She sits and listens to the beeping that convinces her he's still alive. Barely, but alive. If it weren't for her he wouldn't be like this.

Tubes down his throat, forcing air through his lungs. His typical bad ass wardobe swapped out for a hospital gown. Stale white walls crowd in on them as she sits in the chair next to his bed, praying to a God he believes in, but she's not so sure. She knows she's desperate.

She hasn't slept in days. Each time hereyes close she sees him; he's soaked in blood and a bullet hole is nestled in his ribs.

She hears herself telling him he will be fine, even though neither of them believe it, a small smile crosses his face. One of those smiles that only she is awarded.

She holds his hand knowing an ambulance is coming. "Please don't leave me," she begs him. It's the first time he has ever heard her sound lost. He knows his lungs are filling up with blood rather than air. He gathers his strength, "make me proud; be strong my Queen; until the stars die," he rasps out.

His eyes begin to flutter shut, and she feels tears racing down her cheeks.

"Wake up!"

"You jerk, don't you dare leave me!" Her screams falling on the ears of the unconscious man. She places her lips to his ear, "I will love you until the stars die."

Her eyes fly open; she knows she needs more coffee. A light knock on the door causes her to sit up from resting her head on the lumpy hospital bed. Although her eyes travel to the door, her hand remains in his.

Dr. Wilks walks in with the patient chart in her hand. The look in the doctors eyes tells her this is not good news. She saw this look the night her mother died.

As the doctor speaks the young woman's eyes drift to the man in the bed. Her brain hears a few things that sound like "bullet, lung, puncture, blood, unsure, and complications."

All she knows is this man in the bed appears to be in between. He's not dead, but he's not really alive. She also knows that in his eyes what she is about to do would damn her soul.

She will kill every last one of them; she will meet them in hell when her mission is over. Besides, there is no greater hell than the one she is already trapped in.