Author's Notes: I'll admit that I cried like a baby when I wrote this part. And to any Wings fans, I'm sorry about the comment, because I'm a huge Wings fan myself (I wrote this during the playoffs, enough said). And, I'm currently working on a sequel to this, which will get posted some day.

*****

The door to Scott's hospital room burst open just after dawn the next morning. The sudden loud noise caused me to stop telling Scott of our terrible first date, and it woke up the other three. Hunter and Sean had returned from my house just a few hours earlier.

The open door brought Dr. Jones and Nurse Greene into the room. The doctor apologized for disturbing us and began to check on Scott and all the machines.

Shawn, Sean, Hunter, and I moved out of the way as the nurse helped Dr. Jones with some different tests. They poked him with some metal object. No reaction, Nurse Greene said and they began to call his name and telling him to wake-up. No reaction, Nurse Greene said again. Then, Dr. Jones opened Scott's eyes and shined a small light into them. No dilation, he said.

During those tests I could feel the fear spreading through me. I'd seen enough movies and TV shows to know that No reaction and No dilation were not good. My heart began to beat harder and faster. I broke out in a cold sweat and my hands began to tremble. My throat tightened and tears sprang to my eyes.

What's all that for? Shawn asked. I could hear the fear in his voice.

Dr. Jones looked reluctant to say anything to us, but he looked us each in the eyes and said, Those were test to check for brain death.

Shawn spoke again.

Scott failed the first three, but there's still one more, the doctor replied as a tear slipped down my cheek.

What's that? Sean asked in a quiet, shaky voice that I had never heard before.

I will have to take him off of the ventilator. If he doesn't take a breath in three minutes Dr. Jones let his words drift off.

He let us absorb this for a few minutes before reaching to Scott's mouth to separate the tube. The doctor looked me directly in the eyes as if he was seeking permission. I nodded slightly, and he separated the tube from Scott.

I stood with Sean, Shawn, and Hunter at the foot of the hospital bed. We watched and waited for Scott to take a breath. I silently willed Scott's chest to rise.

Two minutes, Nurse Greene said quietly. Scott didn't do anything during the first minute. My pleads for Scott to begin breathing were no longer silent as I murmured Please Scott, please Scott, breathe, over and over again.

One minute, the nurse said. My murmuring stopped, my heart and stomach both knotted with fear, and tears spilled from my eyes. I could feel the panic rising in me.

Oh, Scott, please please please breathe, my begging began. Baby, come on, just one breath. Don't leave me, Scott. Please, just breathe. I need you, baby, don't leave. One breath baby, I know you can do it. Please, I love you. Scott, please, I need you. I love you. Please, Scott My voice went out and I gave in to the forceful sobs.

Nurse Green said meaning that the three minutes were up. Dr. Jones then stated the time, and left the room.

I heard Hunter as he fell to his knees and cried. Shawn sat on the floor beside him and held him while tears fell down his own face.

Sean walked to Scott's side, stroked Scott's hair back, and said, I love you, Scott. We'll miss you. Then, he turned and walked out of the room. I could see his shoulders trembling with his own sobs, though.

Nurse Greene unhooked all the various machines from Scott. I'll let you have some time alone, she told me and quietly left.

Shawn helped Hunter off the floor and they slowly walked to Scott's side. They both said that they loved him with tear-laced voices. Hunter added that Scott was a wonderful person and a great best friend before he succumbed to more grief-filled sobbing. They left the room, too.

I was alone in the room. I sat down in my normal seat. I took Scott's hand again, and began to talk while more and more tears fell from my eyes.

Scott, I don't want you to leave. I need you. I don't remember life without you. I don't know, Scott. Who am I going to kiss every morning? Or every night? Who's going to massage me after a rough night in the ring? Nobody can do those things now. I'm going to wake-up to an empty, cold spot every morning. Who's going to fight with me and then make-up by having great sex? Who's going to argue with me about hockey? I'd do anything to have you tell me the Red Wings suck right now. This isn't fair, baby. I need you here with me, Scott. I miss you, baby. I love you, Scott.

I leaned over and kissed Scott for the last time on his cheek. I love you, I said and let go of his hand.

*****

Three days later I buried Scott. I spent the whole time crying. The McMahons were there with other wrestlers that Scott had been friends with over the years. Of course, Shawn, Hunter, and Sean were there, too.

Sean left for home right after the funeral. Sean's had a real hard time with this. Sean just prefers to grieve alone. Shawn and Hunter stayed with me for a few more days, until they had to leave for

I'm now alone in this house that I used to share with Scott. So many damned memories! They're everywhere, and all I do is cry over them. Shawn keeps telling me to hang in there, it'll get easier. I hope he's right, because I really don't like feeling all this pain all the time. I just wish that Scott was here.

It's late, and I'm exhausted. I walk up to my room. I see my favorite picture of Scott and myself hanging above the bed. I suddenly remember our last kiss at the front door. It was a perfect kiss. The memory causes more tears to spring to my eyes yet again. I fall asleep and dream of our last kiss over and over again.



El fin.