Disclaimer: I do not own Forever.

Henry was never one for social gatherings. He would rather spend his free time organizing his vast book collection, or figuring a way to unlock the secret of his immortality.

But he humored his colleagues and attended the Christmas party. It was different from being surrounded in a bar or at an art gallery. There was gift exchanging, something that was called "secret Santa," and embarrassing storytelling.

He was able to witness some of his most reserved colleagues, laughing out loud and singing along to the goofy Christmas songs. It was nerve-racking and amusing at the same time.

Henry was startled from his thoughts by a familiar voice. "Are you going to stay in a corner the entire night?" Jo sauntered his direction with two glasses of wine. "Or are you going to join the rest of us and have some fun?"

He took the offered glass and smiled at the sassiness in her tone. "I'm enjoying myself just fine."

Jo raised a brow at him. "By staring at the rest of us like aliens from Mars?"

"I certainly was not!" He quickly retorted. "I was just watching Lucas make a fool of himself with that ridiculous reindeer hat."

"At least, he's enjoying himself," She defended, taking a sip of wine. "Why don't you come eat something?"

Almost as if on cue his stomach began to growl. He hadn't eaten since lunch time. "I suppose I could."

Jo turned and headed for the refreshment table. He reluctantly followed behind her, deciding that eating some of the appetizers wouldn't hurt. After all drinking alcohol an empty stomach was never smart.

Henry was surprised at just how much food was crowded on the table. There was a little something for everyone. He felt ashamed to admit it, but he didn't know what to choose. So he followed his partner's lead and loaded his plate with different selections. By the time they were at the end of the table, he was sure his plate had a week's worth of calories.

"So why don't you like parties?" Jo remarked as they sat across from each other at the table. She took a bite out of a miniature cheeseburger. "Don't deny it, you're obviously uncomfortable."

He regarded his plate thoughtfully, before plucking away a chicken wing. How could he answer a question like that when he couldn't give a whole answer? Being alive for two centuries made holding conversations a little difficult. "Being surrounded by people for long periods of time makes me uncomfortable."

"Which is why you need to get out more often," She concluded firmly.

Henry grinned. "You're starting to sound like Abraham."

"Well he's right you know," she added. "Life is too short to be sulking in dark corners."

He pursed his lips at her statement. There were many moments in his life were he found himself hiding in dark corners trying to keep himself from losing his mind. He remained guarded from people to keep his secret. The only real lingering relationship he had left in the world was Abraham. Everyone else that he ever grew close to was gone. He thought of finding someone to settle down with, but how do you explain to someone that you don't age and you cannot die? Watch them grow old as you stay the same as the day you met. It was a lonely way of life.

"Henry?" He felt a hand touch his wrist. "Are you still with me?"

He blinked as he realized he was once again lost in thought. "My apologizes,"

Jo noticed that his accent became much more clipped when he strayed in thought. She'd never asked too much about what he was thinking. Usually, he would give her vague responses that were often times too advanced for her to truly decipher. For someone who looked no more than thirty-six, he had the air of someone older and wiser.

"You know, I don't really like parties either," she admitted taking a long sip of wine. "But I still go to them. You know why?"

"Why?"

She smiled sadly. "Because it's better than sitting alone in my apartment being suffocated with my thoughts of work or how much I miss my husband."

Henry stilled at the hint of sadness in her voice. A softer tone replaced her normally sarcastic, and confident one. He knew that it was a sensitive topic for her, one that they tipped toed around. She was a strong woman, but even the strongest had weak points.

He decided to steer the conversation elsewhere. There was no use in turning the mood melancholy. "Tell me, Jo, why aren't you drinking eggnog?"

Instantly, the sadness vanished from her eyes and her lip curled. "Because it's disgusting,"

"Really, I find it quite delightful actually," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Jo frowned deeply but continued with eating from her plate. She made a point in licking the sauce from her finger, which made something odd twist in his stomach. The action was pure instinct by someone enjoying their food, but it made his body tingle. He hadn't paid any real attention to her lips before, but now he couldn't take his attention away from them. Tonight they were a soft shade of red, one that was different from what she usually wore. He could imagine that they would taste sweet like the wine she drank.

