called one. That was good because Claire was slipping away fast…

The paramedics rushed in and put Claire on a stretcher. I tried to come with, but some asshole told me to stay put. I was about to punch that git in the mouth, when I thought of what Claire would have said about that.

Claire.

Claire. She was all I could think about.

I loved her, so much. I couldn't lose her. I couldn't.

I wouldn't.