Ponch sighed. "I wasn't given much of a choice, Barry!" he said for what seemed like the millionth time. "Besides, you were the one driving. Shouldn't I be the one mad? You killed me!" he stared at the taller, dark haired man.
Bear stood in the corner of the break room, shaking his head. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
"That's what you've been saying the last...I don't know how long. I'm assuming a week, but it's not that easy to keep track of time, nor is it needed when you're dead." Ponch had been sitting on the table for a while, laughing quietly to himself at the fact Joe couldn't get on him about using chairs anymore. In fact, Joe couldn't get on him about anything anymore.
To be honest, he wasn't even sure why he and Barry spent so much time at the station anyway. They weren't obligated to show up to work every day at this point. No one even knew they were there...but hanging out at work had been easier than going and seeing their homes being lived in by someone else.
The fact an apartment could be cleaned out and leased to a new person in the blink of an eye made it all the more clear how fast things move on...but then seeing how his friends seemed to be dragging their feet on their way into work some days reminded him of how slow healing takes. It was a process he didn't want to make it for.
"I thought we were supposed to be happier when we died?" Ponch commented, adjusting his sitting position. "I guess I just thought everything would be easier and make more sense. But I feel more confused now than I did when I was alive."
Barry shrugged. "I'm not an expert on death. It seems to me we just got to move on to another life. But outside of our friends lives. We get to keep existing...and someday they'll come join us again?" Barry felt a tear in his eye.
Ponch shook his head, watching as Jon walked into the break room. "You're not allowed to die, Jon. You got that?" He said, standing up and moving closer to his partner.
Jon's gaze kept on the vending machine, no reaction to Ponch's voice. Because he couldn't hear him.
Ponch reached out to touch Jon, but he couldn't. His hand just went right through...like it would when you're a ghost. He cursed under his breath. "How do i-" he started, then shook his head. "I guess I can't." He took a step back, and sat back on the table. His foot bumping into a chair, moving it slightly.
That had been the most frustrating part in it all. He could touch anything, sit on anything, move things... but he couldn't touch people. Maybe there was a reason...or maybe someday he would be able to...?
The sound of the chair moving slightly, caused Jon to jump. He had thought he was alone. He looked around. "Ponch?" His mind was racing, he'd hoped his partner was around still. The idea of Ponch being his guardian angel had crossed his mind and he wasn't sure if it should be comforting or worrying.
Ponch jumped slightly. "Jon?" He hopped up, knocking the chair completely over, and falling.
"We can just walk through anything if we wanted. Avoid noise... and you're still clumsy as ever." Barry rolled his eyes. "What are we going to do with you, Ponch?"
Ponch glanced at him, then back to Jon. "Jon?" His eyes were so full of tears. All he wanted was to hug his best friend again, tell him everything would be okay. But then also tell him to keep living his life, and not try to join him too early. As much as he'd love to be with Jon like normal...he didn't want Jon's life to be over. "I'm sorry... Jon, I have to go."
He could see the confusion and fear in the blonde man's eyes. He wished he could do more...
"I knew you'd visit," was all Jon got out, before sitting down in the nearest chair. He tested his head in his hands and began to cry. "Or am I just making this up to make me feel better?"