Author's Note: Hey, thank you very much for all the reviews. Sorry it took me a while to update but on the brightside, this is a much longer chapter. I have already written the next chapter so I will update soon. Hope you enjoy this and please tell me what you think.

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Everytime you cried it would take my wind

my heart would break

If I could be strong like you were for me

You are my faith

Won't you cure my tragedy?

Won't you cure my tragedy?

Don't take her smile away from me

She's broken and I'm far away

If you make the world a stage for me

Then I hope that you can hear me scream

(Cold - Cure my tragedy)

She was so far away. The knowledge that she was out of his reach made him ache. He had not felt this far from someone since 5th grade, when his girlfriend had moved to Australia. He remembered the feeling of helplessness, only this time there would be no phone calls, letters or on-line conversations. This time he was simply an onlooker watching as the person he loved gradually faded away.

After his breakdown yesterday his throat was raw from crying out his anguish and his head ached from the overloading thoughts. Wearily he had laiddown on the bed and just stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours. He had closed his eyes and basked in Izzie'ssleeping presence. He may not have been able to comfort her but she calmed his emotions. Lying there, he had dreamed wistfully of what it would be like to be alive. He saw their life together and looked on in awe as he watched her walk down the aisle towards him. His breath had been taken by the elegant dress that clung to her figure. Unfortunately, the dream had ended as quickly as it had begun and this nightmare had continued.

Turning over to face her he had watched as her chest rose with the shallow breaths she took. A small smile graced her features and he had been taken with awe as her delicate mouth opened and whispered his name. It seemed like he was not the only one dreaming of their life together. This time was halted by the alarm clock ringing and her form shifting sideways as sleep escaped her. With a small smile, he had turned onto his back and patiently waited for her to come home from work.

When she had finally returned home though an argument had ensued. For over an hour, she had battled frighteningly hard with what looked to be herself. Denny was not stupid, he knew that she seemed to be talking to him. The problem was he knew that was not the case, which begged one question. What was wrong with her? Every time she whispered brokenly, he answered her knowing she never heard him. This habit went on in a loop and he seemed powerless to break it.

He heard her mention residual grief and could not help the chuckle that escaped. She thought this was grief. Shaking his head he turned exasperated as the situation seemed no closer to ending.

Watching her swing the door wide open he followed her, intent on finding out where she was going. Only a few steps were taken when she came to a halt in the hall, he watched as she swung around quickly and looked through him. This action caused him to shiver; it seemed no matter how many times it happened he would never get used to it. As she passed through him those similar, feelings occurred. Happiness and belonging coursed through his veins and he breathed deeply trying to regain his surroundings. Hearing no sounds coming from her bedroom he turned intrigued and walked back through the door, which had slammed, in his face. There he witnessed something, which shocked him and halted him in his tracks.

xxxxx

After last night she had finally turned to face him but Denny had vanished. Sighing she laid down waiting for him to return but had fallen into a deep sleep before being harshly woken by the shrill sound of the alarm clock. Before now, her dreams had been filled with images of Alex, now they were overrun with thoughts of Denny. Just thinking about him brought a troubled smile to her face. Shaking her head slightly she rid herself of the thoughts. So far she had been able to ignore him, guaranteed he had left her alone. Maybe he was upset with her for not believing him. It hurt her to think she may have caused him pain, which was the last thing she had wanted to do.

Entering her room, she removed her coat and changed into her nightclothes. The sun was only just setting but she needed to sleep; lately tiredness made her bones consistently ache. Lying on her bed, she gazed up at the ceiling desperately trying to gain the much-needed rest her body craved for. Unfortunately, her mind was processing too much information and was keeping her awake; she had actually touched him. It still seemed unbelievable and a small smile graced her lips. The nagging feeling persisted though that something was wrong. She was a doctor, so she knew that obviously something was wrong. She had until last night anyway, now she just kept repeating something she was told when she was little.

'Never look a gift horse in the mouth'.

Her mother would say that whenever she received anything. Now it seemed she was looking on this situation with the same take; as she had touched him, she could not possibly be ill at all.

"Izzie".

Sitting up startled, she looked at the intruder. Standing at the bottom of her bed stood Denny with that sombre look etched onto his features. It tugged at her heart and she stood up before moving to stand in front of him.

"Denny".

