Chapter Nine
Michelle Branch
"Goodbye To You"
"I'm sorry that Juliana wasn't more energetic than that," Eve stood outside the door to her daughter's nursery as Chris closed the door behind them leaving Juliana sleeping peacefully in her crib once again.
"I could've held her like that forever," Chris confessed watching Eve lean against the wall opposite of him, "but something told me she might enjoy being in her crib a bit better as it has everything she's accustomed to."
"Oh I don't know," Eve offered up with a hint of a smile as she tilted her eyes up towards him, "I think there's a certain appeal to being in your arms. It's certainly a place most women would like to find themselves in."
"I can think of a very select few I'd like to keep these arms wrapped around," Chris stepped in closer to her noting the smile that was forming on her beautiful features.
"I should hope present company is included in that," Eve flirted as Chris leaned in towards her bracing his arms against the wall, caging her in with that simple movement. She found herself leaning up towards him, her eyes shifting over his handsome features, traveling over his mouth, to his very kissable lips.
"I think you should know the answer by now," Chris confessed unable to resist the urge as he bridged the distance between them capturing her mouth in a slow, subtle sweep catching Eve off guard as his arm wrapped around her waist drawing her soft, slender form against him as the kiss deepened.
Barely parting from him, Eve looked up into the darkness behind his eyes as her palm flattened over his chest. Her pulse was racing, heart pounding in her chest furiously at the nearness of him. His body so close, caused her thoughts to swim circles in the cesspool of desire he'd awakened in her. Nothing seemed to exist except for the way he'd awakened something inside of her that she'd kept hidden for so very long. He touched his cheek memorizing his features before urging him nearer for another explosive kiss.
Saying nothing, Chris squeezed her soft, slender form against his wanting to absorb the warmth that had evaded him since she'd been away. Feeling her wrapped up in his arms, opened the key to his heart and allowed something he'd locked away to flow freely. Her kisses were hungry, passion laden as his hand explored her curves wanting to impress this moment between them forever. Chris drank up Eve's soft moans of pleasure breaking through the surface as their kiss deepened and he hoisted her off her feet wanting nothing more than to lose himself in her, to remember what it was like to share the love he'd been forced to do without for so long. He wanted her, needed her and his journey was now coming to a close as he held her in his arms, longing to share his world with her one more magical time.
Eve reluctantly tore herself away from his kiss as she saw the hunger burning behind his eyes. Falling into his arms as he carried her keeping her close, she sensed his desire and as her own awakened passion stirred to the surface, she traced his cheek with her palm gently caressing the skin as she motioned down the hallway towards her room offering up an unspoken invitation before their mouths met in another desperate, ravenous union.
Despite the awkwardness of moving down the hallway so lost in passion, Eve soon discovered Chris had understood her meaning as they were now in her bedroom, laying on top of her soft, plush bed entangled in one another's arms. Somewhere in the walk to the bedroom, Chris had lost his shirt, probably discarded at the foot of Eve's bed, but now her hands were welcoming the firm, muscled contours of his body as he moved in over her.
"I love you," Chris whispered capturing her mouth in another tender kiss, "I've always loved you, Eve."
"I love you," she confessed finally letting the words fall freely from her lips, wanting nothing more than to show him just how far his love had taken her in this world. She wanted him on so many levels, needed him in her world and now as they lay together lost in the magic that was still very much alive between them, she wanted him to know her heart, to know how much she longed for him.
"Eve, I've waited so long believing I'd never be with you again," Chris admitted taking the moment to memorize her features as his index finger traced over her full, sensual lips, "I've dreamt about holding you again like this for so very long...."
"You don't have to dream about it anymore," Eve promised kissing his finger tip, "I'm here and I'm alive and I need you Ramsey. I've always needed you."
"I need you too," Chris confessed kissing her again with a growing passion as the faint sound of the phone ringing grew in the distance.
"Chris," Eve whispered his name as she reluctantly pulled away from him, "the phone...."
"Let it go," Chris laced his fingers in hers pressing her hands over her head as his mouth claimed hers in a possessive kiss, "for now, let tonight be about us," he pleaded with her wanting nothing more than to relive the magic that only existed between the two of them.
"I want nothing more than to lose myself in you," Eve murmured her body responding to him as he released her hands and she wrapped herself around him wanting the feel of him so close to her. His fingers were already pulling at her blouse freeing up the fabric with each button along the way as his lips followed the slow, seductive path down towards her navel. Eve sucked in a sharp breath as he placed a feathery light kiss over her abdomen as the phone stopped ringing. She watched as he looked up at her with a seductive smile.
"I told you they'd go away," he mused with a smile before his mouth moved over the contours of her skin once more offering up butterfly kisses over her heated skin.
"Chris," Eve whispered her name feeling the magical spell he was weaving over her with his touch as she pulled his mouth back to hers in a hungry kiss unable to take the distance between them as her pager went off vibrating on the table top beside them. She reached out across the bed going for the pager before Chris recaptured her hand once again.
"Let it go," he pleaded with her as he offered up yet another tempting distraction.
"Chris, I want to, but...." Eve let out a frustrated sigh, "but the only people who know this number are those at the hospital."
"Hospital?" Chris repeated a bit surprised as he looked to her, "what hospital?"
"I've been helping out in the area," Eve confessed realizing that the moment had shifted as Chris looked to her with questioning eyes as if he'd realized for the first time since their reunion that life had changed for Eve. She sighed knowing the moment for romance had passed as they were still very much strangers due to the distance between them. She rose from the bed kicking her feet over the side as Chris lay on his back letting out a half groan.
"So you've been working as a doctor out here making a life for yourself?" Chris asked trying to still the furious pounding in his heart as he looked to her half dressed form.
"To make ends meet, I thought it was a good idea," Eve looked to the number on the pager before reaching for the phone, "and besides that Juliana and I needed something steady for ourselves just in case."
"In case what...." Chris questioned as she raised her hand to silence him.
"This is Doctor Ramsey," Eve explained to the person on the other end of the phone, "I just received a page."
"Ramsey," Chris repeated realizing what she'd said as he watched her on the phone knowing that there would be quite a bit for them to discuss as time went on.
"No, no.....thank you for calling.....that's right. I'll be right there. I'm on my way," Eve's tone had shifted as Chris noticed her posture had stiffened, "thank you," she said hanging up the phone as he reached out to her.
"An emergency," he half questioned as his fingers tapered off over her bare skin.
"I'm afraid so," She turned to face him, her eyes laced with such sorrow and something that Chris couldn't quite place as she looked to him, "Chris, there's been a shooting."
