A/N: I was once again thinking about how the Taggart characters always seem to end up in one piece and that made me wonder what would happen if Dead Reckoning had finished differently. The title is from Avril Lavigne's song "Slipped Away" which I recommend listening to while reading this :)
Thanks for all the encouragement! Hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Slipped Away
"JACKIE!"
Her name had been torn from his lips as he stared in horror down at the churning waters below him; without even thinking he had plunged in after her.
His quick action, however, had been for naught; the damage had been done. He sat on the side of the river, cradling her battered body in his arms.
"Just hang on a little longer, Jackie, Stuart should be here soon," Michael told her, trying to assure both of them that she would pull through this.
"I don't think he's going to make it in time, Michael," she whispered, wincing a little at the effort it took to speak. "I think I'm dying..." she added after a brief moment.
Michael stared down at her, unable to admit or deny the truth of her statement, "Don't say that," was all he could think of to say. He blinked back tears as he considered the fact that he was going to lose her, "Please, Jackie," he added in a whisper.
"I'm sorry about your suit," she said after another brief pause, attempting to lighten the mood. Michael gave a short barking laugh, using his free hand to wipe away a stray tear, "I'll put in an expenses claim," he told her; she gave him a faint smile.
Michael watched as her eyes drifted shut for a brief moment as her breathing started to become more laboured. "Jackie, I..." he began but broke off as she shook her head briefly, opening her eyes to look up at him.
"It wasn't your fault Michael," she breathed. Michael was stunned, how had she known what he was going to say? That he was going to apologise for this whole mess?
But no matter what she said he knew he was going to blame himself. He should have gotten her out sooner, before something like this had a chance of happening. If only he and Stuart had managed to get there just that little bit faster.
"Tell Stuart...I'm proud to call him my friend," she said, breaking him from his thoughts, Michael realised that she was saying good bye. He closed his eyes for a brief moment; there was no longer any point in pretending that everything was going to be ok.
"I'll tell him," he promised her, she grimaced slightly as a wave of pain washed over her. She gazed up at him for a long moment, "Michael..." she began, tears forming at the corners of her eyes, "...so many things to say...I don't...know where to start..."
Michael gently wiped away a stray tear that had trickled down her cheek, "You don't have to tell me anything," he assured her, "I know it all ready." Jackie gave him a small smile as he cupped her cheek with his hand.
"Michael..." she whispered as her eyes drifted shut, "...stay with me..."
He swallowed passed the lump in his throat, "Always," he promised.
"I...love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," he told her; she smiled softly and then was gone.
Choking back his tears Michael leant down and, permitting himself a liberty he had never had in life, kissed her lips. "I shouldn't have waited until it was good bye," he whispered as he straightened, pulling her lifeless form closer to him as his tears started to fall.
~*~
The sight of Michael cradling Jackie with such tenderness was almost more than Stuart could bear. Tears pricked his eyes as he made his way over to them, both knowing and fearing what it meant.
Michael looked up at him with red eyes and said the words he had been dreading ever since hearing her scream: "She's gone."
And for the first and last time Stuart saw Michael cry.
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A/N: Those lines about Michael's suit are from the episode, I loved that line so I had to keep it in :)
