Title: The Anniversary (4/4)
Author: Lynne Facella
Category: Drama/Angst
Email: lynne1919@aol.com
Spoilers: Through current season 4
Disclaimer: All characters are the property of John Wells and Edward Allen Bernero. I wish they were mine but unfortunately they're not.
Summary: The anniversary of his father's death hits Ty in a way he never could have imagined.

Author's notes: Well this is the conclusion to this little series. I very much appreciate the feedback I've gotten. I love writing for Ty and I'm happy you've enjoyed it. Thanks so much :)

******

"One more step?" Ty was beginning to tire, both mentally and physically. "What is it, dad? What's the next step?"

Now, we have to establish what it is you want..."

"What I want?" Ty looked back at his father in confusion. "I want to live. I...I don't want to die...I'm not ready..." He looked back at where his friends and family were waiting and added softly "they're not ready."

"It's not about them...it's about you..."

"I don't understand...Do...do you want me to die, dad?"

"NO!" Ty's father looked taken aback by the question. "No, Ty. Of course I don't want you to die. Don't even think that for a second."

"Then why even ask?"

"Ty...you're not understanding. I'm not the one who makes these decisions. Do you think I wanted to die when I did? That I wanted to leave you, your mother, your sisters? I didn't, but...I had no choice."

Ty took a few moments to ponder that before slowly speaking again. "So you mean I do...I have a choice?"

"What you say can influence what happens to you, son, but there are no guarantees. You should know that better than anyone."

"So..." Ty glanced around, searching for someone, anyone who might be there to serve as judge, but they seemed to be alone. "Wh...what do I do?"

"Just speak from your heart, son. That's all you can do."

"Okay..." He stood silently for a few moments, unsure of how to start. He wasn't even sure who or what he was talking to. This whole experience was just too surreal. "I...I'm not ready to die. I still have a lot to live for," he began, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. "I know it's not supposed to be about them," he gestured towards the waiting room, "but I don't agree with that. I want to be there for them. I need to... My mom doesn't deserve to lose a child. She already lost her husband and she's suffered a lot. Sully...he just lost his wife and he lost my dad as a partner. I honestly don't know if he'll be able to get through it if I die too. I don't want him to be miserable because of me. I...I'm afraid of what he might do. I love him and I don't want that on my conscience. But it's not just about my family and friends...I want to live for me too. I love being a cop and Sully's partner, but there's more... I want to settle down some day. I want to have kids. I...I want the chance to be a dad...as good a dad as the one I had..." He tried to think of something else to say, but nothing really came into his head. "I...I guess that's it..." He looked at his father searchingly, needing his guidance. "Now what?"

No sooner had Ty uttered those words when an incredible chill invaded his body. He was overcome by an overwhelming sense of exhaustion and his legs felt leaden and incapable of supporting his weight. "Dad!" he called out just as he collapsed. His father caught him and gently lowered him to the ground. He felt himself being cradled in his father's arms just as Sully had done earlier. "Gu... guess I got my answer, huh?"

"I guess you did..."

"Dad? I...I'm scared, dad... I'm really scared..." He could feel the pain intensifying now, every breath he took causing him to cringe. "This...this is really bad. How...how much longer?"

"I know you're scared," his father said soothingly. "But won't be long now, son."

He couldn't seem to stop shivering, no matter how tightly his father held him. He was weakening considerably and he could feel himself beginning to slip away. "Love you, dad," he whispered as his eyes began to close.

"I love you too, Ty, very, very much. Never forget that." Ty felt his father's lips on his forehead and just before he went to sleep he heard his father's voice one last time. "Tell Sully he owes you fifty bucks. Tell him he should have never bet against the Knicks..."

******

A steady beeping sound was the first thing Ty heard as he began to regain consciousness. He felt very, very tired and out of it. He was definitely on drugs. He could recognize the feeling from the time he'd been shot, but this time he felt even worse. He groaned softly and finally managed to open his eyes, blinking several times as he tried to adjust to the light.

"Welcome back." He heard Sully's familiar voice and then his partner came into view. "You scared the life out of me, Ty...I thought I was going to lose you. You had everyone really worried."

"Sully..." he whispered hoarsely and then began to cough, wincing at the pain he felt in his chest. "I was shot?"

"Yeah, you were, but you're going to be alright." Sully patted Ty's hand comfortingly. "Doctor says you're a hell of a fighter."

"Da...dad told me that too."

Sully gave Ty a startled look, but quickly recovered. "Yeah well...you always were a tough little kid."

"No." Ty shook his head, needing to make Sully understand. "Today...he told me that today."

Sully cocked his head and was about to tell Ty he was dreaming, but then realized that would likely do more harm than good. "You should get some rest. Your mom went to get coffee. I'll go find her."

"Sully, it's true," Ty persisted, unwilling to let the topic drop. "I saw him. He was...he was helping me. I...I was never really sure, but now...now I am...I know my dad is out there, watching over me."

Sully swallowed against the lump that was rapidly developing in his throat. "I'm sure he is, Ty. Your dad loved you."

Ty could tell Sully didn't really believe him, but he needed him to. He needed Sully to know that there was hope...that there was more to this world than he thought, that someday he would be reunited with Tatiana again. He struggled to find something that would prove it and then he remembered the last thing his father had said to him. "My dad said you owe me fifty bucks."

"What? Ty are you alright?" Sully couldn't help but wonder what kind of drugs his partner was on. He wasn't making any sense at all.

"Said...he said you shouldn't have bet against the Knicks." Ty found that he was tiring, but he fought against sleep, bound and determined to make Sully believe.

"The Knicks?" Sully looked back at his partner blankly, but something had been triggered in his mind, something long forgotten. He searched his memory, struggling to remember what it was and then it hit him. It had happened the very night of Ty's dad's murder. They'd been taking a dinner break, munching on sandwiches in the RMP and they'd started bickering about the upcoming basketball game. Ty's dad was a steadfast Knicks fan, despite the fact that they kept losing and it didn't seem they were going to get better any time soon.

"They're going to win tonight, no doubt in my mind," Ty Sr. had stated with a confident smile on his face.

"No way. No way in hell will they win this game," Sully had responded, equally certain that he was right. "The Lakers will mop the floor with them."

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is, Sully. Fifty bucks says the Knicks take this game."

"You're on." Sully had taken the bet and it wasn't until days later, after the funeral, that it had entered his mind again. Grief-stricken at the loss of his partner, he'd looked up the score of the game in the newspaper and tears had streamed down his face, knowing he'd never get to hear his partner's light-hearted banter over the bet that he had won. Now, as he looked down at Ty, he knew there was no way that Ty could have known about the bed. It had been between Sully and Ty's dad. No one else had known...

"Your dad...he told you that?" Sully asked, a look of wonder in his eyes as he gazed down at Ty.

Ty nodded solemnly. "He did, Sul...it was real. I saw my dad. I talked to him." Ty felt his eyelids growing almost unbearably heavy, but he forced himself to continue. "He's glad we're partners. He loves you, Sully...just like I do..."

"I love you too." It was the second time Sully had said those words to his partner today, and the second time he'd cried, but the first time he'd cried in sorrow. This time the tears were of happiness and hope. Happiness that Ty's life had been spared and hope that he would someday be reunited with the loved ones he had lost.