"A shooting?" Chris repeated giving her a look, "so that's why they called?"
"That and the fact there's more going on," Eve took in a breath not knowing how to break the news to him, "The EMTs were called in to the place of the shooting, but they called me specifically because the victim had the same last name as me...."
"The victim was a Lambert?" Chris gave her a look.
"No, not a Lambert but a Ramsey," Eve reached for her blouse putting it on again as she looked around the bedroom for Chris' shirt, "Chris, it happened not far from here and since you're with me...."
It suddenly dawned in Chris as he saw the look on her face, "Jack," he gasped, "Eve, what happened to Jack?"
"Chris, I have to get to the hospital," Eve answered her voice a bit shaky as she headed towards the door, "I'll tell you more when I know."
"No, I'm going with you," he decided firmly.
"Chris, you should stay with Juliana," Eve began after a moment.
"Her nanny can stay with her. If my brother is hurt, I need to be there for him. Whatever happened, Jack needs me, Eve. You can't expect me to turn my back on my family. You know me better than that."
"I never asked you to turn your back on Jack," Eve took in a breath before nodding, "alright I'll go next door and get the nanny for Juliana. Grab your shirt and let's get to the hospital," Eve left the bedroom hoping that once they arrived things wouldn't turn out as bad as she feared they would be after the phone call she'd received.
Of all the things
I've believed in
I just want to
Get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
"Please someone talk to me," Alison pleaded with the woman at the front desk at the hospital, "I need to know what's happening in there. Please...."
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait until the doctor is available," The woman explained.
"That's not good enough," Alison cried out as the woman turned her attention away from her.
Making her way across the lobby Alison closed her eyes still feeling the warmth flowing from Jack's body as she held him.
"Jack, don't you dare leave me," Alison pleaded with him, "Jack look at me."
"Alison, I...." Jack reopened his eyes again, "I need you to know that I...I love you. I know that I should've made you believe it last night, but now.....Alison, I love you so very much and I'll always keep that with me even now that we may never...."
"Don't say it. Don't you dare say it Jack!" Alison snapped at him as she squeezed him tighter, "Jack, you aren't leaving me. I love you, Jack. Last night wasn't just something we did to pass by because of our broken hearts. Jack, I felt the magic too. I love you Jack Ramsey and I need you. I can't lose you now....I won't let you go. I love you, Jack. Hold on. Please hold on for me," she cried out as she placed a kiss over his forehead, "please Jack."
"I love you..." Jack whispered as his body grew limp in her arms.
Now as Alison looked around the tired looking room, she thought of how he'd seemingly been lifeless when the paramedics arrived. They'd tried to pry Jack away from her, but she refused to let go, refused to give up on him even long after they'd given up. She could still feel his blood on her shirt as she sank into the chair in the waiting room.
"I'm sorry," one of the paramedics said looking to his partner as Alison held Jack, "Miss, you have to let him go."
"No!" Alison shouted at him as she held Jack tighter, "he's not gone yet. I know it. He's still with us."
"Miss, we did all we could..." the other paramedic explained gently.
"It's not enough," Alison argued with him, "We need to get him to a hospital. We need to help him," she touched jack's face, "Jack Ramsey, you have to listen to me. You can't give up on me. Jack, please stay with me....Jack...please Jack hold on. Jack, I love you. Come back to me..."
"Oh Jack," Alison felt the tears threatening again as she opened her eyes once more, not really sure how or when she'd been taken to the hospital as the last thing she remembered was holding Jack, keeping him close to her trying to keep his body warm as the paramedics tried to take her away. She looked up not sure on what she'd find when she noticed Chris rushing into the room.
"Chris, thank God," Alison rose from her chair reaching out to him as the tears fell down her face, "Chris, they took Jack and they won't tell me anything. Chris, I need to be with him, need to help him."
"Alison, what happened?" Chris questioned grabbing her arms as the tears pounded down her face furiously, "What happened to Jack?"
"Livvie....." Alison stammered painfully, "She tried to hurt me. She tried to kill me, but Jack...." she trailed off.
"Jack what?" Eve interrupted seeing the look on Alison's face, "Alison what happened?"
"She...." Alison gasped as she realized Eve was standing there, "Eve how in the.....oh god......." she cried on realizing what it could only mean if Eve was standing beside her, "oh god no...."
Eve exchanged looks with Chris before offering up, "I'll go see where he is. You try to get some answers from her."
"Okay," Chris agreed as Eve left him alone with Alison. He held her in his arms trying to soothe her as his own fears about his brother's condition escalated., "Alison, you have to tell me everything that happened. Please."
"Chris, last night after you left Jack and I made love. He told me he loved me and I realized that I love him too," Alison confessed painfully, "but then I was leaving. I was on my way back to Port Charles to help save Rafe when Livvie showed up at the airport. She had a gun and then....." Alison sobbed harder, "She tried to shoot me, but Jack stopped her. There was a struggle and Jack......"
"She shot Jack," Chris gasped at the realization of what she was trying to say hit him, "Alison, what happened to him? When Livvie shot him, what happened?"
"I tried to tell them he hadn't left me. I wouldn't let him go. I couldn't, but...." Alison explained tearfully, "They wouldn't listen to me. They just wouldn't listen. They wouldn't help Jack. They kept telling me to let go, to let him go, but I can't lose him. Chris, I love him so much and I'll never let go. I love him...."
"I love him too Alison," Chris hugged her tightly fearing what could've happened to his baby brother.
Counting the days
That pass me by
I've been searching
Deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old
It feels like
I'm starting all over again
The last three years
Were just pretend
And I said
"Dr. Ramsey, I'm glad you're here," one of the nurse's called out to Eve as she stepped into the emergency room, "I was hoping you'd get here soon."
"Where's Jack Ramsey," Eve questioned looking around the emergency room, "I was told there was a shooting."
"There was, but it's not so much Mr. Ramsey that we're concerned about," the nurse hesitated, "it's more so his girlfriend."
"I've seen his girlfriend out in the lobby," Eve shook her head, "you'd mentioned a shooting."
"Well yes, but the two women that were there," the nurse hesitated, "they are both in bad shape."
"Both of them?"
"The blonde is out in the lobby and Dr. Martinez was quite concerned about her reaction to the victim's passing and the other one is with the authorities in room six."
"Wait a second," Eve interrupted, "did you just say the victim's passing?"
"The EMTs did all they could for the victim, but they were too late," the nurse explained, "the degree of the wound was too much...."
"Then you're saying....." Eve's voice trailed off as her heart sank at the realization of what the nurse was saying. She fought the lump building in her throat as she thought of Chris and what losing his brother would do for him. Taking in a breath, she turned to the nurse again, "I need to see him. Please take me to him."
