A/N: I posted this on my LiveJournal a while back for the awesome No Safety Pin challenge. I just realized I never posted it here.
This is (how do I put this?) not a happy piece.
Disclaimer: Disclaimed.
He doesn't know what fear is until the night she falls.
He's out of town as gruff, apologetic words are delivered by phone, and thus cannot rush heroically to her side.
Building exploded. She was inside. Doesn't look good.
At the time, she is his entire world.
He loses hours waiting for definitive words. Straining for breath, shaking, heaving. The deals he makes with God will follow him into his next three lifetimes.
His thoughts terrorize—should have said, should have done sooner, never had a chance…
What now?
He should have been there. He's her partner. Protector. Right arm. Her six.
Her downfall.
Words won't be needed. He's sure his heart will stop at the same moment as hers.
It doesn't.
And he can't help but think he failed her.
So…can I get anyone a drink?