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I know everybody probabely hates me after that last chapter. Reviews?

Jack felt ashamed about it, but he could barely stand to look at Jake's body. He cringed just seeing the gruesome sight. It seemed impossible that the small, elongated body on the table was once his son...beloved by family and friends. It also seemed immpossible that Jake was just...gone. Jack would never see him grow up, never give him the crown...it blew his mind.

Jack gulped for air. "Could...could you please just fix him? I know...it doesn't matter. But please?" he pleaded. The doctor nodded.

"Of course Jack. You're welcome to stay here as long as you want." he said quietly. Then he pulled out a black bag filled with tools.

Jack looked down at Sally. Tears were still streaming down her face. Jack caught one with his bony finger. She looked up at him.

Her face was the picture of despair. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying. Her cheeks had tear stains running down them. Her lips looked as though the frown was permanetly engraved there.

Jack imagined he couldn't look much better.

"Perhaps you ought to go home Sally..." he suggested gently. She shook her head. "No...I don't want him to be alone..." Jack nodded. Sally returned her gaze to Jake's body. Jack looked down at his daughter.

She was not crying. But her face held an expression Jack knew well. Pure horror. Apparently it all hadn't sunk it yet. She was in shock.

"Sam?" he asked. She slowly looked at him. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you go tell the mayor? Tell him to announce...it." Jack couldn't bring himself to say Jake's death.

Sam nodded, and left.

The doctor pulled out what looked like pliers. He used the heavy metal tool to carefully remove the rib from Jake's heart.

"Logically," the doctor muttered under his breath, "I can be as rough as I want with him...it won't hurt." but it was simply a lie to tell himself. Although Jake never knew it, technically Jake was his grandson.

Of course, they hadn't spoken much, other than usual everyday citizens crossing each others paths. But the doctor had observed Jake.

'What a character he had been. He really was a miniture Jack. Except for his mother's dern recklessness and impatience.' the doctor thought to himself, 'but, even then, he had so much potential. He could've been somebody. All wasted now.'

Still, and this was completely illogical, the doctor felt a stab of grief. But why? He barely knew the lad, and yet...a certain connection. He had felt the same way when Sally had jumped out that window and run away.

But then again...he supposed he did really know the lad. After all, who had coached and assisted Jack and Sally through the pregnancy? He had presented Jake as a newborn to the parents.

'Indeed,' thought the doctor, 'I will certainly miss him.'

Jake was dead.

He knew that.

So why could he still see?

He wasn't seeing from his eyes. Instead, he more observed the scene from above. He was floating. The oddest thing about being a soul, was the lack of feeling. He felt no pain, no pleasure, no heat, no cold. Just...nothing.

But he felt emotions. And as he saw his family crying over his body, he wished he could call out to them. But, try as he might, they couldn't hear him.

Which again led back to the fact that he was dead.

He wanted so much to comfort his mother...she was so sad. And calm Sam down. And his father? Just to apologize for the mess he'd made. How could he hurt his family like this?

He knew it wasn't his fault. Apparently, when you were stuck for all eternity in a sort of limbo, you can think things through. That gas had made him confused and sleepy. He had slipped. He smashed on the pavement. Upon impact, his skull was shattered. That could have been repaired. His arm was completely broken. Still, he would've lived. It was his ribs. When he hit, they all got jagged, gut ripping points. He could've survived. But, the thing that doomed him was that one rib that went through his heart.

What a way to die. Getting stabbed in the heart. He died alone, while the doctor wheeled to get tools. So, he was stabbed in the heart and died alone. Not so spectacular.

Oh, how he longed for just five more minutes of life. He could give everyone his last respects. Say what he needed to say. But now? He left behind so much.