Disclaimer: I do not own From Dusk 'Til Dawn, nor am I gaining profit from this story. These characters belong to the authors of their original creation and their re-imagining.

Authoress Notes: So I have been watching season three and my heart has been in my throat. I'm so nervous/excited for Tuesday. I'm going back and forth on the actual pairing. It is leaning one way for now, but I may change it, because of how my muse is kicking me. This is going to be sad… More notes at the bottom of the tale.

If you've wandered it, because you read my other things, I'm hard at work on those…I promise.

Die by Dawn

There was just something too cruel about letting her live through everything she'd lived through, just to have her die by disease. He'd never given too much thought to God, even less after learning about snake-people and Hell's royals, but he'd been screaming and cursing at whatever was up there for fifteen minutes straight. His throat was raw and he'd dropped to his knees in bitter exhaustion.

A bottle of water was offered in his peripheral vision and he downed half itself contents before gasping for air. "Thanks." His voice sounded like he'd gargled with glass.

"It's late, sun's almost down." Scott offered his hand to older Gecko brother.

Seth pushed himself to his feet without the offered help and spat out, "Well you ain't extra crispy, so thanks, I figured that out, Short-Stack."

"Any chance with all the movie shtick you two spew out," Scott adjusted his hat, "that either of you could pick an actor that's current or a reference that's not completely racist."

Seth flipped him off and downed the rest of the water, before they walked back to the hotel. "How is she?"

"Fell asleep about an hour ago. Hasn't eaten much today. Richie's with her."

Seth nodded. He knew that Scott and Richie both needed to feed, none of them had left Kate's side for three days. He'd been the first one to break needing an outlet for his rage. He looked at Scott, who looked like literal hell. "You and Richie need to go find dinner. I'm not having either of you draining me."

"He's not gonna want to leave." Scott shoved his hands in his pockets. "But I'll get him to come with me. Can't be careless right now. It's just hard to be away from her. I mean, it's not fuc... It's just not fair."

Seth wanted to say something encouraging, but just like paradise; hope didn't exist for the damned. He opened the door to hotel room quietly and looked at Richie and Kate on the bed. Kate was sleeping, finally looking peaceful and not in pain. Richie had been whispering to her, but his eyes moved up to see who opened the door. Seth motioned for Richie to come outside.

Richie kissed the top of Kate's head before disentangling himself, and opened the curtains so they could see her even though they were outside.

"She doing better?"

"Well she's not screaming and doesn't think she's on fire anymore, so yes, I think she's doing better." Richie rubbed his glasses on his shirt.

"I told you that damn snake-healer was a bad idea."

"Yes Seth, I know. You've told me, screamed at me, and threatened to kill me for the idea already because it was that bad idea. But 'I-told-you-so's aren't gonna to help. I already feel bad about it and about having to use my third eye on her."

"You being able to mind-fuck her out of being in pain is about all the use you've been these past couple of days." Seth snarled, knocking the cigarette lighter out of Richie's hand.

"Could we not use the term mind-fuck in reference to me helping her? Besides, your screaming in the desert like a little bitch wasn't that useful either." Richie balled his fist. "At least I cared enough to do something."

"Knock it off, both of you." Scott got in between the brothers. "You," he pushed Seth towards the hotel door, "Go stay with Kate. And you," he grabbed Richie's arm, "we both need to feed."

The brothers Gecko eyed each other for a long moment before going the ordered directions. Seth closed his eyes and leaned against the door listening to Scott and Richie drive away.

"I wish you wouldn't fight with him so much." Kate was sitting up rubbing her eyes.

"Sorry, Princess, but bonus, no fist fight this time." He paced over and sat on the edge of the bed. He laid the back of his hand over her forehead. "You don't feel too warm."

She gave him a sad smile, "Not that kinda sick " She scooted over on the bed to give him enough room to sit beside her.

Seth wrapped her in his arms and she rested her ear over his heart. "It isn't right." His complaint was a low growl.

"I don't want to think about it." She relaxed against him.

"Kate."

"No." She pulled the covers up to her chin. "I just wanna be happy for as long as I can. Are you okay sitting like this?"

"Trying to say something about my age, kid?" He was irked at the accusation.

"Did you hear your back crack this morning? It sounded like a tree branch..." She giggled as his fingers pinched her hips, "Seth, quit."

"Of all the dumb places to be ticklish." He huffed into her hair as turned the TV on.

"At least it's not my ribs."

"I think that general area of yours has been through enough." He clicked through the channels aimlessly.

"Seth." Her voice was quiet beckoning him to calm down.

He didn't want to be calm. He could run a marathon with all the excess adrenaline he had. "You'd think there'd have to be at least one channel in English."

"Seth."

