AN: Hope you enjoyed that very short Lucy chapter. Like I said I still want to keep her side of the story in the loop, but I will be concentrating more on Carter! And yes, don't worry you will find out why he was laughing eventually. This is a pretty quick chapter too, but this part of the storyline is very important for how I plan to work out the rest of the story. Enjoy!

"I hope the leaving is joyful; and I hope never to return." –Frida Kahlo

There was an insistently bright light shining and the silence was deafening. It was neither hot nor cold and everything was completely still.

Carter could feel soft fabric beneath him and the air around him smelt familiar, but he couldn't quite place the scent.

He opened his eyes.

He was at home in his apartment. Everything was the same, just a little different. All the colours he could see were dulled to calming shades and his surroundings were spotless.

"Hey, Johnny."

The voice penetrated the silence making Carter shift his gaze to an achingly familiar figure sitting across from him on the opposite chair.

"Bobby?"

Carter barely managed to form the name that he hadn't uttered for so long. He could hardly believe who he was addressing. It couldn't be.

"Yeah, Johnny. It's me."

Bobby smiled. Oh how Carter had forgotten how wonderful that smile was. He looked exactly as he did before his untimely death; only his pallor was healthier and his eyes were fresh and bright. The smile on his face was a stark contrast to the exhausted and pained appearance of his dying brother shortly before he was taken by the leukaemia. Carter saw even more of a tragedy in his brother's death now as he stared at the innocent boy, younger than he had ever remembered.

"I've missed you, Bobby."

"I've missed you too."

And Carter smiled. He smiled because in this moment he was happy. Losing his brother was the hardest thing Carter had ever had to deal with and now here he was, talking to him again like he had never left.
But the warming feeling the smile had brought vanished as quickly as it had come.

"Bobby," he began in almost a whisper. "Is this real?"

Although Carter had recognised the dream-like aspects of his apartment, he was so focused on Bobby that he didn't care where or when he was.
Bobby's smile then faded too. He looked wise beyond his years as he stared up at his brother as though he were a man trapped in a child's body.

"You know I'm dead, Johnny?" he replied, hoping his brother would understand.

"I know, I know." Carter's brow dropped as he realised it must be a cruel dream. There were countless nights he would be stirred awake by this dream. But it had never been as vivid as this.

"It's not a dream," Bobby uttered softly as if reading Carter's mind. "I'm just as real as you are."

And with that the penny dropped.

Bobby nodded solemnly at the recognition on his brother's face. Carter didn't know what to think. Surely it must be a dream? He traced his hand over his shoulder as though the ghost of the arrow would still be there. Or maybe not.

"Is this Heaven?" he asked feeling more like a child than the small boy sitting opposite him.

"I don't know."

Carter tore his eyes away from Bobby and gazed around his apartment once more. He noticed the window was open and also noticed for the first time the sound of a light breeze blowing in, gently rustling the curtains.

He tentatively stood up, feeling lighter than air and slowly moved towards the window. He looked out and unsurprisingly found the normal urban view he was used to. However, the people walking by looked different. None seemed worried, sad or angry. A similar expression of contentment graced the face of every passer-by. The sun shone dully in sky and the grimy and over-crowded features of urban Chicago which were commonplace could not be seen. The city landscape was simple and pleasing. And as Carter breathed in the scentless air, he could not help but notice the overwhelming sense of calm and peace that emanated from his surroundings.

He turned to Bobby and smiled wholeheartedly.

He was happy again.

AN: But will he wake up? I'm not planning on leaving you waiting to long for the next instalment so watch this space..