"He's on his way down to the morgue," the nurse explained.
"I don't care," Eve snapped at her, "I want to see him. I need to see him and be sure."
"Dr. Ramsey...." The nurse shook her head in confusion, "I realize that you must've known him but...."
"He's family and I want to see him," Eve stopped herself, "on second thought, there's something else I need to do first."
"I don't know if going back in to see him is such a good thing..." the nurse began hesitantly.
"I want to," Eve looked past the curtain on the far wall as she felt an eerie chill rush through her, "I have to do this," Eve stepped towards the place she was certain Jack was at as her heart ached knowing this would crush Chris in the worst possible way.
"Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to"
"Chris, why haven't we heard anything? Why hasn't Eve come back yet," Alison questioned her voice shaking as the thought of anything happening to Jack ripped at her insides, "why hasn't she told us anything?"
"I'm sure Eve's doing all she can," Chris tried to stay calm as he thought to his brother fighting for his life, "She won't let us lose him."
"Chris, I love him," Alison blurted out thinking back to her time with Jack, "it took me so long to realize that, so long to see just how much I need him in my life, but I know that now. I know what he means to me and I need to be with him. I want to be able to be with him, to let him know what he means to me."
"He knows," Chris offered up trying to comfort her as his nerves were on edge awaiting Eve's return, "he knew it when we came here. Jack has loved you for a while now, he's thought of you as his best friend..."
"And he's mine, but I put him off," Alison shook her head, "I put him off so long because of Rafe, but now I know, now I see that Jack is what I was meant to find. Jack is the only one for me and I need to tell him that, need to let him know that I want a future with him. I want us to be together."
"Alison," Eve's voice interrupted as Chris looked over to her with concerned eyes.
"Well," Chris half questioned as he sensed the sadness behind Eve's eyes.
"Chris, I'm so sorry," Eve blurted out unable to find the right words to express this moment to him as her heart ached.
"No, no that can't be," Chris found himself at a loss as she reached out to him, "I need to see my brother. He can't be...."
"I'm so sorry. The paramedics tried all they could for him, but it was too late. He was already gone, Chris," Eve whispered as she touched his shoulder once more and in that instant he fell to pieces in her arms overcome with grief, "I'm so sorry."
"This can't be happening," Chris sobbed holding onto Eve for dear life as the world came closing in around him and the harsh realization that he'd lost his baby brother ripped a hole in his heart, "no, not Jack...."
"Oh Chris," Eve was at a loss as he sank into her arms overcome with the grief in this moment when life as they knew it took a tragic turn.
I used to get lost in your eyes
And it seems that
I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and
You chase my thoughts away
To a place where
I am blinded by the light
But it's not right
Alison took in a breath as she approached the room she'd heard the nurse's talking about. She knew Jack was behind the curtain and while Chris remained with Eve in the lobby, she refused to believe, refused to acknowledge that he was gone. He loved her and wanted to share his life with her. They'd announced their love for one another and surely that would be reason enough for him to stay in this world with her. Reaching for the curtain, she pulled it back a gasp falling from her darkened features as she saw Jack laying lifeless beneath the sheet before her.
"Jack," she spoke out to him making her way across the tiny room as she reached out for the sheet, drawing it back enough to see his pale face, "Eve told me you'd left me, but I knew better," Alison offered up her eyes misting over with tears as she touched his cheek gently, "you're so cold, Ramsey. What have they done to you," she questioned tucking the sheet around his form as she sat beside him.
"Jack, you have to open your eyes," Alison whispered as she pressed her lips over his forehead in a soft, gentle kiss, "you can't keep playing possum on me. You have to let them see what I already know. You have to show them that you wouldn't' leave me, that you wouldn't go away like this. Ramsey, please. Open your eyes and we can end this right now. We can show them that you haven't left me."
Alison remained in the silence reaching for his hand and squeezing it as he lay unresponsive to her. Hot tears streamed down her face as she pressed his hand against her cheek hoping to get some kind of reaction from him.
"Jack, I love you. I need you and I want to spend my life with you. We love each other and I need you to open your eyes and show me that you can hear me. Jack please, I love you....." she sobbed harder as she lay against him listening to the silence in his chest, "I want to stay with you like this forever," she confessed holding him as she promised herself she'd never let go of him.
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to
"I can't do this Eve," Chris offered up his voice trembling with fear as she guided him into the back room, "I just can't."
"Chris, if you don't want to do this," Eve began seeing the pain behind his eyes, "if you aren't able to bring yourself to do this..."
"It's just," Chris shook his head the pain flooding to the surface once again, "we just found our way back to one another again. After all that time we spent trying to destroy one another, we were bonding again. We'd found our way to make away with the past and look to the future. He and I," Chris let out an ironic laugh, "well, when I thought I lost you, he was there for me, really there for me and he was the only friend I had in Port Charles. He was the only one who didn't run in the other direction when I was around."
"He loved you very much," Eve nodded listening to him, "I knew it long before you two let on to it. I knew that from the moment you first told me about him and how you were as children."
"I just wanted to protect him, you know let him have a better life than the one Henry could give us..."
"I know you did," she squeezed his hand, "you were a good brother."
"But where did it get me? Eve, my brother is dead," Chris snapped back at her, "I lost my baby brother because I wasn't there for him. If only I'd been there last night, if only I'd been there today when Livvie showed up...."
"Chris, you couldn't have known," Eve interrupted him, "you can't blame yourself for this."
"Can't I?" he looked to her with such raw and heart wrenching agony that her heart broke in two, "I was with him because he needed someone. He was in misery because Alison refused to take this trip with him and hell I didn't even want to be here. I only came because I had nothing else to do. Even then I made him beg me to join him. I just couldn't be one to go to spend time with my brother."
"But you were with him...."
"And what good did it do him?" Chris sighed, "if only I hadn't been playing those game with Livvie, then he never, ever would've looked at her and then none of this..."
"Just stop," Eve cut him off, "Chris, you told me a long time ago not to live life on what ifs or if onlys and you can't do that now."
"Eve, my brother is dead," Chris reminded her, "I'm never going to be able to talk to him again, never going to be able to let him know that I found you, that you're alive or that I have a daughter. He's never going to know just how much he means to me. He'll never know just how proud of him I was or how I was so very lucky to have him as my little brother. Those are things he'll never see now because he's dead Eve."
"But he saw how much you tried to do for him," Eve offered up, "Sure you don't always have the best ways of showing it, but he knew. He knew what it was like to have you care about him and love him and deep down I know in my heart that Jack realized just what he meant to you."
