A/N: I'm sorry. I felt like writing angst, and this is what happened. WARNING SLASH AND CHARACTER DEATH. At least he doesn't die from AIDS like I'd originally planned.

Prompt 65: Passing (Reid/Morgan)

"What's it like?" The dry croak is so unlike Morgan's usually smooth tone that Reid actually winces to hear it.

"What's what like?" Innocence seems a good card to play, and maybe in his current state, Morgan will give up the subject.

No such luck. "You know."

Reid sighs. A voice in his head that sounds ever-so-much like Gideon's tells him to refuse to answer the question, tell him it's not his time to find out yet, but he knows he cannot fool either himself or his partner – they knew this would come eventually. "I expect it's different for everyone. Elle told me once that it was like a dream in which she was traveling somewhere, only she didn't know where. She thought she was on a plane or a train or something, and her father was there, talking to her. She said it was her father who persuaded her to return."

For a moment, the older man seems distracted. "When did she tell you this? That night you guys talked in her hotel room?"

He shifts in his seat. "No. It was after…Georgia. Remember I told you I sort of kept in touch with her? After….just, after….I was looking for…I guess clarification of some sort. Anyway, we started talking about death somehow, and….well, there you are." He gives a grim half-smile.

Morgan is quiet for awhile as he processes this. Just when the genius thinks he very well may have fallen back asleep, he speaks again. "What about for you? What was it like when Henkel almost killed you?"

A small shake of his head. "There's no 'almost' about it; I was dead. It was like…. Well, I don't remember the details now; it's been a few years. But I don't remember the surroundings so much as the feelings. I felt like I was just within reach of some ultimate knowledge – I guess the truth of human existence or whatever – and if only I could just reach a bit further, I'd know…everything? I'm not really sure. Just….like, there wouldn't be anything left to learn, and it'd be alright to die." He pauses, frustrated. "That doesn't make sense."

"No," his companion murmurs. "Coming from you, that makes perfect sense." He grimaces as pain courses through his body. "What d'you suppose it'll be like for me?"

"I don't know."

"D'you think it'll stop hurting?"

"I have no doubt. I felt comfortable for the first time in what seemed like forever. Though I can't imagine I went through half what you've been suffering through." And then because he has to know, masochist that he is, "How long?"

"Not very." His breath is becoming shorter, and Reid knows he should want his lover to fight this, but….he, too, just wants the pain to be done. Even though it means…. "I feel so weak." Yet he manages to crack a smile. "I guess this is where I do the whole last dying wishes bit."

The other's smile is strained and wet (when had he started crying? He'd thought himself all out of tears), but present nonetheless. "Not if you don't want to. You don't want this to turn into a cheesy soap opera, do you?"

"No, I suppose not." Eyes turn serious. "I love you, you know."

"I know. I love you, too."

Morgan closes his eyes. "Bone cancer. Who'd've thought?" Reid hadn't thought it possible for his voice to get even quieter, but he finds himself having to lean over the bed to hear."

"Not Garcia, that's for sure. She was certain after you tackled that van that you'd tussle with something way to big for you, like a jet or something, and end up getting run over. Gideon always thought your overly heroic nature would get you shot or blown up. I, personally, was holding out for old age."

"Stay with me?"

"Always."