Relevance (Previously Titled: 100 Pieces of Relevance)

by Rosa Clearwater

And by pieces we really mean the semi-frequent drabbles mixed in with the fluffy ficlets, the pieces that entrench themselves in lugubrious angst, and the oneshots that try to masquerade as something other than Crack!ficlets. Aka, what do you get when you mix bunnies, angst, crack, synchronicity, and the rain?

37. Until the End

"Last words. Make them count." The phone was pushed carelessly against his face, but even that pain didn't compare to the thought of these bastards doing anything to his boy.

"Dad?"

"Lee? Lee? It's going to be okay"

No. It wasn't. Lionel was content to die after all the dirty crimes he couldn't undo.

But, he couldn't just let his son leave this world.

Not Lee.

At least they were in this together. At least he could give his boy something to cling to, a voice to guide the fear away.

"I'm right here with you, okay? I'm right here with you."

And he would be. Right until the very end.

"Just close your eyes, alright?"

God, this was worse than a damn nightmare.

He would take the uncertainty of a dark forest, he would stare down a bullet, take a shot, anything other than this.

"I love you, it's going to be okay." The shakes wouldn't stop, and all he could hear was the sound of a lone shot that seemed to ring out and stab his own heart.

No. No. Not Lee. Please, God, not Lee. Please please, please, this can't be hap-

Tears began to fall as he went past the point of being overwhelmed. All he could hear was that shot. His entire body was shaking from the grief. But Lionel couldn't bring himself to notice, let alone care.

"Lionel?"

Shaw's voice floated out to him like a dream.

But he couldn't dare believe what that meant.

"It is going to be okay. Lee is fine, but the guy they sent to kill him isn't doing so good."

Was this real?

"Figured these scumbags would come after your kid."

Well, even if it were a dream,

"Thank you. Thank you."

Even if he were really going into shock and this was his brain coping with his fate,

"But Lionel,"

Even if none of this was real….

"You understand this means I can't be there for you."

He knew it was going to be okay.

"I had to choose. Figured you'd want me to come here instead."

"You did good, you did good."

"I'm sorry, Lionel."

But, there was nothing to be sorry about.

Because a calming fury was bubbling into Lionel's core.

And, really, everything was going to be okay.

…

A/N: It's been far too long since Fusco took the center stage in these short stories. And, once again, it's time to step away from dipping into angsty canon scenes and return to fun fanon concepts.

Have a nice day!