"But what good is it doing to do him now? He's gone," Chris answered shakily as she reached out to him, "he's gone and now I'm all alone."
"No, no you're not," Eve shook her head determined, "While I know I can never fill that place in your heart that you have for Jack, you have a family now and Juliana and I love you very much. We'll never leave you alone again."
"Please don't," Chris reached out to her drawing her into his arms as if he'd never let go, "don't ever leave me, Eve. I need you both so much."
"We need you too," Eve assured him as she squeezed him tighter, "we'll never leave you."
"Promise me," Chris wept in her arms as the weight of the world collapsed on his shoulders, "promise me you'll never go away again."
"We'll never go away again," Eve repeated her own tears clouding her vision as she he dropped to his knees before her and she hugged him tighter kissing the top of his head, "we'll never leave you. You have my word on that, Ramsey. I promise you."
And it hurts to want everything
And nothing at the same time
I want what's yours
And I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
"Please someone talk to me," Livvie pleaded with the orderly that had left her room, "someone tell me what's going on. Please....where's Jack?" she screamed as the man left her alone. She looked around the room trying to make sense of what had happened as she lay strapped down to the bed. Nothing seemed to make sense as she thought of the police coming in to talk to her about Jack. She'd shot him and he was hurt, but how hurt she had no idea. She needed to find out where he was, needed to make things right as she never, ever wanted to hurt Jack.
"Please someone," Livvie cried out as the door opened once more and Rafe stepped in.
"Livvie," his voice was solemn as he saw the condition she was in.
"Rafe, what are you doing here?" She gasped as she struggled with her restraints, "Rafe, you have to get me out of here. I have to find Jack."
"Livvie, I can't do that," He shook his head poignantly, "I can't let you out, but I need to talk to you."
"Rafe, Jack has been shot. The gun went off," Livvie explained tearfully, "he was hurt but no one is telling me what's going on. I need to find him and Alison. I need to tell them that I didn't mean it. I didn't want to hurt Jack. I never, ever meant for it to get this far, never wanted things to get so far out of hand," she explained as he stepped towards her reaching out to her.
"I know Livvie," Rafe offered up sympathetically as he touched her face smoothing her hair away from her eyes, "I know you never meant to hurt anyone."
"I didn't," Livvie sobbed lightly, "I never, ever wanted to hurt Jack. I just wanted Alison to feel the pain I felt, but things got so out of hand. I hurt so many people."
"Livvie, you weren't the only one," Rafe began gently as he stroked her face, "we've all made mistakes."
"Not like I have. I've destroyed my best friend and I hurt everyone I've ever loved," Livvie cried harder, "all I wanted was to make them suffer, to have them pay for what they did, but I went too far. I hurt Jack and now...Rafe, I need to know how he is."
"Livvie, try to calm down," Rafe urged in a soothing tone, "I'll go see where he is and find out how he's doing."
"You'd do that for me?" Livvie questioned wide eyed, "even after everything that's happened, you'd do that for me?"
"Livvie," Rafe sighed as he pressed a feathery light kiss over her temple, "even you deserve a second chance, but you have to be the one to give it to yourself. Despite everything that's happened, you're a very special woman and you deserve to find that happiness that's evaded you all this time."
"Rafe, I screwed up so badly," Livvie insisted as he tried to silence her placing his finger over her lips.
"Shhh," he instructed, "just rest now. Rest while you can and I'll find out about Jack. When you wake up, I'll be here with you Livvie. You won't be alone through this."
"Rafe," She started feeling the effects of the sedative one of the orderlies had given her earlier setting in, "thank you."
"It's the least I can do," Rafe offered up watching her drift off to sleep as he looked to the door wondering what horrors awaited him once he went looking for Jack and Alison.
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to
"Miss please, you can't stay in here," the nurse explained as Alison held onto Jack.
"I'm not leaving him," Alison touched his face protectively, "he needs me and I'm not going."
"I'm afraid you can't stay here. We need to take him downstairs," The nurse offered up again.
"No, it's cold down there. I can't let him go with you. He belongs with me," Alison shook her head as the nurse stepped in closer to Jack, "just leave us alone. Don't come near him."
"Miss," The nurse began again as Rafe stepped into the doorway.
"I'll take care of this," Rafe touched the woman's shoulder as she looked over at him.
"She can't be in here," The nurse explained.
"Don't worry, we won't be long," Rafe promised as the woman reluctantly left and he looked to Alison, his heart aching as she held onto Jack.
"Rafe, Jack is going to wake up soon," Alison said with a smile behind her tears, "he's going to wake up any minute now and when he does, we'll show them all that he doesn't belong downstairs."
"Alison, don't do this," Rafe began painfully as he approached her, "Don't do this to yourself and to Jack. You know what you have to do."
"I have to be with him, Rafe," Alison snapped at him bitterly, "Rafe, I love him and he loves me. We're going to be together," she looked back to Jack tracing his features gently, "we're going to be very happy together."
"Alison," Rafe spoke up once more.
"I tried to do the right thing you know," she continued tearfully, "I tried to come back to Port Charles, to save you from losing your soul, but my heart...." she choked up on emotion, "my heart was right here and I knew I couldn't leave him. I still can't....."
"Alison, he's gone," Rafe tried to reach her.
"No, he's not gone. He's just resting," she answered lightly, "but soon he'll be back again. He'll open his eyes and we'll be so happy....so very happy...." she trailed off humming a tune to Jack as she tucked him in beneath the blanket, "Soon you and I will be back on track again Jack. I promise you that," she looked up at Rafe momentarily, "I'm sorry you had to find out like this, but Rafe, I love him. He's my best friend and now..." Alison turned her eyes back to Jack, "he needs me more than ever. I'm so sorry Rafe."
"So am I," he answered his heart breaking as the cruel irony of this moment played upon him. Realizing that nothing would convince Alison to leave Jack's side, he stepped out of the room knowing in his heart what he must do as he stepped down the hallway hoping that one last miracle was in order for the woman he loved. He headed to the chapel just praying that this time, he could make Alison's world right again with a wish to bring back the one thing he was certain she needed in her life.
Alison looked up to see Rafe had left before she turned her eyes back to Jack and a soft smile built behind her tears, "See Jack, I told you that we'd be together. Even Rafe sees it now. We belong together and nothing is ever going to change that. I know that you're my forever," Alison lay against him once more closing her eyes as her world rested in the memory of Jack Ramsey and his love for her.
