Shooter heard the cocking of the gun and his eyes went wide.  "Stop squirmin', boy!" he yelled.  "I won' let you take the coward's way out!"

"I'm not," he said, his mind drifting to Alex, Julia, and his unborn child.  "I'm stopping you."  The black hat.  That damn black hat was under his desk.  Getting a quick idea, Mort put it on his head, then held the gun to his temple.  I'm sorry Alex.  I have to keep you safe.  I love you. 

Shooter screamed and rushed toward Mort, but before he reached him, the gun went off.  Mort's body crumpled on the floor, leaving Shooter in a panic.  "No!  You son of a bitch!"  Instantly, he felt his hold on the "mortal world" weaken.

An hour later, the front door opened and Alex, Julia, and Karen came through it.  Immediately, Alex heard the stereo.  "Boys will be boys, huh?" she laughed. 

"Steven has those days too."  Karen looked at her watch.  "Well, you've been away from him for a few hours, I'm sure the urge to kiss him is killing you."

Alex acted innocent.  "As a matter of fact, it is."  She smiled and made her way to Mort's office.  The door was wide open, but the office didn't look as bright as it had earlier.  It was now raining outside and no specks of color were shining in the room.  Alex went to the stereo and turned it off.  Mort was nowhere in sight.

Feeling concerned, but not worried, Alex found herself looking around the office.  Eventually, her eyes fell on the small box on the corner of the desk.  Still open, she was able to see what was inside.  Her hand flew to her mouth.  Oh, Mort…  She knew she shouldn't be looking, but she couldn't help herself.  When she lowered her head to steal a good look at the ring, she saw him.

Her second chance at real love, the father of her unborn child, was lying behind his desk in a bloody heap.  She couldn't scream; her mind wouldn't let her accept what she was seeing.  "Mort?" she said softly.  Tears began to form in her eyes.  "Please, God…no."  She knelt next to his body.  Her mind understood now, but her heart didn't.  She didn't think twice about the hat, which had fallen from his head after he hit the floor, when she caressed his face.  He was still slightly warm.  "M-Mort?"  She finally broke down, sobbing.  "Mort!"

Karen heard her sister's scream and, unsure of what was happening, put Julia in her playpen before running into the office.  The desk blocked her view and she couldn't see right away…but when she did, her heart broke.  Before consoling her sister, she called 911.  As soon as the call was finished, she was at Alex's side, turning her sister's head away from her deceased lover.

The next few days were a blur to Alex.  She was bombarded with questions that she couldn't answer by a large number of people and the funeral…that was harder for her than Tristan's was.  Why?  Well, she looked at the facts.  Mort was very obviously going to propose to her, but instead killed himself.  Alex was shattered.

Karen did all she could for her sister both before and after Mort's burial.  She couldn't believe that Alex was with child once again, under the same circumstances…well, almost the same.  She just couldn't understand why Mort would so such a thing.  Dr. Harris had his theories, but none of them could ever be proven.  Speaking of the doctor, Alex was seeing him twice a week now – determined to fight against her depression – determined to make sure that her child entered into this world a healthy one.

After a few weeks, Alex forced herself to go back to her house – she hadn't stepped foot inside since the afternoon of Mort's death.  Someone had been hired to clean the office, Karen had checked it herself to make sure that all evidence of…to make sure that the job was well done.  Both Steven and Karen went with her, knowing full well that she may not be able to take the stress. 

"You can stay in here," Alex said as they entered the living room.  "I…I want to go in alone."

"Alex, are you sure?" Steven asked. 

She nodded silently and went into the office.  Why, Mort?  What made you do it?  Did he…did you see him again?  Did the medication…  She couldn't think clearly once she walked to his desk.  Mort's laptop sat open and it was on, she could hear its low hum.  For some reason she looked around, part of her expecting to see him.  She was alone.  Alex walked to the other side of the desk to look at the screen.  It wasn't blank.  Her knees weakened and she sat down in his chair.  Slowly and through watery eyes, she began to read.

Alex,

I wish that things didn't have to be this way; you need to know that I didn't want to leave you.  I have a feeling that you already know that much.  I never would have abandoned you unless there was no other way to keep you safe.  There is nobody else on this earth that has ever shown me the kind of love and support that you did.  You saved me.  You gave me a chance to live again.

My last thoughts were of you, Julia, and our unborn child.  I swear that I will keep watch over you all.  The pain that you are feeling now is unbearable – I know because I can feel it too.  It will pass, I promise. 

On the bookshelf, there is a copy of Everybody Drops the Dime.  I know that you understand the significance of that book.  There is paperwork inside instructing that…to be brief, all that I have, and all royalties that may come in, belong to you and the girls.  You read that correctly.  We made a girl, Alex.

