A/N: Last Chapter of the story. To avoid any confusion, the first two italic flash backs are incidents taken place around or after the prequel 'Far Behind'. So those who haven't read it, that's where the conversations take place. The rest of the italics (Shane's) are from 'The Bitter End' time peroid. Shouldn't be confusing. Enjoy the story!

Chapter 11: Eternal Scars.

Tori stood in the bathroom, wearing her long black dress and a hat. Her blonde hair was tucked away behind her. Leaning on the counter, she kept glancing at the mirror, before looking down on a folded piece of paper. It was withered and torn, but she could still read the writing. She shifted her eyes back to the mirror and kept starring in complete silence. Tears began to weld up in her eyes, but she didn't look away. Finally glancing down, she picked up small box and tossed it in the garbage. The door of the bathroom slowly began to open and Marah peaked in. The brunette was unsure of what she was doing, she felt she should interject even if it sounded wrong to do so. Noticing Tori glancing at a little device thing and throwing it out, Marah took a deep breath.

"Tori?" She widen the door, "Are you all right?"

Tori turned and saw Marah standing in a dark outfit. The blonde bursted into tears and moved in to hug Marah tightly. The brunette hugged back, as tightly as she could.

"I'm so sorry." She tried to calm her, "It's okay."

"I miss him so much." Tori responded.

Marah broke away, wiping a tear from her face, "Come on. It's about to start."

Tori nodded, the two of them quickly exited the bathroom and down the hall. Following a red with black designed carpet, they went around the corner and towards a large double brown door. Opening it, dozens and dozens of people were all standing around. As they began to move toward their seats, Tori noticed the casket. It had been a whole week since that incident in Shane's home and the sound of gunfire still haunted her. Marah guided Tori to a seat, the two of them past Hunter along the way. The crimson blonde turned and watched them, before glancing to see Shane standing at the door by himself. He was conveying no emotion, his eyes were locked to the floor. Hunter moved in, walking slowly up to him.

"How you doing?" He whispered.

Shane looked away, he didn't even respond. Hunter looked into his eyes, he could tell there were so much pain and anger in them. It had to be hard to keep it all in. Blake and Cam appeared behind Hunter, they couldn't help but steal glances from each other. Blake placed his hand on his older brother's shoulder.

"Come on. We got to take our seat."

Hunter nodded, turning to go sit down. Shane finally budged from the spot and sat with his older brother. Porter also seamed a bit out of it, but not so much as Shane was. As everyone sat down, a priest walked up onto the Podium. He cleared his throat and began to talking.

"It is with great sorrow to have to do this today. Everyone here has lost someone important, a man with potential and dreams to change the world. Waldo Brooks should not be forgotten in everyone's heart and memory. It is a shame what has happen today.."

Hunter continued to listen, but his mind couldn't help but drift back to a few months ago. He leaned back on the chair and shifted his eyes downward.

2 years and 2 Months ago (1 Month after Dustin's suicide attempt)

"Dustin, watch out!" The Thunder Ninja shouted.

The dirty blonde watched as Dustin lost control of the moto bike and crashed into a stack of hay. A burst of laughter shout of Hunter as he ran over and helped his buddy up. Dustin groaned, taking off his helmet.

"Dude, I'm really rusty."

"That you are." Hunter picked up his bike, "It'll take time."

"Well I got all the time I need, right?" He snickered.

Hunter laugh, "Of course man."

Dustin grabbed a hold of his bike, he climbed on it and turned to him, "After this we should hook up with Tori and grab some food!"

"I am starving."

"Good!" Dustin exclaimed, "I know a great place to eat!"

"I'm really glad you're back." Hunter responded, tossing his helmet towards his bike.

"Me too." The brunette looked down at his bike.

"I always believed you could do it." He smiled, "You took it a lot better then I did."

"How did you take it?"

"I'll save that for another story." Hunter grinned, "Now last one to do 3 laps has to buy lunch."

"You're on!" Dustin screamed.

Hunter snapped back to reality just as the priest finished the service. He closed his eyes again, he had wish he told Dustin how he handled it. Maybe it would have helped Dustin, it made the crimson blonde feel that everything that just happened was his fault. He moved his eyes to see Cam walking up to the Podium.

"Dustin was my friend." He began to talk, "I guess he was the one guy who I can count on to lighten my mood. The guy who can always tell me to mellow out. To look at the fun things in life when I acted so serious. It's a shame he lost his life, it isn't fair. Nothing ever is, I just wish I could tell him that I don't see him as an airheaded moron. I see him as a good hearted friend. And I will miss him."