And when the stars fall
I will lie awake
You're my shooting star
Michelle Branch
"Goodbye To You"
"I'm sorry that Juliana wasn't more energetic than that," Eve stood outside the door to her daughter's nursery as Chris closed the door behind them leaving Juliana sleeping peacefully in her crib once again.
"I could've held her like that forever," Chris confessed watching Eve lean against the wall opposite of him, "but something told me she might enjoy being in her crib a bit better as it has everything she's accustomed to."
"Oh I don't know," Eve offered up with a hint of a smile as she tilted her eyes up towards him, "I think there's a certain appeal to being in your arms. It's certainly a place most women would like to find themselves in."
"I can think of a very select few I'd like to keep these arms wrapped around," Chris stepped in closer to her noting the smile that was forming on her beautiful features.
"I should hope present company is included in that," Eve flirted as Chris leaned in towards her bracing his arms against the wall, caging her in with that simple movement. She found herself leaning up towards him, her eyes shifting over his handsome features, traveling over his mouth, to his very kissable lips.
"I think you should know the answer by now," Chris confessed unable to resist the urge as he bridged the distance between them capturing her mouth in a slow, subtle sweep catching Eve off guard as his arm wrapped around her waist drawing her soft, slender form against him as the kiss deepened.
Barely parting from him, Eve looked up into the darkness behind his eyes as her palm flattened over his chest. Her pulse was racing, heart pounding in her chest furiously at the nearness of him. His body so close, caused her thoughts to swim circles in the cesspool of desire he'd awakened in her. Nothing seemed to exist except for the way he'd awakened something inside of her that she'd kept hidden for so very long. He touched his cheek memorizing his features before urging him nearer for another explosive kiss.
Saying nothing, Chris squeezed her soft, slender form against his wanting to absorb the warmth that had evaded him since she'd been away. Feeling her wrapped up in his arms, opened the key to his heart and allowed something he'd locked away to flow freely. Her kisses were hungry, passion laden as his hand explored her curves wanting to impress this moment between them forever. Chris drank up Eve's soft moans of pleasure breaking through the surface as their kiss deepened and he hoisted her off her feet wanting nothing more than to lose himself in her, to remember what it was like to share the love he'd been forced to do without for so long. He wanted her, needed her and his journey was now coming to a close as he held her in his arms, longing to share his world with her one more magical time.
Eve reluctantly tore herself away from his kiss as she saw the hunger burning behind his eyes. Falling into his arms as he carried her keeping her close, she sensed his desire and as her own awakened passion stirred to the surface, she traced his cheek with her palm gently caressing the skin as she motioned down the hallway towards her room offering up an unspoken invitation before their mouths met in another desperate, ravenous union.
Despite the awkwardness of moving down the hallway so lost in passion, Eve soon discovered Chris had understood her meaning as they were now in her bedroom, laying on top of her soft, plush bed entangled in one another's arms. Somewhere in the walk to the bedroom, Chris had lost his shirt, probably discarded at the foot of Eve's bed, but now her hands were welcoming the firm, muscled contours of his body as he moved in over her.
"I love you," Chris whispered capturing her mouth in another tender kiss, "I've always loved you, Eve."
"I love you," she confessed finally letting the words fall freely from her lips, wanting nothing more than to show him just how far his love had taken her in this world. She wanted him on so many levels, needed him in her world and now as they lay together lost in the magic that was still very much alive between them, she wanted him to know her heart, to know how much she longed for him.
"Eve, I've waited so long believing I'd never be with you again," Chris admitted taking the moment to memorize her features as his index finger traced over her full, sensual lips, "I've dreamt about holding you again like this for so very long...."
"You don't have to dream about it anymore," Eve promised kissing his finger tip, "I'm here and I'm alive and I need you Ramsey. I've always needed you."
"I need you too," Chris confessed kissing her again with a growing passion as the faint sound of the phone ringing grew in the distance.
"Chris," Eve whispered his name as she reluctantly pulled away from him, "the phone...."
"Let it go," Chris laced his fingers in hers pressing her hands over her head as his mouth claimed hers in a possessive kiss, "for now, let tonight be about us," he pleaded with her wanting nothing more than to relive the magic that only existed between the two of them.
"I want nothing more than to lose myself in you," Eve murmured her body responding to him as he released her hands and she wrapped herself around him wanting the feel of him so close to her. His fingers were already pulling at her blouse freeing up the fabric with each button along the way as his lips followed the slow, seductive path down towards her navel. Eve sucked in a sharp breath as he placed a feathery light kiss over her abdomen as the phone stopped ringing. She watched as he looked up at her with a seductive smile.
"I told you they'd go away," he mused with a smile before his mouth moved over the contours of her skin once more offering up butterfly kisses over her heated skin.
"Chris," Eve whispered her name feeling the magical spell he was weaving over her with his touch as she pulled his mouth back to hers in a hungry kiss unable to take the distance between them as her pager went off vibrating on the table top beside them. She reached out across the bed going for the pager before Chris recaptured her hand once again.
"Let it go," he pleaded with her as he offered up yet another tempting distraction.
"Chris, I want to, but...." Eve let out a frustrated sigh, "but the only people who know this number are those at the hospital."
"Hospital?" Chris repeated a bit surprised as he looked to her, "what hospital?"
"I've been helping out in the area," Eve confessed realizing that the moment had shifted as Chris looked to her with questioning eyes as if he'd realized for the first time since their reunion that life had changed for Eve. She sighed knowing the moment for romance had passed as they were still very much strangers due to the distance between them. She rose from the bed kicking her feet over the side as Chris lay on his back letting out a half groan.
"So you've been working as a doctor out here making a life for yourself?" Chris asked trying to still the furious pounding in his heart as he looked to her half dressed form.
"To make ends meet, I thought it was a good idea," Eve looked to the number on the pager before reaching for the phone, "and besides that Juliana and I needed something steady for ourselves just in case."
"In case what...." Chris questioned as she raised her hand to silence him.
"This is Doctor Ramsey," Eve explained to the person on the other end of the phone, "I just received a page."
"Ramsey," Chris repeated realizing what she'd said as he watched her on the phone knowing that there would be quite a bit for them to discuss as time went on.
"No, no.....thank you for calling.....that's right. I'll be right there. I'm on my way," Eve's tone had shifted as Chris noticed her posture had stiffened, "thank you," she said hanging up the phone as he reached out to her.
"An emergency," he half questioned as his fingers tapered off over her bare skin.
"I'm afraid so," She turned to face him, her eyes laced with such sorrow and something that Chris couldn't quite place as she looked to him, "Chris, there's been a shooting."
"A shooting?" Chris repeated giving her a look, "so that's why they called?"
