"how did she do that?" Ellis wondered out loud as he found himself walking back to his apartment.

Maybe they could start over…He still felt like he couldn't just trust Nick right away, but if they went slow…He stopped at the bottom of the stairs up to his apartment. He could see the light on in the kitchen. He smiled. So many nights he had come home to Nick, happy to see that warm light welcoming him. He began to walk up the stairs feeling happier and happier the closer he went to the light. He looked in the window by the kitchen door.

His heart shattered. He saw Nick sitting on the bed, with Abby, holding each other in a tight embrace. His breathing sped up, he took a step backwards and bumped into the railing. The gun tucked into the back of his pants hit the bar with a moderate metal clang. He turned to see if anyone had noticed. Nick was looking up, arms still partially around Abby. Unable to control his emotions tears began to well up in his eyes. Alarmed at the sudden rush of sadness he turned and ran down the stairs.

"Ellis!" He heard Nick call from inside.

He shut his eyes and ran faster. Turning the corner at the bottom of the stairs he nearly bumped headfirst into Zephyr.

"Lieutenant!" He exclaimed.

"Don't!" Zephyr shouted. "Don't call me by any of those names! Those aren't my names! Just like your name isn't Antonous Dei! I've known you for two years! Do you even know my real name?!"

Ellis was confused. All his emotions were flying around his head like bees. Nick came running around the corner behind him making a confusing situation worse. Zephyr pulled his gun out of his jacket and pointed it at Nick. Nick held his hands up surprised.

"Zeph! Stop!" Ellis stood between them.

"Ellis get back!" Nick shouted. But Ellis stepped away from him and towards Zephyr.

"What are you doing Zeph? This is crazy! We had a good parting. I'm sorry for what I've put you through, I really am. Put the gun down and lets just talk ok?"

"Y-you're back with him?" He asked pointing the gun back to Nick.

"No." Ellis said hoping to keep his sadness in check. "He's moved on. I need to move on too."

"Move on with me!" Tears ran down his face.

"Zephyr…I'm sorry. I'm going through a lot of stuff right now. I can't just jump into anything. I have a lot of things to figure out. Put down the gun. Please, don't point it at Nick."

"I've loved you since the moment I met you. I can't handle this anymore…" Zephyr pulled back the hammer on the gun.

"No! No! I can't watch him die…Please Zephyr don't shoot him…He can't die again…" Ellis's voice cracked.

"Fine…" Zephyr cried. "Because I love you, and you can't live without him, and I can't live without you." The gun fired. Zephyr wept profusely and then turned the gun to himself.

Ellis dove forward and wrestled the gun out of his hand.

"Captain…I'm sorry." Zephyr whispered.

Ellis punched him in the face knocking him unconscious. He tipped forward, coughing a stream of blood onto the ground.

"Oh shit…that sucks." He looked down at the bullet hole in his t-shirt.

"El…Oh god…" Nick ran over to him and held him by the shoulders. "Hey, kid, come on we gotta get you to the hospital."

Ellis coughed up more blood and fell backwards into Nick's chest.

"I-I can't breathe…" Blood dripped down his chin.

"He's been shot in the lung!" Abby shouted coming around the corner.

"Abby get help! There's a walkie upstairs!" Nick yelled. "Ellis, hey, look at me!"

"N-Nick, I know you're trying to be nice but I just can't stand to see you right now…" A tear dripped down his cheek.

"Overalls, I wasn't with Abby…"

"I saw you." He sputtered and choked. His eyes fluttered.

"Kid! Kid, listen to me I called her over because I didn't know what to do. You were gone and I was upset. She was hugging me because I was…I was crying."

Ellis laughed a bit, or tried to, blood streamed down his face.

"Just a little." Nick smiled, water pooling in his eyes. "Ellis, I did sleep with Abby, but it was a long long time ago. As soon as I knew I was coming back here I couldn't think of anything but you…I never stopped loving you. I still love you. I'll always love you."

Ellis smiled, his teeth red, and opened his mouth to talk. Nick could see the blood gathering in his cheeks and on his tongue. Flecks of red splashed across Nicks grey shirt as he coughed, unable to form words through the fluid in his chest. His eyes drooped heavily, beyond his control. In a last attempt to communicate he held his hand over his heart and then placed it on Nicks chest. A bloody print was left behind as Ellis stopped breathing and his world fell into darkness.