As Cam moved off, Marah stood up and walked up to him. Everyone watched as she grabbed a hold of the wooden podium, looking out at the eyes watching back.

"Dustin." She smiled, "My first love. He was such a sweet man, the kind every girl wished to have. Though we had our differences, he still has a place in my heart. Like an older brother, he was like family and it hurts to lose family."

Shane had his arms crossed, his wound was still a bit sore. He looked away as Marah continued to talk. His mind was wondering, he couldn't stay focus. As he heard the foot steps, he turned to see Marah walking off. He completely missed the last half of the speech Marah wanted to say.

"Is there anyone else that would want to take a chance to say a few last words?" He looked into the crowd, "Anyone?"

Tori stood up, taking out the piece of paper. She walked over to the podium and glanced at Kelly who was in tears. Tori tried to fight back her own tears as she placed the paper on the podium.

"I found this note in Dustin's apartment. I thought everyone should hear this." She looked back down at the paper, "It says 'I have looked in the mirror a thousand times, and in those thousand times I can longer see myself. I see sorrow and I see pain. But every time I look at the reflection of what I despise most, I hope that I would see something good from it. That the mirror image would show what I have missed. Maybe I am missing a piece in the puzzle, that I can only find if I look deep down within myself." Everyone listened closely she continued reading, Marah began to understand why Tori kept looking into the mirror earlier, "And every.. And every.."

Tori was having a hard time finishing the sentence. She closed her eyes, a memory was overwhelming her.

2 years and 4 months ago (Same day as the premier of Dustin's speech.)

Tori drove her baby blue van into the beach parking lot. She parked it and climbed out, noticing Dustin standing on the beach. Making her way towards him, she reached out and grabbed his hand. He turned, she smiled brightly as she pulled him close. Reaching up, she wiped his tears away.

"Im sorry." He whispered.

"It's okay." She responded back.

The blonde watched as he moved his hand down her body, she couldn't help but flinch at the scar the bullet wound.

"I love you."

She pulled him close and the two of them kissed deeply. It was a kiss that Tori could never forget.
Tori came back to reality, bursting into tears. She couldn't help but remember the first real kiss that Dustin gave her that day. She moved off and sat down next to Blake, who was holding her tightly. Shane stood up, he wanted to say something. He couldn't stay quiet anymore. Walking to the front, he turned and looked at everyone. He didn't even go up to the podium, he stood on the ground.

"I just lost a friend and it hurts so much. Especially after all the promises I made him. But deep down, I can't help but feel so angry that he went about this all wrong. Because of him, I lost my family. I lost my parents." Tears weld in his eyes, "And every day I have to remind myself that it isn't his fault. Because Dustin is my friend, he would never put us in danger. No matter how stupid he is." His voice began to raise, "He would never do that. I trust him! And he was so close in recovering, so close in coming back to us all." He was practically screaming, "And now he is gone! Completely. And I would have killed that man for what he did to my parents and to my friend!!!"

He froze at those words. The conversations echoed in his head.

"You know, you don't seam to get it!"

"NO!" Shane roared, "You don't get it." He pushed him back, "You're too caught up in your pain to realize that your hurting everyone around you. Snap out of it before you kill yourself!"

Shane couldn't believe it, Dustin was right. He didn't truly understand, not in till now. He closed his eyes again, the room remained silent.

Day of the Incident

Shane and Tori bursted through the Hospital entrance, with the medics coming right behind with three stretchers. Turning, Tori and Shane watched as they saw Mr and Mrs Clarke get rolled away, and then Dustin right after. A doctor rushed up towards them.

"Sir, please. I need to take care of that wound." He insisted.

Shane groaned and nodded, as the Doctor took him away. Tori crossed her arms, heading to the waiting room. She paced around, still crying. A half hour had past and Blake, Hunter and Cam showed up.

"Are they all right?" Hunter quickly asked, "We heard what happened?"

"Oh god." Tori buried herself in Hunter's arm, "It was horrible."

Shane came walking out, bandaged up. He slowly made his way towards them, Cam and Blake went up to him.

"You okay man?" Cam asked with concern.

He nodded, "Yeah."

An hour had past, the gang were all slouched in the waiting room chairs. They were tired, finally the Doctor appeared. Everyone bolted up, and waited, hoping for good news.

"I'm sorry." He turned to Shane, "There was no way to save your parents."

Shane backed away, looking down.