"That and the fact there's more going on," Eve took in a breath not knowing how to break the news to him, "The EMTs were called in to the place of the shooting, but they called me specifically because the victim had the same last name as me...."
"The victim was a Lambert?" Chris gave her a look.
"No, not a Lambert but a Ramsey," Eve reached for her blouse putting it on again as she looked around the bedroom for Chris' shirt, "Chris, it happened not far from here and since you're with me...."
It suddenly dawned in Chris as he saw the look on her face, "Jack," he gasped, "Eve, what happened to Jack?"
"Chris, I have to get to the hospital," Eve answered her voice a bit shaky as she headed towards the door, "I'll tell you more when I know."
"No, I'm going with you," he decided firmly.
"Chris, you should stay with Juliana," Eve began after a moment.
"Her nanny can stay with her. If my brother is hurt, I need to be there for him. Whatever happened, Jack needs me, Eve. You can't expect me to turn my back on my family. You know me better than that."
"I never asked you to turn your back on Jack," Eve took in a breath before nodding, "alright I'll go next door and get the nanny for Juliana. Grab your shirt and let's get to the hospital," Eve left the bedroom hoping that once they arrived things wouldn't turn out as bad as she feared they would be after the phone call she'd received.
Of all the things
I've believed in
I just want to
Get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
"Please someone talk to me," Alison pleaded with the woman at the front desk at the hospital, "I need to know what's happening in there. Please...."
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait until the doctor is available," The woman explained.
"That's not good enough," Alison cried out as the woman turned her attention away from her.
Making her way across the lobby Alison closed her eyes still feeling the warmth flowing from Jack's body as she held him.
"Jack, don't you dare leave me," Alison pleaded with him, "Jack look at me."
"Alison, I...." Jack reopened his eyes again, "I need you to know that I...I love you. I know that I should've made you believe it last night, but now.....Alison, I love you so very much and I'll always keep that with me even now that we may never...."
"Don't say it. Don't you dare say it Jack!" Alison snapped at him as she squeezed him tighter, "Jack, you aren't leaving me. I love you, Jack. Last night wasn't just something we did to pass by because of our broken hearts. Jack, I felt the magic too. I love you Jack Ramsey and I need you. I can't lose you now....I won't let you go. I love you, Jack. Hold on. Please hold on for me," she cried out as she placed a kiss over his forehead, "please Jack."
"I love you..." Jack whispered as his body grew limp in her arms.
Now as Alison looked around the tired looking room, she thought of how he'd seemingly been lifeless when the paramedics arrived. They'd tried to pry Jack away from her, but she refused to let go, refused to give up on him even long after they'd given up. She could still feel his blood on her shirt as she sank into the chair in the waiting room.
"I'm sorry," one of the paramedics said looking to his partner as Alison held Jack, "Miss, you have to let him go."
"No!" Alison shouted at him as she held Jack tighter, "he's not gone yet. I know it. He's still with us."
"Miss, we did all we could..." the other paramedic explained gently.
"It's not enough," Alison argued with him, "We need to get him to a hospital. We need to help him," she touched jack's face, "Jack Ramsey, you have to listen to me. You can't give up on me. Jack, please stay with me....Jack...please Jack hold on. Jack, I love you. Come back to me..."
"Oh Jack," Alison felt the tears threatening again as she opened her eyes once more, not really sure how or when she'd been taken to the hospital as the last thing she remembered was holding Jack, keeping him close to her trying to keep his body warm as the paramedics tried to take her away. She looked up not sure on what she'd find when she noticed Chris rushing into the room.
"Chris, thank God," Alison rose from her chair reaching out to him as the tears fell down her face, "Chris, they took Jack and they won't tell me anything. Chris, I need to be with him, need to help him."
"Alison, what happened?" Chris questioned grabbing her arms as the tears pounded down her face furiously, "What happened to Jack?"
"Livvie....." Alison stammered painfully, "She tried to hurt me. She tried to kill me, but Jack...." she trailed off.
"Jack what?" Eve interrupted seeing the look on Alison's face, "Alison what happened?"
"She...." Alison gasped as she realized Eve was standing there, "Eve how in the.....oh god......." she cried on realizing what it could only mean if Eve was standing beside her, "oh god no...."
Eve exchanged looks with Chris before offering up, "I'll go see where he is. You try to get some answers from her."
"Okay," Chris agreed as Eve left him alone with Alison. He held her in his arms trying to soothe her as his own fears about his brother's condition escalated., "Alison, you have to tell me everything that happened. Please."
"Chris, last night after you left Jack and I made love. He told me he loved me and I realized that I love him too," Alison confessed painfully, "but then I was leaving. I was on my way back to Port Charles to help save Rafe when Livvie showed up at the airport. She had a gun and then....." Alison sobbed harder, "She tried to shoot me, but Jack stopped her. There was a struggle and Jack......"
"She shot Jack," Chris gasped at the realization of what she was trying to say hit him, "Alison, what happened to him? When Livvie shot him, what happened?"
"I tried to tell them he hadn't left me. I wouldn't let him go. I couldn't, but...." Alison explained tearfully, "They wouldn't listen to me. They just wouldn't listen. They wouldn't help Jack. They kept telling me to let go, to let him go, but I can't lose him. Chris, I love him so much and I'll never let go. I love him...."
"I love him too Alison," Chris hugged her tightly fearing what could've happened to his baby brother.
Counting the days
That pass me by
I've been searching
Deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old
It feels like
I'm starting all over again
The last three years
Were just pretend
And I said
"Dr. Ramsey, I'm glad you're here," one of the nurse's called out to Eve as she stepped into the emergency room, "I was hoping you'd get here soon."
"Where's Jack Ramsey," Eve questioned looking around the emergency room, "I was told there was a shooting."
"There was, but it's not so much Mr. Ramsey that we're concerned about," the nurse hesitated, "it's more so his girlfriend."
"I've seen his girlfriend out in the lobby," Eve shook her head, "you'd mentioned a shooting."
"Well yes, but the two women that were there," the nurse hesitated, "they are both in bad shape."
"Both of them?"
"The blonde is out in the lobby and Dr. Martinez was quite concerned about her reaction to the victim's passing and the other one is with the authorities in room six."
"Wait a second," Eve interrupted, "did you just say the victim's passing?"
"The EMTs did all they could for the victim, but they were too late," the nurse explained, "the degree of the wound was too much...."
"Then you're saying....." Eve's voice trailed off as her heart sank at the realization of what the nurse was saying. She fought the lump building in her throat as she thought of Chris and what losing his brother would do for him. Taking in a breath, she turned to the nurse again, "I need to see him. Please take me to him."
