A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Now be warned, this one is probably the saddest of the lot.

Numbered

Tick-tock.

His days are numbered.

Tick-tock.

He might have two left, or he might have more than a hundred thousand.

Tick-tock.

But they're limited. He doesn't have all the time in the world, and how much time is that anyway? Eventually, it doesn't matter how far away that day might be, he's going to die. And which would be worse? Dying tomorrow, in some vicious and bloody way? Or fifty years from now, after he's withered in the hands of time?

Tick-tock.

No matter what happens, Diana will suffer his death. If she could share it, it wouldn't be so bad. If they could grow old together and rest in the peace of each others' arms in those final hours, it would be perfect. But she can't. Maybe they could be together, marry, have children, have grandchildren, but no matter what happens, Diana would be in limbo forever.

Tick-tock.

He's not worried about her taking another lover after he's gone. If he was a more insecure man, if he didn't know Diana as well as he does, then maybe he'd be concerned. If he's learned anything from her, it's that once an Amazon gives something, it's forever. If that is her heart, then even after he's gone, he'll still have it.

Tick-tock.

And it's that that scares him. Diana, living a half-life, for all eternity. She can mourn a friend, and still be alive. They all had to for the brief time Superman was dead. So he stays at arms' length. He watches her get a little colder toward him each day, because it's the only way to keep her safe.

Tick-tock.

Keep her safe. How foolish that was. Because it's not his number that's up.

Tick-tock.

It's a lucky shot. Giganta, causing her normal devastation in Metropolis. She lashes out with one hand, and sends Diana flying backward into a building. That wouldn't be so bad. Except the building's already in splinters. The struts and girders exposed.

Tick-tock.

With a sickening, slick sort of slapping sound, Diana is impaled on one. It goes straight through her. She doesn't cry out in pain. Instead her head flops and she looks at the metal rod that's sticking out of her chest for a few seconds. Bruce hears his own voice screaming her name. Superman takes Giganta down, then flies over to Diana. Bruce gets there in time to hear Diana order Clark to pull the metal out of her.

Tick-tock.

Superman's face is stricken. "Diana, I can't. The bleeding-"

Tick-tock.

Her smile is terrifyingly weak. "Nothing...can stop that now...pull it out, Kal."

Tick-tock.

He grits his teeth, and grasps the metal. Bruce kneels down and takes Diana's hand numbly. With pain-dulled eyes, she looks at him, and he wishes he could take off his cowl - but there are too many people.

Tick-tock.

When Clark pulls, the scream that is ripped from Diana's lips will stay in Bruce's nightmares for the rest of his life. She chokes out two sobs, then presses her lips together firmly. When she breathes again, it's ragged and shallow. "Kal...thank you..."

Tick-tock.

Bruce is counting the seconds now. She has no more than ten of them left. Numbers counting down. She looks at him, smiles. "Bruce..."

Tick-tock.

She dies with his name on her lips.

Tick-tock.

His days weren't numbered.

Tick-tock.

Diana's were.

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A/N: Thank you for the reviews!