Forever, With The Angels

"Dad, are you awake? Please, dad.. talk to me here. You can't close your eyes dad. You've got to stay awake. Just a little bit longer. Please, dad."

Dante's eyes flutter open. "What the hell?.. Jennifer! Jen, are you okay?"

The girl-- beautiful, strong, young; a remarkable resemblance to Dante --gazes down at her father with glazed eyes. Wet, red streaks trail down her cheeks. "Yeah, I'm okay, dad. I've been okay; been here for awhile now. Just hang on, please."

Dante turns his head slightly, looking out of a window on the right. The sun shown in. No rain like he expected. No clouds covering the sky. He coughs softly.

"Dad?!"

He smiles and turns back Jennifer. "I'm okay. Don't be so jumpy."

"But, dad… Okay. Just hang on."

"For what?" asks Dante.

"For Jason.. He's bringing James. He's got The Pill and some antibiotics for you."

Dante grunts helplessly. "I don't want any of that damn stuff. Makes me gagged."

"Dad," retorts Jennifer, "don't say that.. You need it."

Dante, after closing his eyes for a moment, sighs. "Jen.. Do you realize how old I really am? Do you? Take a guess."

Jennifer can feel what he was getting at. She looks down, hand still clutching her father's. "200 years old?"

He grunts gently. "I wish. Close, though. Try 423. That's old, Jen. Trust me.. I've lived a good life." Dante tilts his head toward Jennifer smiling proudly. "You're the best part of my life, Jennifer. You mother was, too."

Jennifer wipes away another falling tear. "Don't talk about mom.. Dad, you're not going to leave me, too, are you? Do you want to leave me?"

Dante shakes his head, coughing afterwards. "No, Jen. I'd never dream of it.. but, the Wheel of Life turns, and it will not stop for us, for you. I must depart from this world, Jen. You're a big girl now, anyway. Tough, too, like your old man." He winks at her. "Besides, you've got Jason."

Jennifer shakes her head. "I don't like Jason like that, though. And I don't love him like I love you."

"I know," says Dante softly. "Jason is a good servant. I didn't mean for you to love him." Dante coughs but is able to caress Jennifer's wet cheek. "Don't cry for me, baby. Be happy. I've already gotten the surprise of no rain and no black clouds when I go--"

"You won't go, damnit, dad! You are not leaving me! Never! I won't let you!" screams Jennifer, sliding back and jumping up, pacing the spot before her.

"Calm down, Jennifer," softly coughs Dante. "Everyone dies."

"No! Humans die, dad! Legends don't! Dad.. you're Dante, son of Sparda.. You're the Legendary Dark Knight! You can't die, dad.. No."

Dante smiles. "I'm half human, Jen, you must understand that. With my dying breath, I swear, I will pass on that role to you. But.."

"No, dad-- But what?"

Dante curls a finger, ushering her to be seated again; to come close to him. "But, you have to be ready for this role," he whispers. "You have to be able to take on this responsibility and not throw the damn opportunity out of the window, Jen."

She nods softly. "I know, dad. I'm ready."

Dante shakes his head at her. "But are you really? I'm not talking about fighting, Jen.. I'm not talking about hunting.. and tracking.. and murdering.. and slaughtering." He pauses to cough. "I'm talking about courage, faith, hope, and trust. Courage in your strength, faith in God, hope in your beliefs.. and, trust, most important of all. Trust in yourself."

A steady stream of tears rolls down Jennifer's face. "I know, dad. I'm ready. Anything for you, anything for what you've already worked so hard for. I'm ready. I have you.. I have you to guide me."

"Good girl," Dante says and smiles. "I love you, Jen."

Jennifer smiles in return, a weak smile. "I love you, too, dad."

The large double doors to the room burst open. Jason, a tall, black haired boy with a young, fair face hustles inside. A round man, almost bald hurries in behind him. A medical bag is in his hand.

"Is he still here?" asks Jason.

"Of course he is," retorts Jennifer, annoyed. "He's Dante. He can hold on for anything."

Jason smiles, reassured. The round man busies himself with pulling out antibiotics and a small capsule.

"Nah, doc," says Dante, "don't give me that shit."

"Hush, Dante," says Jason firmly, "you'll take it."

Jennifer nods her approval but Dante shakes his head. "Don't make me suffer like this."

"I'm not, I want you to live with me, dad. Forever."

Dante smiles, but takes on a sarcastic tone. "Forever's too long, baby. I want to see your mother again."

"What?.. Dad, really?"

The round man lifts the IV leading into Dante's arm, placing the needle into the small hole and is ready to shoot. Dante closes his eyes. "Don't make me suffer," he pleads.

"Go," says Jennifer. Jason nods approval.

The man goes to inject the liquid into the tube, but the monitor on the opposite side of the bed flat-lines. A loud, mono-toned noise is issued. A straight, flat, green lines appears across the monitor.

"Fuck! No! Dad! Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it! Now damnit! He's dying, shoot it in him!" Tears begin their decent from Jennifer's face as she leans on the bed, grasping her father's hand in both of her own. "No, dad! Do you here me, damnit?! Shoot it!"

The man hesitates, then stops. He takes the needle from the hole and lowers it. "There is no use, Jennifer.. He's gone. It wouldn't have worked if I did."

"No! My father isn't gone! He is still there, he's just dying! Give it to him!" She makes a mad leap at the man, attempting to take the needle for herself. Jason grabs her roughly from behind in a bear hug.

"No, Jennifer," says Jason firmly and coldly in her ear, "your father's dead. Dante's gone.. Dante's dead, Jen. He's dead.." His voice ends soothingly as Jennifer goes limp, not struggling anymore. Tears can only pour down her face as she gazes at the sleepy look on her father's visage. He looked so peaceful, so old. He looked.. so free now.

"Dad… no, please."

"He's gone, Jen.. It's okay. He's gone to see your mother. He's gone.. Shh," coos Jason.

All three, mournful and, yet, happy; comforted, look upon the form of the deceased Legendary Dark Knight.

"Dad," murmurs Jennifer, "I'm ready.."

"C'mon, Jennifer.." ushers Jason.

"I promise." Jennifer kisses her fingertips, touches the amulet around her neck then places the kiss into her father's clamped hand. She exits with the other two, turning the light off to let her father sleep peacefully. Dream peacefully.

Forever.

With the angels.