"He's on his way down to the morgue," the nurse explained.
"I don't care," Eve snapped at her, "I want to see him. I need to see him and be sure."
"Dr. Ramsey...." The nurse shook her head in confusion, "I realize that you must've known him but...."
"He's family and I want to see him," Eve stopped herself, "on second thought, there's something else I need to do first."
"I don't know if going back in to see him is such a good thing..." the nurse began hesitantly.
"I want to," Eve looked past the curtain on the far wall as she felt an eerie chill rush through her, "I have to do this," Eve stepped towards the place she was certain Jack was at as her heart ached knowing this would crush Chris in the worst possible way.
"Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to"
"Chris, why haven't we heard anything? Why hasn't Eve come back yet," Alison questioned her voice shaking as the thought of anything happening to Jack ripped at her insides, "why hasn't she told us anything?"
"I'm sure Eve's doing all she can," Chris tried to stay calm as he thought to his brother fighting for his life, "She won't let us lose him."
"Chris, I love him," Alison blurted out thinking back to her time with Jack, "it took me so long to realize that, so long to see just how much I need him in my life, but I know that now. I know what he means to me and I need to be with him. I want to be able to be with him, to let him know what he means to me."
"He knows," Chris offered up trying to comfort her as his nerves were on edge awaiting Eve's return, "he knew it when we came here. Jack has loved you for a while now, he's thought of you as his best friend..."
"And he's mine, but I put him off," Alison shook her head, "I put him off so long because of Rafe, but now I know, now I see that Jack is what I was meant to find. Jack is the only one for me and I need to tell him that, need to let him know that I want a future with him. I want us to be together."
"Alison," Eve's voice interrupted as Chris looked over to her with concerned eyes.
"Well," Chris half questioned as he sensed the sadness behind Eve's eyes.
"Chris, I'm so sorry," Eve blurted out unable to find the right words to express this moment to him as her heart ached.
"No, no that can't be," Chris found himself at a loss as she reached out to him, "I need to see my brother. He can't be...."
"I'm so sorry. The paramedics tried all they could for him, but it was too late. He was already gone, Chris," Eve whispered as she touched his shoulder once more and in that instant he fell to pieces in her arms overcome with grief, "I'm so sorry."
"This can't be happening," Chris sobbed holding onto Eve for dear life as the world came closing in around him and the harsh realization that he'd lost his baby brother ripped a hole in his heart, "no, not Jack...."
"Oh Chris," Eve was at a loss as he sank into her arms overcome with the grief in this moment when life as they knew it took a tragic turn.
I used to get lost in your eyes
And it seems that
I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and
You chase my thoughts away
To a place where
I am blinded by the light
But it's not right
Alison took in a breath as she approached the room she'd heard the nurse's talking about. She knew Jack was behind the curtain and while Chris remained with Eve in the lobby, she refused to believe, refused to acknowledge that he was gone. He loved her and wanted to share his life with her. They'd announced their love for one another and surely that would be reason enough for him to stay in this world with her. Reaching for the curtain, she pulled it back a gasp falling from her darkened features as she saw Jack laying lifeless beneath the sheet before her.
"Jack," she spoke out to him making her way across the tiny room as she reached out for the sheet, drawing it back enough to see his pale face, "Eve told me you'd left me, but I knew better," Alison offered up her eyes misting over with tears as she touched his cheek gently, "you're so cold, Ramsey. What have they done to you," she questioned tucking the sheet around his form as she sat beside him.
"Jack, you have to open your eyes," Alison whispered as she pressed her lips over his forehead in a soft, gentle kiss, "you can't keep playing possum on me. You have to let them see what I already know. You have to show them that you wouldn't' leave me, that you wouldn't go away like this. Ramsey, please. Open your eyes and we can end this right now. We can show them that you haven't left me."
Alison remained in the silence reaching for his hand and squeezing it as he lay unresponsive to her. Hot tears streamed down her face as she pressed his hand against her cheek hoping to get some kind of reaction from him.
"Jack, I love you. I need you and I want to spend my life with you. We love each other and I need you to open your eyes and show me that you can hear me. Jack please, I love you....." she sobbed harder as she lay against him listening to the silence in his chest, "I want to stay with you like this forever," she confessed holding him as she promised herself she'd never let go of him.
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to
"I can't do this Eve," Chris offered up his voice trembling with fear as she guided him into the back room, "I just can't."
"Chris, if you don't want to do this," Eve began seeing the pain behind his eyes, "if you aren't able to bring yourself to do this..."
"It's just," Chris shook his head the pain flooding to the surface once again, "we just found our way back to one another again. After all that time we spent trying to destroy one another, we were bonding again. We'd found our way to make away with the past and look to the future. He and I," Chris let out an ironic laugh, "well, when I thought I lost you, he was there for me, really there for me and he was the only friend I had in Port Charles. He was the only one who didn't run in the other direction when I was around."
"He loved you very much," Eve nodded listening to him, "I knew it long before you two let on to it. I knew that from the moment you first told me about him and how you were as children."
"I just wanted to protect him, you know let him have a better life than the one Henry could give us..."
"I know you did," she squeezed his hand, "you were a good brother."
"But where did it get me? Eve, my brother is dead," Chris snapped back at her, "I lost my baby brother because I wasn't there for him. If only I'd been there last night, if only I'd been there today when Livvie showed up...."
"Chris, you couldn't have known," Eve interrupted him, "you can't blame yourself for this."
"Can't I?" he looked to her with such raw and heart wrenching agony that her heart broke in two, "I was with him because he needed someone. He was in misery because Alison refused to take this trip with him and hell I didn't even want to be here. I only came because I had nothing else to do. Even then I made him beg me to join him. I just couldn't be one to go to spend time with my brother."
"But you were with him...."
"And what good did it do him?" Chris sighed, "if only I hadn't been playing those game with Livvie, then he never, ever would've looked at her and then none of this..."
"Just stop," Eve cut him off, "Chris, you told me a long time ago not to live life on what ifs or if onlys and you can't do that now."
"Eve, my brother is dead," Chris reminded her, "I'm never going to be able to talk to him again, never going to be able to let him know that I found you, that you're alive or that I have a daughter. He's never going to know just how much he means to me. He'll never know just how proud of him I was or how I was so very lucky to have him as my little brother. Those are things he'll never see now because he's dead Eve."
"But he saw how much you tried to do for him," Eve offered up, "Sure you don't always have the best ways of showing it, but he knew. He knew what it was like to have you care about him and love him and deep down I know in my heart that Jack realized just what he meant to you."
