Title: Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Drabble Challenge for "Empty Chair"

Author: Eleri McCleod

Email: elerimclycos.com

Status: complete

Category: drama, challenge response

Pairings: none

Spoilers: Heroes

Season: 7

Sequel/Series Info: none

Rating: G

Content Warnings: none

Summary: Sometimes moments that are supposed to comfort do anything but.

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. No copyright infringement is intended.

File Size (kb): 3k

Archive: Jackfic, FF.net, any others please ask

Author's Note: A special thanks goes to Cokie for being my guinea pig. As always, any and all feedback is appreciated.

"Oh, my friends, my friends forgive me That I live and you are gone There's a grief that can't be spoken There's a pain goes on and on"
- Marius, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from "Les Misérables"

Carter's slightly unsteady voice flowed over me, sucking long-buried memories from their hole. Floating faces overlayed themselves in my vision, Hammond and Daniel's solemn expressions masked by old friends, long gone.

"... that's not what her life was about."

Meant to be comforting, the heartfelt words only increased the emptiness growing inside. Unexpectedly, a familiar melody joined her voice in my head, underscoring the void I'd become. Bitterness refused to allow acceptance, comfort. A dear friend had been ripped away. All I could feel was the senselessness of her loss.

'Empty chairs at empty tables...'

Another face joined the floating crowd.