Alex silently cried into her hand.  If this were some kind of joke, then someone very cruel had been in here – but deep down, something was telling Alex that this made sense, that what she was reading truly was from Morton Rainey.  She continued to read.

I wasn't sick.  You're reading something that you know shouldn't be possible; therefore what I have to tell you shouldn't seem any more unbelievable.  John Shooter was a real person.  He died and tried to use me as a way to live again.  I didn't believe him until the very end.  I refused to let him harm you – that is why I'm gone.  He can't hurt anyone now.

Look to your left.

Now sobbing, Alex looked to the left of the laptop.  The ring that should have been on her finger was sitting on the desk blotter.  That wasn't there…I know that wasn't there.  Her hands were trembling terribly as she picked up the ring.  Her eyes shot back to the screen.

I wanted to marry you, to make a real life with you, to make a family with you.  I'd give you the world if I could.  I'm not asking you to wear what you've found, but I am asking you to please keep it. 

Alex didn't think twice before slipping the ring onto her finger.  Where are you, Mort…I swear to God, you're here.  

I love you, Alex.  I am always with you…

She scrolled down the document, but there was nothing else to read.  No…no, please…there has to be more…  She got up and, on shaky legs, went into the living room.  "Nobody's been in there, right?" she asked frantically.  "Nobody's touched a thing since the office was cleaned up?"

"No," Karen said, standing up.  Her sister was horribly pale and tears were still flowing from her eyes.  "Alex, sweetheart, what's…"

"His computer, was it on the desk when you were here?"

"I don't think so."

"And you swear – you swear that nobody has been in there."

"Not a soul, Alex.  Why?"

Alex pulled on Karen's arm and led her into the office.  "Look!" she said, pointing to the laptop.  Karen walked over to it and looked at the screen. 

"What am I looking at?" she asked gently.

"Mort…Mort, he wrote to me!  Read it!"

Karen's eyes welled with tears, but she did everything she could to keep them from falling.  "Honey, it's blank."

Alex looked horrified.  "No…"  She rushed to the desk and looked over Karen's shoulder.  It was gone.  "It was here," she said weakly.  "I'm not making it up."

Karen hugged Alex.  "Alex," she cooed, stroking her hair, "you're under a lot of stress and…"

"I didn't see things," Alex insisted.  She held up her hand.  "You put this away, didn't you?  You took this with you and you put it away somewhere because I asked you to."

"I…I did.  You told me not to tell you where."

"It was right here," Alex said, pointing to the place on the desk where she found it.  "I didn't put it there.  Please tell me that it wasn't you."

Karen shook her head.  "It…it wasn't.  There has to be some explanation though."

"There is," Alex said surely. 

"He's gone, Alex.  I'm sorry, but he's gone and he didn't put…"  The look on Alex's face made her stop.  "I'm going to make sure Steven…come on, you shouldn't be in here."

"I'll be out in a minute."  Alex continued to stare at the screen after Karen left.  Come back…  She walked to the bookshelves and pulled out the copy of Everybody Drops the Dime – upon opening the cover, she found several folded legal documents.  She wasn't sure of the jargon on them, but she knew what they were going to boil down to.  She thought back to what she had read.  Why is it gone?

She placed the book and the papers on the desk – she'd deal with them tomorrow.  She took a final look at the office, then turned to leave.

To the soul's desires
The body listens
What the flesh requires
Keeps the heart imprisoned

She froze.  The stereo had turned on and she stood staring at it.  God, am I losing it?  I know I didn't do that.

What the spirit seeks
The mind will follow
When the body speaks
All else is hollow

Her mind went to the first night that she and Mort had made love.  How was it possible that that exact song was playing now?  She turned to face Mort's desk again and nearly fainted when she caught her reflection in the window.  She wasn't alone anymore. 

I'm just an angel
Driving blindly
Through this world

Mort stood behind her, a sad smile on his face.

I'm just a slave here
At the mercy
Of a girl

Alex watched as his arms slid around her.  She didn't feel cold, as she expected, she felt warmth coming from him.  His hands stopped, resting on her swollen stomach.

Oh I need your tenderness
Oh I need your touch
Oh I dream of one caress
Oh I pray too much

She started to cry again, but she heard Mort's voice in her ear.  "Shh, no more tears, baby.  I love you."  She smiled and turned to see him, but he wasn't there.  She looked back at her reflection, she was alone…but she knew that Mort would somehow always be there.

~The End~

***

Author's Note:  Well, there you have it – the "not so happy" ending of the story.  Thanks for all of the support – can I get one last review?  Pretty please?