My first try at a bunch of little angsty one shots. Please Review and let me know what you think!! No flames please.

Dislaimer: You know the drill!!! =D

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Stephen Hart: The Chance to Be A Hero In Someone's Eyes

Stephen slowly backed away from the door as Nick continued to shout and pound on the door for him to get out of there. He wasn't exactly sure why he chose to do this. He could've easily pushed Helen in the room or even let the raptor eat her and stop Nick from damaging the controls that shut the door; but he didn't.

Nick volunteered to do it but Stephen couldn't allow that, he was much too valuable to the ARC and quite frankly, Stephen owed him one. Somewhere in the back of his mind he still loved Helen, just as much as Nick did, even after all the trouble she caused; but there was one person he loved even more than Helen or his best friend.

Abby.

She'd gone out of her way to try to change him and they were together, at least for a little while, before Helen returned and ruined everything. He had fulfilled his promise that he'd made years ago when they first met and he nearly died from the centipede bite. They had dinner at his place and she stayed over for breakfast and coffee in the morning.

He was nearing the center now.

That one night stand had left Abby 2 weeks and counting, waiting for a son or daughter that Stephen would never get to see now.

He remembered their last conversation, which was more or less an argument.

"What about you Abby? Do you think what we're doing here is right? Keeping all of this a secret?" If everyone else was against him maybe Abby would hear him out.

"Yeah, I do." not the answer he'd hoped for. "Cause of the way we treat animals now, Stephen. Everyday a new species disappears. What would people do to creatures they don't understand?"

"This isn't just about the creatures, this is about our future."

"Bottom line, whatever Cutter decides, I'm with him." Those words cut like daggers right through his heart. Shortly after that, Cutter fired him from the ARC.

A tear rolled down his cheek.

Then there was Connor, his adopted little brother. He always looked up to Stephen even for advice about talking to girls. Connor, Cutter, and [Stephen] were supposed to go to a rugby match this weekend, but now it didn't look like it was going to happen. Connor loved Abby just as much as Stephen if not more. He'd make a great substitute dad. Hopefully, Connor could do a better job at protecting than he did.

Stephen was at the center of the room, the creatures closing in. Any minute now.

He recalled a conversation that he'd had with Connor the day he was released from the hospital.

"You know, it wasn't until you got bitten that I felt that one of us could actually die from doing this. It really upsets me." Connor had said.

"You must've gone through hell." Stephen smirked.

"Yep. It did make me think about what's important though. You know, sorts out your priorities a bit. When you die, can I have your iPod?"

That had always been an ongoing joke between the two of them, but now the bitter irony of it all made it even harder for him to breathe and his heart began to accelerate even faster.

He looked up at Nick with an empty, yet heart-wrenching expression and remembered one last conversation he had with Nick at a pub after they'd gotten back from the Silurian.

"Stephen, you don't need to always try to be a hero, sometimes, it's alright to just run. No one will blame you." Nick had said.

"Yeah, but the world needs heroes, Nick, that's why we do what we do. It'd be great to have the chance to be a hero in someone's eyes though, wouldn't it?" Stephen replied as he downed his drink.

"Good Man." Nick patted him on the back smiling.

Just then the creatures attacked him and began to rip him to shreds. Everything else began to fade. He didn't know if Nick was still watching. Not that he'd be able to know anymore because he kept his eyes shut.

There was nothing worse than watching something devour you. He didn't cry or make any noise above a grunt. He kept his eyes shut and tried to picture Abby, the girl who had tried to save him and in some way did. He was going to ask her to marry him, but clearly that plan had gone to hell.

He saved everyone though, by sacrificing himself, at least he perished with the knowledge that he'd be a hero in someone's eyes.