So... my first actual Torchwood story! I was devastated when they killed Esther off, because I'm a sucker for the whole unrequited love thing, and I wish she had got the chance to say everything she needed to say to Rex. She was also my favourite character. :P Good ol' useless Esther. :D Anyway, this is just a short drabble-type thing that came to me. Hope you like it, and please review!

X =D

Disclaimer – I don't own Torchwood... I'm not nearly clever enough. :P

Ditto

She could see the blood. Her blood, his blood. Her limbs felt heavy, unbearable pain searing through her chest. She couldn't move a muscle, so she continued to stare at the concrete she was laid on. The gritty surface was rough under her cheek, and the taste of blood and metal was sharp on her tongue. Her face stung where salt tears were running into the cuts on her cheek and jaw, and she watched with fluttering eyelids as the blood trickled onto the concrete.

Slowly, the crimson ribbon wound its way through the cracks in the stone slabs, staining them scarlet. She watched as grit was lost in the small pools of blood, her gaze following the tiny rivers of red as her eyelids fluttered again. The pain in her chest increased. More blood. The pain was too intense, it burned too much.

With a shuddering breath, she lifted her gaze from the tiny blood trails on the concrete beside her face to look at the man lying next to her. His body was as limp as hers, his head lolled to one side to face her. She imagined that the indescribable look of pain in his eyes was evident in her own. Why him? she thought. And then she felt more tears brimming in her eyes. Why me? In any other circumstances, a bitter smile would have graced her lips. Charlotte was right. She would have followed him anywhere. Even if she had known this was how it was going to end, she would have still followed him.

He looked back at her, ignoring the increasing streams of crimson on the concrete between them. For a moment, their gazes connected, and they finally understood each other.

He was sorry.

She would never tell him.

The three words came to her lips though. Her breath was trembling; the burning had spread throughout her entire body now. His face was screwed up in pain the same as hers.

"I'm sorry," he breathed, and the briefest and smallest of smiles twitched onto his face. Rex Matheson never apologised.

"I..." She couldn't say it. She never would say it. "It's not your fault." She smiled. Her eyelids fluttered.

"Esther-"

Blackness was descending; the three words disappeared from the tip of her tongue and drifted away, unsaid. She would have had the courage to say them. There was no point now. He knew. She couldn't say it.

But that didn't mean he couldn't.

"I love you."

Her eyes opened again to look at him, surprised. And now she was fighting, struggling against the pain, battling against the darkness, straining to keep her eyes open. She smiled once more, and understood.

But the resistance was futile, success impossible. Because this was the day death came back to the world, and she wasn't exempt from that. One final word hung in the air after Esther Drummond closed her eyes for the last time, the choking bitterness just tangible.

"Ditto."

Reviews are love. :P

X =D