~Resurrection~

*Chapter 2*

~A Week Later~

"You don't have to do this. Please, put down the gun." The young woman said, staring worriedly at the tortured man pacing in front of her, trying to talk him down. The living room was dimly lit and it was hard to see. Through the pale yellow light, she could see that his dirty, torn white T-Shirt had stuck to his form from perspiration; his breathing was rapid and his step was sharp as he seemed to walk too fast for the confinement of the walls. Suddenly he stopped and pointed the gun at her.

"Don't you fucking tell me what to do! You don't understand!" He yelled, the gun visibly shaking in his hand. He choked back a sob. "You don't." He repeated more softly.

"For God's sake, Dwayne, don't do this to yourself!" She cried. She knew she wasn't getting through to her brother. He was past talking and past anything rational.

He stopped and looked at her as another sob racking his body. He slowly shook his head, his eyes staring painfully into hers as a single tear streaked down his cheek. "There is no other way."

Judy's heart leapt in her throat. He was talking and thinking; she might be able to reach him. She took a step towards him. "Yes, there is, Dwayne. Listen to me. You have got so much to live for, there are so many things you have yet to succeed in. There are so many people out there that love you."

He lowered his head, another tear leaving its mark on his tired face. "Not like she did." At the simple mention of his late wife, his face contorted in pain and he looked up at her. "I can't handle this anymore. I just can't. I….I have nothing. Everything is gone…"

She wouldn't argue with him. He had quit his job after his wife was killed because he couldn't handle the loss: he just stopped showing up. He had stopped caring. Nothing seemed to matter to him anymore. "I know things look pretty grim, Dwayne," She kept using his name in an attempt to keep him listening to her. "But things are bound to get better. Everything is going to be okay."

Then, just as quickly as she seemed to be reaching out to him, she lost it. He snapped at her, raising the gun once again. "Don't tell me any shitty cliques, Judy! 'What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger', 'It's not as bad as it looks.' I have heard them all and they do nothing but piss me off! I don't want to hear anymore!"

"Dwayne, please just listen-"

"No! Just shut up and leave me alone!" He snapped and resumed his pacing, his hands rubbing his temples, the gun pointing at the ceiling. She didn't know how much longer his sanity could last. He was ready to break any second. She knew better then to speak at this point, it would just anger him more. He didn't want anyone talking to him, but she'd be damned if she was going to leave him alone. She slowly approached him and touched his arm, to which he quickly jerked away. "Damnit, I said leave me alone!" He kicked the coffee table, causing its few objects to fall to the ground. Among them, a small chest filled with little knick-knacks tumbled open, a small picture drifting to were Rock stood. He stopped and looked at it for a moment before picking it up. He thought it would be a picture of him and his wife together, but what he saw brought heavy tears to his eyes. It was a sonogram of his unborn child. His suspicion was confirmed right there but it was too late. He would never get to hold his child. His legs crumbled and he fell to his knees. His child's tiny body was clearly visible in the fetal position with one hand outstretched and open, as if in a wave. On the bottom of the picture, his wife had scribbled the words "Hey, daddy!"

Judy just stood there, watching everything slowly unfold in front of her. She didn't know what Dwayne saw but she knew it must have really hit him hard, especially when she saw his shoulders start to shake. She slowly approached him again, unsure of what his actions might be. Dwayne brought the picture up to his face and closed his eyes, sinking even further on the floor, quiet sobs wracking his body. Judy hesitantly touched his shoulder and knelt next to him, her other hand reaching around to gently take the gun from his hands, greatly relived when he didn't fight her. Instead he just turned and crossed his arms on the table, his head resting on them, still tightly clutching the picture. After sliding the gun far behind her and making sure he couldn't quickly get to it, she slowly wrapped her arms around his shaking form with one arm around his back, her other lightly on his hair. She kissed the top of his head before laying her head on his shoulder. This was the first time he broke down since it happened. Judy remembered the funeral, how his face was like solid stone during the whole closed-casket reception. They wouldn't let him see her body. There was nothing to see. The fire didn't leave anything.

"She never got to tell me." He cried, referring to his wife's pregnancy. Judy held him tighter. "She wanted a baby so bad." He took a breath and shook his head. "God, I miss her so much."

"I miss her too, Dwayne." She whispered. "But she's watching you right now. She can see what you're going through and I know she would do anything she could to be here for you now. But she can't."

Judy didn't know if Dwayne was listening to her or not but she had to try. He slowly nodded and took a deep shuttering breath. "I'm so tired, Judy. I don't know what to do." His voice was croaked and low. She could tell he was exhausted. She rubbed his back and lightly moved her hand over his hair, anything to try to keep him calm.

He surprised her when he suddenly sat up. "No." He stood up and shook his head. "I won't do this." He said and wiped his face.

Judy frowned and slowly stood up as well. "Do what?"

"This" He gestured vaguely around the room as if that explained himself. "I won't." He looked around the floor. "Where is it?"

Judy felt her heart sink. He was looking for his gun. They were back at square one. "Why?"

He looked at her; his eyes were red and face glistening with sweat and tears despite his wiping. "Just tell me where it is, Judy, please."

She stood defiant. "No. I won't let you, Dwayne." She had tried to keep her emotions in check during the whole scene, but it was hurting her to see him like this. "You're my brother and I love you. Please don't do this…" Dwayne ignored her and continued to glance around at the floor. Judy sighed in frustration. "Think of grandpa, Dwayne. What would he tell you if he was here? If he was here instead of me, what would he do?" Still nothing. She thought for sure the mention of their grandfather would cause him to do something. She prayed he wouldn't find the gun. She didn't think she would be able to talk him out of it this time.

He slowly stopped but didn't lift his head. "He would have told me to get off my ass and move on…" He laughed bitterly and it scared Judy. He shook his head and looked at her. "Do you see him here?" She closed her eyes and sighed; defeated. "Do you see Dany here? Huh? My-" He stopped, his face crumbling slightly. He looked away to compose himself before turning back to face his sister, his voice barely a whisper. "My child? Do you see any of them here with me now?"

"I'm here. Mom and dad are-"

"Stop." He interrupted. "Don't pull any of that on me, Judy, damnit!" He resumed his pacing. Walking back and forth across the room, his stride far less hastily then before. Judy knew he was growing tired, especially with him being up for the better part of the week. His legs were practically shaking as he walked. "I told you." He continued. "You don't understand!" He kicked the chair, hearing a small metallic clatter as the furniture moved. Judy froze, her entire body freezing up as she too heard the sound. Dwayne had also stopped and immediately looked down towards the noise. Then, too quick for Judy's liking, he picked the gun up and held it in his hand.

Judy covered her mouth with her hands and quickly took a step towards her brother. Her only brother. She shook her head, choking back a sob. "Dwayne.."

Dwayne just stood there, looking down at the gun as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "I love you, Judy. Tell mom and dad that for me, please?"

Judy could feel the tears streaming down her face as he said those words. "I love you too, big brother. I beg you, please don't do this…." She pleaded, choking out the words.

Dwayne heard her, but made no movement to show that he did. "I was happy once." He whispered as he looked at his child's first and only picture, a final tear slowly trailing down his face. "I want to be happy again." Then, in one swift motion, he brought the gun up to his temple. "I love you, Dany." He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and pulled the trigger. The loud explosion barely covered up the screams of the woman in the room.