Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. DIGIMON!

A/N - I told /you/. Okay, anyway. This is Chapter 5: Gone But Never Forgotten. The tide has turned on the cops, but Cody's down. The little boy is going to try to make a difference before his injury catches up to him.

Shout outs to Dreamer4, Dark Gamer, Light Gamer, EeyoreP, Knight, Quisonito, Fallen angel of Hope, Immia, AlexPG13, Wolfie, PhoenixChild, TogetherAgain, AAUK, Arylwren, and Digicowboy.

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Segregation

By: Hopeful Writer

Chapter 5: Gone But Never Forgotten

Cody fell, the floor rushing up to hit him in the face. He let out a moan. Kari's voice was the first one heard after the ear-shattering gunshot. "Cody!" she screamed, trying to make her way to the younger boy. Tai gripped her arm to keep her from being in firing range. Sora was holding TK, who was struggling to get near his brother.

Matt had no concern for the gun being leveled at the crowd. He was completely ignoring his younger brother, who was screaming his name, tears streaming down his pale cheeks. His only thoughts were of his fallen boyfriend. Cody lay limply on the ground, still conscious, but barely.

"Where'd he hit you, buddy?" Matt whispered as he knelt next to the brunette.

"Wherever it's bleeding."

Matt sighed at Cody's sardonic humor. "This isn't the time for jokes, kiddo," he reprimanded, but Cody grunted in argument.

"Not a joke," he gasped. "Everything hurts. Wherever the blood is coming from is where he hit me." Cody was crying now, but it wasn't from pain.

"What's wrong? I mean, why are you crying?" Matt queried, his eyes dancing with curiosity.

Cody didn't answer directly. "What do I do now, Dad?" he demanded, his eyes raised to the ceiling. "This isn't going to last much longer."

Matt pulled Cody into a tight embrace, not caring about the boy's blood on his clothes. "I know you miss him, Cody, but we have to face this ourselves."

The younger nodded. "I know. And I know what to do." Cody's head whipped around so he could stare at the cop who'd shot him. "Sir, are you married?"

The police officer was so taken aback by this question that Cody had to repeat it. "Yes," he finally stuttered. "Yes, I am married."

"Is your wife beautiful?" Matt didn't quite understand where Cody was going with this, but he didn't exactly have a better idea, so he played along.

"She's the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Would you have married her if she was ugly?"

The officer didn't even have to think. "Of course. She's still a beautiful person on the inside and I love her more than life itself. True love isn't based on looks."

At that comment, a rather impish smile found its way to Cody's small face. Matt suddenly understood the plan and prided his boyfriend in the great idea. "Well, sir, would you have married her if she was a man?"

There was silence from the officer, as well as every other person in the building, each one pondering the question in his or her own way. Matt heard TK mutter to Sora, "I love you, you know that? Even if you were a guy," and Sora kiss him rather quickly on the lips, blushing all the time.

"Well?" Cody pressed on.

"I... I suppose so," the man stammered, hating to bring himself down to the brown-haired boy's level.

"You see, sir," Cody explained, struggling to stand. Matt slipped an arm around him and helped him to his feet, letting the smaller child lean heavily on him. "You see, sir," Cody repeated, having stood, "it's not about what gender a person is. You said it yourself, true love isn't based on looks. True love has to do with what is in a person's heart and soul.

"One week ago, I wasn't even thinking about dating, girls or boys. But now I've found true love, or, rather, true love has found me. Matt or I could easily have been girls, and with a surgical procedure, could still be. Are you saying that it is okay for a guy to look like a girl, but be completely like a guy and fall in love with a guy?"

"I... I don't know anymore, kid."

Cody smiled triumphantly. He was winning. "If I looked like a girl, would you accept me more?"

"I don't know," the officer mumbled.

Cody swayed a little, reminding everyone that his leg was still hurt and bleeding. Tai released Kari, and she ran over to bandage it. The young leader smiled gratefully at his friend. "What I'm trying to say," he continued, "is that you shouldn't judge people on what gender they prefer to go with. True love is true love. It's just that simple."

The man tried to regain his composure. "Look, kid, God didn't want people to be gay and lesbian. If everyone was like that, no one would have babies."

Cody didn't look daunted. "If God didn't want people to be homosexual, why would he put them there?" There was no response. "I'm just telling you to think about it. Think about the wife that you love so much, and if she was a man. Sir, it's not bad to be gay. It's just different."

Cody surveyed the officer's wistful look with pride before he collapsed. He saw the floor come closer and closer...

...until he woke up in a hospital bed.

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A/N - Only one chapter left. Stay tuned for Chapter 6: End of an Era.

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