To be a matter of fact, he hadn't taken a real notice in her appearance, until now. She wore a cream-colored long sleeve sweater dress with a modest neck line that showed her delicate collar bones and hugged her subtle curves. Her hair was in loose curls, pinned to the side with a glittery hair brooch. Shimmery eyeshadow accented her rich eyes. She was especially beautiful.

"You're doing it again," Jo deadpanned.

Henry sighed and shook his head. "It must be the wine."

She eyed his glass and nodded. "Uh-huh, sure."

They continued to eat in silence until both finished their food. Afterward, Jo offered to take their plates and return with dessert. He hadn't been picky in what he wanted, so he told her to surprise him. He sat alone at the table wondering why he was all of a sudden so easily lost in thought. Was he that distracted by her appearance? Could it be the way her hips swayed, as she walked past in her pumps? Or the way she gazed at him with such intensity? Such intensity that made him want to hold her close and kiss her senseless. He was sure he was imagining things, but as she came back with their dessert, he concluded that he wasn't.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are Jo?" He suddenly blurted.

Jo paused from slicing into her piece of chocolate cake. She seemed surprised by his confession though she easily played it off and smirked. "You've told me that I was quite hot."

He cleared his throat. "Well, that was an understatement. You are very beautiful."

She raised a brow but said nothing further. Instead, she returned to the slice of cake in front of her.

Henry noted that her shoulders were slightly tensed. He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable, but as usual, he managed to do a superb job. He wasn't good with flirting since he hadn't done it in a great while. Although lately, when he was around her, he couldn't keep his train of thought for long or his mouth in check.

"You are a strange one Henry," she smiled gently."But sweet."

He felt once again like a babbling idiot. He knew that when she smiled like that, she was only being sympathetic to his oddness. He took a few bites of the cake that was before him and excused himself.

With his hands shoved in his pockets, he briskly walked away in the cold air of the night. He hadn't paid any attention to the clicking of heels or that his name was being called. He just wanted to get home, so he could distract himself in his downstairs labs. Distract himself from the reasonable amount of embarrassment that he just caused himself. He was grateful for the cold since it chilled the tingling heat he felt in his body.

"Henry!" Jo came to stand in front him, holding his arms. Her cheeks were rosy from the chill of the air and her breath came in small pants. She had sprinted to catch up with him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing I-"

"Don't lie to me," she warned, poking him in the chest.

He huffed and closed his eyes. "I realized that I should learn to keep my mouth shut more around you."

"We're partners," Jo reminded, tightening her grip on his arms, forcing him to open his eyes. "We tell each other things. So it's normal to get a little chatty at times. No harm in that."

He felt the weight of her reassurance hit him hard. He hardly told her anything at all. Just selective details that weren't all that important. He kept her at arm's length, which was as the days went by became harder and harder.

"Yes it is normal but-" He began but fell silent when two men came running towards them with guns in hand and black bags. Quickly he grabbed Jo and pressed her up against the brick wall to shield her from the gunmen when they began firing.

One bullet hit his left calf while the others got him in his shoulder and lower back. His balance buckled but he kept close to shield Jo from the flying bullets. He felt hot blood spurting from his wounds. His strength was leaving him quickly, and his ability to think straight was becoming foggy. He crumpled to the ground, further knocking the wind out of him.

From there everything began to blur as he felt the familiar clutch of death yanking at his coat tail, dragging him down under. He knew it would be over quickly, and he would emerge from the water once more like he did many times before.

He could hear Jo calling his name, he could hear her shouting into her cellphone for the paramedics. But it wasn't long before he could only hear the faint pulse of his own heartbeat and then only feel coldness that came with losing too much blood.

"Stay with me Henry," Jo cradled his face in her warm hands. "Help is coming."

He looked into her concerned filled eyes and offered her a weak smile. With the last of his strength, he raised his hand and touched her face before closing his eyes and letting darkness steal him away.