In the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Chapter Four: The Empty Chair

A/N : Sorry it took so long. Is anyone still interested? Also what happened to the story called "A Place in this World"? Another thing I wrote the previous chapter when I hated Kevin and felt that he had the potential to abuse Lucy, now that there are married I think he's not so bad so for the sake of this story, Lucy and Kevin will have already been married. Okay? Thanks!

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Nigel Hamilton, didn't know why he was doing this. He and Simon hadn't been friends since junior high, And knowing Simon- if he was still the Simon he used to know- he wouldn't want old friends coming out of the woodwork. But here he was anyway, knocking on the door and waiting for someone to answer.

"Nigel! Come in. It's been awhile. How have you been?" Annie Camden responded happily.



"Hi Mrs. Camden. I've been alright. Um, I was hoping to talk to Simon?"



The smile faded ever so slightly and a look of fear quickly passed her eyes at the mere mention of the name. "Sure, he's in his room. Do you remember it?"

"Yeah, thanks." he responded with a smile.

"…No you want to hold it like this-" Nigel overheard Simon say to his brothers as he walked into the room and knocked on the door.

"No mom, for the millionth time I don't need anything." Simon replied not bothering to look up.

"It's not your mom. It's-"

"Nigel." he replied as he stood up slowly. "What are you doing here?"

"Not sure really." he said bluntly. "I heard about what happened from my parents and I just kinda found myself here."

"Oh…so how have you been?" Simon said quickly changing the subject.

"Okay actually. But for awhile I was in a bit of trouble."

"Really?" Simon was shocked, "But you were the one who always knew the right, levelheaded thing to do I remember you talking me out of a couple of stupid ideas."

Nigel grinned recalling the memory. "Yeah, I guess I lost it for awhile there. I got into drugs. That's why I haven't been around much. -rehab-."

"Wow." was Simon's only response.



"So anyways that's where I've been. And how about you? I mean before all this?" he motioned to the medical paraphernalia.

"Not much." he responded as both looked down at their hands awkwardly.

"Remember Dena?"

"How could I not? Remember when you bought those ridiculous hair clips trying to be like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in TITANIC ?"



Simon chuckled back. "Oh yeah, I remember. Well I heard from her the other say. It was weird, for the past few months I've been obsessing over Cecelia but hearing from Dena again I realize that I love her… too bad--"

"Why don't we catch a movie or something?" Nigel interrupted wanting to change the subject again before it grew to depressing.

"Sure." Simon responded taken back.

"Alright. Do you need to bring anything with you?"

Simon looked over to the oxygen tank in the corner and thought about bringing it but changed his mind. Today had been a good day, he hadn't even used it once. Why bring himself back into that world tonight? He knew he didn't have too many good days left-- Simon didn't know how right he was.

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It all happened rather fast. Clasping to the floor, struggling to breathe, the red of the sirens. Fate was cruel to Simon Camden , it would grant him no day of peace. The Camden's dinner was disturbed that night by a call from the hospital. And a chair stood empty would never again be filled.

A/N: Sorry if it went by fast but I wanted to get past this phase because the buck of the story is not about Simon, but about what happens after. I don't know why I stuck Nigel (that was his name right?) and Dena back in there, I always liked them so I figured they could give Simon a good send off hehe. Well Hope you liked it J