A/N: Thanks to Mathmatica
He advanced as they were cut down around him. Nimbly caught the musket. He hestitated. He'd killed people from a distance before, but this Redcoat, this bastard, this butcher, had killed his brother, his wife.
He fired.
He watched the man - if the creature could even be called human - collapse and fall into the wet morning grass. He retrieved his knife, the blade sharpwetandsticky with blood. He hesitated again, he hadn't killed people at point blank range, but he would savor this moment, final revenge, final justice. He caught the blade and bent down....
suddenfirepainohGoditburnsithurtsandnothiscan'tbehappeningyoursupposedtodieyoubastard.
He knew the shock and pain was etched into his features. The Redcoat pulled his rapier, and Gabriel could feel the life rushing out of him.
OhGoditburnsithurtsthere'snoairtheresnothing, onlydarknessblacknothingjustnoairjustnothingwheresFather? Nevertoldhimthathewassorry.
"H'ya!" ToolateFather,stupidmeshouldn'thavehesitatingshouldn'thavepausedshouldn'thaveeventhoughtsorryFather,so sorry.
Dying wasn't like drowning, not really, as he had always thought since - -
"Father..."
"Don't talk, don't talk."
If it wasn't said, he would never know. Did they regret in heaven? He'd just planned to take a life, was losing his own. His wife, his brother...Oh God, it didn't hurt so much now.
"Father...I'm...sorry...." His body fought to keep him from saying the words, he fought from slipping over the brink.
"Be quiet. I'll take care of you....going to be alright..."
For him. Not Father. Justonebreathjustonejustsayitjustsayit...Thomas...Anne...sorry....
"I'm sorry...about...Thomas..." He'd missed him so badly up to now, always carried the guilt that it was allhisfault. It hurtohGoditburnsbutgottahangongotto....
"Oh son, that wasn't your fault. It was mine."
He'd miss the old man with the graying hair and the blue eyes. Sorry he'd have to leave the outcome of the fight in his capable hands. Sorry to leave him alone.... Therewasn'tanyairjustMother,smiling...alwayssmilingblondehaircascadingandrippling,butohGod,hecouldn'tbreathesmothering... gasping for it.
"Hold on your gonna be alright...you're gonna...."
I'll be fine, butGodhecouldntsayitcouldn'tgetupthestrengthwasjusttoomuch.
Father's voice was fading...breaking with regret.
Just out of reach he could see them. Anne, smiling almost just as she had at the wedding...glowing with happiness...Thomas, hands full of toy soldiers that mischevious grin on his face....and Mother,dearMother,beensuchalongtime....
"Don't go, Gabriel don't." his father, sobbing though his heart would break, was distant.
"Come on, Gabriel." ....
"Time, Gabriel. Soldiers again. Only on the other side." Sorrybrothersosorry....
And Anne, just smiling...glowing, no evidence of the harmsuffering done in life.
Goodbye Father, don't give up.....