"But what good is it doing to do him now? He's gone," Chris answered shakily as she reached out to him, "he's gone and now I'm all alone."
"No, no you're not," Eve shook her head determined, "While I know I can never fill that place in your heart that you have for Jack, you have a family now and Juliana and I love you very much. We'll never leave you alone again."
"Please don't," Chris reached out to her drawing her into his arms as if he'd never let go, "don't ever leave me, Eve. I need you both so much."
"We need you too," Eve assured him as she squeezed him tighter, "we'll never leave you."
"Promise me," Chris wept in her arms as the weight of the world collapsed on his shoulders, "promise me you'll never go away again."
"We'll never go away again," Eve repeated her own tears clouding her vision as she he dropped to his knees before her and she hugged him tighter kissing the top of his head, "we'll never leave you. You have my word on that, Ramsey. I promise you."
And it hurts to want everything
And nothing at the same time
I want what's yours
And I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
"Please someone talk to me," Livvie pleaded with the orderly that had left her room, "someone tell me what's going on. Please....where's Jack?" she screamed as the man left her alone. She looked around the room trying to make sense of what had happened as she lay strapped down to the bed. Nothing seemed to make sense as she thought of the police coming in to talk to her about Jack. She'd shot him and he was hurt, but how hurt she had no idea. She needed to find out where he was, needed to make things right as she never, ever wanted to hurt Jack.
"Please someone," Livvie cried out as the door opened once more and Rafe stepped in.
"Livvie," his voice was solemn as he saw the condition she was in.
"Rafe, what are you doing here?" She gasped as she struggled with her restraints, "Rafe, you have to get me out of here. I have to find Jack."
"Livvie, I can't do that," He shook his head poignantly, "I can't let you out, but I need to talk to you."
"Rafe, Jack has been shot. The gun went off," Livvie explained tearfully, "he was hurt but no one is telling me what's going on. I need to find him and Alison. I need to tell them that I didn't mean it. I didn't want to hurt Jack. I never, ever meant for it to get this far, never wanted things to get so far out of hand," she explained as he stepped towards her reaching out to her.
"I know Livvie," Rafe offered up sympathetically as he touched her face smoothing her hair away from her eyes, "I know you never meant to hurt anyone."
"I didn't," Livvie sobbed lightly, "I never, ever wanted to hurt Jack. I just wanted Alison to feel the pain I felt, but things got so out of hand. I hurt so many people."
"Livvie, you weren't the only one," Rafe began gently as he stroked her face, "we've all made mistakes."
"Not like I have. I've destroyed my best friend and I hurt everyone I've ever loved," Livvie cried harder, "all I wanted was to make them suffer, to have them pay for what they did, but I went too far. I hurt Jack and now...Rafe, I need to know how he is."
"Livvie, try to calm down," Rafe urged in a soothing tone, "I'll go see where he is and find out how he's doing."
"You'd do that for me?" Livvie questioned wide eyed, "even after everything that's happened, you'd do that for me?"
"Livvie," Rafe sighed as he pressed a feathery light kiss over her temple, "even you deserve a second chance, but you have to be the one to give it to yourself. Despite everything that's happened, you're a very special woman and you deserve to find that happiness that's evaded you all this time."
"Rafe, I screwed up so badly," Livvie insisted as he tried to silence her placing his finger over her lips.
"Shhh," he instructed, "just rest now. Rest while you can and I'll find out about Jack. When you wake up, I'll be here with you Livvie. You won't be alone through this."
"Rafe," She started feeling the effects of the sedative one of the orderlies had given her earlier setting in, "thank you."
"It's the least I can do," Rafe offered up watching her drift off to sleep as he looked to the door wondering what horrors awaited him once he went looking for Jack and Alison.
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything
I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to
The one thing that
I tried to hold on to
"Miss please, you can't stay in here," the nurse explained as Alison held onto Jack.
"I'm not leaving him," Alison touched his face protectively, "he needs me and I'm not going."
"I'm afraid you can't stay here. We need to take him downstairs," The nurse offered up again.
"No, it's cold down there. I can't let him go with you. He belongs with me," Alison shook her head as the nurse stepped in closer to Jack, "just leave us alone. Don't come near him."
"Miss," The nurse began again as Rafe stepped into the doorway.
"I'll take care of this," Rafe touched the woman's shoulder as she looked over at him.
"She can't be in here," The nurse explained.
"Don't worry, we won't be long," Rafe promised as the woman reluctantly left and he looked to Alison, his heart aching as she held onto Jack.
"Rafe, Jack is going to wake up soon," Alison said with a smile behind her tears, "he's going to wake up any minute now and when he does, we'll show them all that he doesn't belong downstairs."
"Alison, don't do this," Rafe began painfully as he approached her, "Don't do this to yourself and to Jack. You know what you have to do."
"I have to be with him, Rafe," Alison snapped at him bitterly, "Rafe, I love him and he loves me. We're going to be together," she looked back to Jack tracing his features gently, "we're going to be very happy together."
"Alison," Rafe spoke up once more.
"I tried to do the right thing you know," she continued tearfully, "I tried to come back to Port Charles, to save you from losing your soul, but my heart...." she choked up on emotion, "my heart was right here and I knew I couldn't leave him. I still can't....."
"Alison, he's gone," Rafe tried to reach her.
"No, he's not gone. He's just resting," she answered lightly, "but soon he'll be back again. He'll open his eyes and we'll be so happy....so very happy...." she trailed off humming a tune to Jack as she tucked him in beneath the blanket, "Soon you and I will be back on track again Jack. I promise you that," she looked up at Rafe momentarily, "I'm sorry you had to find out like this, but Rafe, I love him. He's my best friend and now..." Alison turned her eyes back to Jack, "he needs me more than ever. I'm so sorry Rafe."
"So am I," he answered his heart breaking as the cruel irony of this moment played upon him. Realizing that nothing would convince Alison to leave Jack's side, he stepped out of the room knowing in his heart what he must do as he stepped down the hallway hoping that one last miracle was in order for the woman he loved. He headed to the chapel just praying that this time, he could make Alison's world right again with a wish to bring back the one thing he was certain she needed in her life.
Alison looked up to see Rafe had left before she turned her eyes back to Jack and a soft smile built behind her tears, "See Jack, I told you that we'd be together. Even Rafe sees it now. We belong together and nothing is ever going to change that. I know that you're my forever," Alison lay against him once more closing her eyes as her world rested in the memory of Jack Ramsey and his love for her.
And when the stars fall
I will lie awake
You're my shooting star