"And Dustin?" Tori quickly asked

He sighed deeply, Tori knew it wasn't going to be good news, "A normal man would have been able to be saved, but because of his condition and from the reports of him taking Heroine and Alcohol, his body couldn't handle it the damage. We had stopped the bleeding, but he gave out on us about 10 min ago. I'm sorry."

Tori screamed in horror, as she covered her face and started to cry even louder. The Doctor walked away, passing Porter who was rushing towards them.

"Sorry I'm late. I didn't get the message till now."

"They're gone bro." Shane quivered, "All three of them."

Shane blinked a few seconds, looking around to see whispering. He cleared his throat, he was breathing heavily, "I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore."

"Then may I wrap it up?" An unknown feminine voice echoed behind everyone.

Shane looked up and watched as a long wavy brunette walked down the aisle. She looked familiar. She was slender and was wearing a black outfit. She walked over to Shane. Some people began to whisper some more, trying to figure out where she has seen her.

"I know you.." Shane began to trail off, "Why are you so familiar?"

She turned and looked at everyone, "That's because my name is Amber Brooks."

Everyone gasped, Tori especially, "Amy!?" She bolted up, "But.."

Hunter turned and whispered, "Dustin's sister? Thought she died."

"I know many of you are very confused." She glanced at Shane, "But allow me to explain. After hearing the lost of my father, I was unable to make it to the funeral. That's why I wasn't there, and after viewing the records and the accident report, I knew it wasn't it an accident. I had an investigation taken care of. The detective I hired, I believe met with Tori and Dustin which started this ordeal and sent a chain of events."

"That explains why the investigation started, and how Dustin even found out, "Hunter stood up, "But that doesn't explain your 'death'"

"After my mother died, the detective gave me a new identity and moved me from where I originally lived and claimed I was dead to keep me safe. He knew I would be the next target. I wasn't able to see Dustin, I had to keep a low key."

"Why did you wait so long?" Shane cracked at each voice, "The killer died two years ago. You could have prevented this. He had no family to turn to."

She looked down, feeling ashamed, "I was scared." She replied, "I heard he was dangerous, I heard he was uncontrolled. I thought it be best to wait for him to go through it all before I show up."

"The only thing you did was cause more pain." Blake was a bit angry, "Its just.."

"You're right. That is why I am here to set things right." She turned to the casket, "I am so sorry for everything, Dustin. But I hope you rest in peace, knowing that everyone loves you and will never forget you."

------

4 or 5 hours had past and the burial of the casket in the graveyard was complete. Everyone except for Amber, Marah and the 5 rangers had gone home. The others were standing at the grave, the rain was falling on them all. It was pouring pretty hard, Amber and Hunter and Cam were each holding an umbrella. They starred at the grave for a few min in silence before Hunter turned.

"We should get going." He suggested, "Before we catch a cold."

Amber nodded, as she, Cam and Blake turned to began walking. Hunter was about to leave also, when Tori stopped him.

"I need to talk to you." She whispered.

Hunter nodded and noticed Shane standing in the rain, "Come on bro. You should get going?"

"I'll catch up."

Hunter and Tori began to walk a different path from the others. Shane knelt down in the rain, letting the water drip down his face. His clothes were soaked, but at this point it didn't matter. He just closed his eyes to clear his mind.

Tori stopped Hunter in the middle of the path, she turned to him, biting her lips.

"What's the matter?" Hunter was getting concern as he held the umbrella over them, "You can tell me."

"Hunter. I'm pregnant."

Hunter's eyes widen, he was speechless. He tried to form the words, "How.. How do you know?"

"I took a test before the funeral. I think it's Dustin."

Hunter dropped the umbrella and pulled her in for a hug, the rain fell upon them but it didn't matter at this point.

"I'm scared." She whispered, "I don't think I can do this by myself."

"It's all right." He whispered, "Were here for you."

"I know." She whispered softly, "I know.."

------

Shane opened his eyes back up, standing up to look at the sky. The rain continue to fall, he stuff his hands in his pocket.

"Goodbye, friend."

He slowly turned and began to walk down the trail by himself. The water ran down the grave and towards the tilled soil. The yellow flowers began to collect the water, it half covered what was written on the grave. Suddenly an unknown dark streak zipped past the grave, causing the flowers to bend the other way to reveal the writing. It wrote 'Waldo "Dustin" Brooks. 1986-2007.' and below it 'You will be with us forever."

THE END

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the story! And hope you read it closely, I gave many hints which obviously means Im writing a sequel to this!! Thanks for all your reviews!