As he moved his hand up to her face, her body jerked back. She moved away stunned at the impulses she felt. She could not do this. She was a doctor... that meant she was sick. Laughing hollowly, she berated herself for ever thinking this situation was okay. As she sat in the chair, she looked at Denny once more.

"You can't touch me... okay. I mean I'm obviously crazy... or sick... that must be it, I'm sick."

Looking slightly startled at her apparent change of heart, he moved to sit on the bed.

"Izzie", he whispered as if the sound of her name answered every question she could possibly ask.

"No... Don't Izzie me, I'm crazy".

"You're not crazy", he replied somewhat amused by her rambling.

Sitting up she hugged her knees with her arms.

"Then what is this, what... what are you?" She asked confused by this whole situation. It seemed that her mother had been wrong withthe horse saying. She had received the gift and now she was looking in its proverbialmouth. Izzie had always been one for examining situations and Denny was not going to change that. Waiting for him to reply she tried not to lose sight of the problem.

"I'm a dead man who loves you".

Hearing that Izzie closed her eyes relishing the feelings that stirred when he uttered that sentence. She had to focus otherwise she would fall into a situation she knew she would never escape from. She wanted him and judging from his near constant smirk he knew. Opening her eyes, she regarded him and sighed. She could not do this.

"No... This is my imagination... I've always had an overactive imagination", she said rubbing her aching neck with her hand. She really needed to sleep.

Suddenly becoming more serious Denny looked away.

"Izzie... you touched me", he reasoned.

"I touched you when you were alive... and kissed you. Everything that's happening has happened, I... I'm reliving moment. This is just residual grief."

With that, she got up and walked to the door intent on finding somewhere else to sleep. She had to be strong and this... this was too much. Everything she said he seemed to counteract with something better. Leaving was the only option. Swinging the door open, she walked into the hall. Alex... she would go to him. He would hold her and make everything okay. Hearing whispered words echo from behind her she halted and span around.

"I guess the only way to test it... is do something we never got to do in real life".

Her brain seemed to shut down and she moved forward back into the room closing the door behind her. Thoughts of Alex left her, he was not home anyway. There was no escape and she seemed powerless to stop her body from reacting to his words. She wanted this and her entire argument seemed to have ended after he spoke. Watching as he stood up smiling, she took the hand he held out to her. As he pulled her in she closed her eyes waiting for the inevitable to happen. The kiss was everything she remembered and better; losing herself to him she became enthralled. She had tried so hard to keep him away and now... it seemed he had won. She had promised herself she would not fall for him. However feeling him gently lift the bottom of her shirt all her thoughts vanished and... she fell.

xxxxx

A look of horror etched itself onto his face and he staggered backwards. His eyes welled as they took in the sight before him. She was kissing that thing. To him it appeared to be thin air but he knew she was kissing what she thought was him. In some sick way, he could not help the feeling of satisfaction that she was still obviously in love with him. Disgusted by his thoughts he felt the frustration resume. Surely as a doctor, she would have noticed that this was wrong.

Looking down at the floor, he tried to think of something to do. He shook his head at his stupidity, and lifted his head to resume watching the scene unfold. She was oblivious to anything being wrong, and now she seemed hell bent on trying to prove herself. His feet began moving forward almost betraying his mind as they took him to stand in front of her.

He could not help but wonder what it would be like to kiss her again. As he lent forward, he stopped berating himself for his actions. Being incorporeal was becoming more and more painful everyday. Watching her undress he could not look away and went red at the sight before him. She really was beautiful. How he would love just one more minute with her, being able to touch her... hold her... kiss her.

This predicament made his struggle even worse and he wished he had the strength to leave but it seemed to fail him. He moved as close as possible and ghosted a hand down her cheek trying to feel contact. A tear fell from his eye as the hand went through her. Bringing his hands up he ran them through his hair trying to calm himself.

Turning his head at the sound of a gasp, he looked on as she moved slowly to the bed lying down. Her eyes had glazed over and she had stopped moving. It appeared that she had almost fainted but as Denny moved closer, he could hear small sounds coming from her. He laid on the bed beside her in the same position as earlier staring at the ceiling. Her mutterings were becoming louder and he closed his eyes to try to block them out.

Sighing he pictured what the scene would look like from above. Izzie lying in bed tangled up in her fantasy and him beside her helplessly listening as his soul mate loved another man with his name.

"Denny".