"What!" He growled out looking down at her, instantly regretting the exclamation. Kate cupped his cheek with one hand and he leaned into her palm, unable to help himself, as he croaked, "Sorry, I'm so fucking sorry."

"Stop." She pushed herself up against him and kissed him softly. "Seth." She pulled away slightly, but rested her forehead against his. "This isn't your fault. You didn't give me cancer."

"Kate." He clamped his eyes closed. It felt like he was going start crying again, and he didn't cry damn-it.

"Come on, Gecko. You and Richie are bad for folks, but you don't cause cancer." She ran her fingers through his messy hair, before resting them on his shoulder. "Seth. Seth, please look at me."

He opened his eyes and saw the tears threatening to fall from her green eyes. He kissed her, just as gently as she'd kissed him a moment ago. "Tell me what to do. I can't fix it, but I need... I need something to do."

"Just be here. Make me laugh, tell me stupid stories, take me to the beach..." She curled back up against him. "keep Scott safe, don't let him or Richie turn me, and no drugs."

"No drugs." He echoed in promise.

"I want to get fall down drunk." She yawned, "but not right now. Right now I just want to fall asleep in your arms. Can we just be right now? Just watch a move and relax."

"Thought that phrase was Netflix and chill?"

Her shoulders shook as she tried to conceal her laugh, "That means sex."

Seth cleared his throat, "Yeah well, smart-ass..." He stopped short and grinned, as he stopped on the channel and clicked the volume up a notch. "This one's great."

"Yeah?"

"Grant and Grace Kelly, no doubt it's a classic. Always loved this one." The movie started and they fell into an easy silence, except for Seth occasionally adding commentary because he could never stay silent for long. "Hitchcock directed this one."

Kate nodded against his chest, "What's it called?"

"To Catch a Thief. They filmed in French Riviera, ya know before everything was green screen and shit." He was unconsciously relaxing as the movie played out.

"I want to... before I...well ya know."

Her comment was so out of the blue that he wasn't sure where she was going it. So he tried to make light of it, "Catch a thief? Princess, you caught two and there ain't none better."

"Sex. I want to have sex, before." She blurted out, her voice sounded so lost. "Is that bad that I want to do things just because I'm dying?"

"Everybody's got a bucket list. Guess yours just needs to be accelerated." He hated talking about this, but maybe this is what she needed. "Come 'ere." He pulled her over so she was sitting between his legs and he wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her shoulder. "You just tell me what you want to do and I'll make it happen. Me, Richie, and your brother will take care of whatever you want."

"Let's leave Scott out of the sex thing, please."

He snorted. "Probably a good idea, Princess."

She covered his hands with hers, and she remained quiet, until she breathed out, "I want to swim in the ocean. I want to watch a sunset on the beach. I want to sleep under the stars."

"Done. Ocean's not too far. We can leave in the morning and make it in time for all of that." He flexed his fingers against her shirt. "But we're gonna have to throw our brothers in the trunk to drive in the daylight."

"You're awful." She chided. "I'm pretty sure, we can cover them with a blanket."

"But then you don't get the satisfaction of locking your younger brother in the trunk of a car."

"Why do I get the feeling that, you've done that to Richie and it wasn't because of the sun." She looked over shoulder him, but he only winked at her.

"What else you got?" He wanted her to keep talking, because he could start making plans if he knew what she wanted.

"I want to go dancing."

"Leave me out of that one. I got no rhythm."

He could practically hear her smirk, "I'll have to go with Richie, then."

"He's handsy." Seth warned.

Kate laughed out loud, "Says the guy with his fingers under my shirt."

He kissed her neck, with every ounce of gentleness and care that he had. "Never said we weren't cut from the same cloth. Keep going."

She shivered a little and pulled the blanket closer to them and yawned. "I think whatever the healer girl did to me is still making me sleepy. What did she do, anyway? I only remember meeting her and then Richie was saying something about how I wasn't in pain anymore."

Seth was actually grateful for who Richie was; finally got to take advantage of a bloodsucker perk. Kate didn't even remember being in pain. "Nothing that really worked. Go to sleep, Kate, I got ya."

"We should make a real list in the morning." She yawned again.

"Always best to have a plan." He leaned back against the headboard and felt her drift off to sleep again. He eased his phone out of his pocket and turned it to vibrate. He shot Richie a text, Find a hotel on the beach. She wants to see the ocean.

Richie's response came back in an instant, Done. Whatever she wants.

.:.

Okay so this story kinda grabbed me out of nowhere. Obviously this is AU-ish since we don't know what's going to happen on Tuesday. I have a few ideas for Kate's "Before" list, but I would love your thoughts of what she may want to do. This may have a few risqué chapters and may be the first three-way pairing I've ever written, but I haven't decided that for sure yet. I would really love your feedback on this. Thanks guys.