All usual disclaimers apply, I don't own the rights, I don't get money and this is for entertainment only. Please excuse any errors, they are entirely mine. This popped into my head and wouldn't go away.

Death

By Starsky's Strut

"You can't have him" The voice cracked, but was vehement.

"I don't want him. Not yet, I'm just here to visit" Somehow the blond felt my presence. I put my hand on his shoulder and felt the muscles tense and bunch. I don't know how he had felt it, but somehow, he had.

The blond detective was once again standing vigil at his wounded partner's side at the hospital. "It's not his time" He watched carefully as the respirator hissed and filled his friend's lungs with life giving oxygen. He stared at it as though the machine would only keep working with his strict supervision.

"No, it's not his time. As I said, I'm just here for a visit. You two are the closest things to friends that I've had in centuries. You must like me as well, for your actions and the consequences of those actions call me near you on a regular basis"

The blond head turned towards the shoulder on which my skeletal hand rested "He's not going anywhere" Blue eyes scanned the room, nervous.

"No, not for a long, long time"

The blond sighed, a relieved sigh, almost as if he had heard me. And maybe he did. The three of us were meeting on such a regular basis, that perhaps they were beginning to be able to sense me. That's alright. There are no rules against that.

Friendships such as the one these two have are so rare that they must be protected like those gems that mortals seem to find so precious. So I pop in when one is near the end to make sure that 'the other side' doesn't push things in their favor and kill one of the forces of good in this world, there by taking the other as well. I treasure the brief time that I spend with the pair. Even Death gets a little lonely sometimes.

"I'm not going anywhere either" The blond's voice was firm as he gently picked up the brunet's hand and held it in his own.

"No, you're not. Not for a long time as well, if I have my say " I could see that my being there was upsetting him, rather then calming him, as I had intended. "I'm needed elsewhere now anyway" Other souls beckoned and could not wait.

"Promise me" The blond whispered.

"I promise. I further promise that when your time comes, I shall bend the rules and take you both at exactly the same time" That way neither would have a moment of suffering over the loss of the other. That would be the greatest kindness I could perform for them.

"I'll hold you to that" The voice was firm.

"I know you will" You have to admire someone who bravely bargains with Death and comes out ahead.

Fin