Susan heard the front door open and shut. It was just her and Luka now. She still wasn't ready. Even now. He wasn't in pain, she knew. They could just stay like this. Forever.

But no, she had to let him go. He was ready. This was what he wanted. It couldn't be easier, he would die peacefully, he would leave her ... go somewhere else. Go where he really wanted to be.

Susan took the washcloth, wiped Luka's face. He was feverish again, his skin was hot. From the infection or the dehydration, she didn't know. It didn't really matter, of course.

"I'm right here, sweetheart. Everything's going to be ok." How many times had she said that in the past few days? She kissed him, still hoping for some response, still half expecting one. But, of course, there was none. He was very still, his breathing the only movement. And his breathing had grown slower, shallower, more erratic. His eyes looked at nothing, through her. He couldn't see, of course. Carter was right. He was long past seeing. Susan forced herself to do what she should have done long ago ... he would be more comfortable, then lay down once again beside him.

Time passed very slowly. Every time Susan glanced at the clock, certain it had been hours, she was surprised to find that only a few minutes had gone by. Beyond the slow passing of minutes, nothing else really changed. She continued to talk to him, the same quiet reassurances she had repeated a thousand times over the past few days. Every so often she moistened his dry lips, wiped his face and neck with a cool cloth, put drops in his eyes. She kissed him, searched his face for some indication that he knew she was there, could hear her words, even sense her presence. That he knew he wouldn't die alone.

Every so often Luka's shallow breathing deepened briefly, as he seemed to fight for air, draw a few gasping breaths, and then he would grow quieter again.

He was struggling. Susan could sense that he was fighting. It was a battle he couldn't win. More than that, it was a battle she knew he didn't want to be fighting. He had been so ready, so at peace with his decision. Even during those horrible hours when he'd been so confused, so altered, there had been no struggle, no physical fight. He had never asked her for water, never complained of pain.

Was it because of her? Did he sense, somehow, her doubts? Was he struggling because of her? Because he knew that she wasn't ready to let him go yet? And she wasn't ... God ... she wasn't. But it was time. For both of them to move on.

Susan took a deep breath, wiped her eyes. She was so tired. She hadn't noticed how tired she was. She swallowed hard and took Luka's other hand in hers, kissed each palm. "Luka, sweetheart, it's time to go. You don't have to fight any more. I love you so much, and I'm letting you go. You don't have to stay with me now. I'll be ok. Danijela's waiting for you. Your children ... Jasna and Marko ... they've been waiting such a long time for their daddy, they need their daddy to be with them now, to take care of them. You can go be with them all now ... kiss them ... hold them." She was surprised at how calm her own voice was now.

Luka seemed to relax slightly. His breathing slowed a bit, grew shallower. Susan lay down again beside him, rested her head on his shoulder. God ... she was so tired. She put her arm across his chest; she could feel the slow rise and fall as he breathed.

"That's it ... it's so easy, everything is going to be ok now ... you are going to be so happy. I promise. Just look for the light. There will be a light, sweetheart ... go into the light. Danijela is there, and Jasna and Marko, and no more pain. It's ok. I love you so much, and it's time to go. Just let go now ... go into the light."

She continued to talk to him quietly, calmly. There were long pauses between his breaths now.

Then, for just an instant, a change seemed to go over Luka's face. Later, Susan could never say exactly what it was, because when the moment was gone, he looked just the same. A very quiet breath, almost a sigh. And Susan waited, but there wasn't another one.

She waited a little longer, then, trembling, put her palm flat against his thin chest, feeling for a heart beat. There was nothing. No pulse in his throat. She wrapped her arms around him again, held him a little tighter.

"You see ... I told you it would be easy, didn't I? So very easy." Easy for him. He was with his family now. And she was alone.

She must have fallen asleep. Her eyes suddenly opened. The room was growing dark. The clock said nearly 5. Luka's body, under her arms, wasn't so hot any more. She had slept for a couple of hours.

'It's dark. I don't want it to be dark.' She quickly sat up and switched on the light beside the bed. "It isn't dark now, sweetheart. Never again."

There were things she had to do. So many things to take care of now. She had to call Marty. Should have called him right away. He would need to come out, pronounce him, take care of the death certificate. Call the funeral home, make the arrangements to send him home. There was a Croatian church. She would contact the priest, ask him to come over and translate for her, so she could notify Tata.

Then a thought suddenly struck her. As if she'd never thought of it before. Once she started the whole process ... once they came and took him away, she would never see him again. It would be over. (Luka had been very firm about ensuring with the funeral home that the casket would be closed immediately, and remain that way once it arrived in Croatia.) She would never see him again.

Maybe she would wait a few minutes. A few more minutes wouldn't matter. But no. She was alone. Susan suddenly felt overwhelmingly alone. Luka wasn't here anymore. She was all alone now, and couldn't bear it.

She got up, every muscle aching, and picked up the phone. "Hi Frank ... Dr. Lewis. Is Carter still there .... Yes it's important." She rubbed her eyes, they burned with fatigue, but were dry. "John? Susan. Yeah ... he died a couple of hours ago. It was easy ... peaceful. I'm ok, but could you come over, be with me while I wait for DeAngelo? I know you're still on ... thanks ... I appreciate it."

Susan broke the connection, took a deep breath, then dialed again. She had a lot of calls to make.