(as told by Mark)
Thomas B. Collins always broke the rules...
All the way to the end.
The doctors said he wouldn't wake up again.
On the second day, he was up to call us each in one by one.
Roger had been the first one he called in. We could all see how this was tearing at Roger, his vunerabilty brought to the forefront...the inevitablity of the entire situation. Roger came out to me a whispered, "Your turn."
I slowly got up and walked in.
"Mark..hey."
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
He shrugged, my questions weren't important, he had his own agenda,
"Mark, look for her...I..saw you watching..the tape. Find her."
It took me a second, but I leaned over and whispered, "I already have...Cade."
Something about the way his face began to contort told me he found this to be amusing. A few moments of silence went by before he sent me out to get Cade.
On the third day,Collins did what possibly only Collins could really think about. He insisted that we have his memorial service while he was still alive.
He made us swear we would "just throw him in ther ground next to Angel"
But that was just his way of doing things. His way of handling death. He didn't see it as leaving life he saw it as going to his life. Angel was...is his life.
We all crowd into the room. He insisted on meeting Ella and Kenna while he could, so twelve of stand shoulder to shoulder in the small room. His doctor said no but that only made Collins more adament.
His speech was slow and far in between but he had said all he needed to say before. When he was done he didn't wait long.
A small smil spread and that was it.
he had found his hearbeat outside of living.
He was back with Angel.
I stared in disbelief for minutes while the nurses came in until I realized Kenna was standing next to me. I picked her up and made my way out of the room.
Cade and Ella followed me with the other kids, I don't why we kept them in there. They didn't understand.
Cade came up to me, "You okay? Who am I kidding, right? Um, I'm going to migrate the kids back to the loft...you all take your time okay?"
"I'll go with you," Ella said as she took McKenney and before leaving, hugged me.
I watch the two of them solemnly lead the five kids down the hallway before going back into the room.
Roger is leaning against the wall, his eyes closed...remembering.
Maureen is sitting numb while Joanne's hand uses Mo's shoulder for support.
Benny stands nearest the door calmly taking it all in.
So here we are again. And so we'll go on...
...take me, take me...today me...
Author's notes:
I really never planned for this to happen but...I don't know...it wrote itself..so I apologize if it seems out of place or abrupt...but some how I really had no say...characters know what they want before the author does...
Kelby: I don't know if you saw this coming, as not even I did, but it will hopefully progressive come next chapter. I agree..sap..eh.
Carsonheir: Thanks as always...and I hope you get to feeling better.
BwayDiva: Awkwardness makes the world go around...so no cliffie for this chapter, maybe next time )
Lils: No, Mo's still clueless. she'll find out eventually...eventually
oh...there's a new pope...happened really fast..well, considering...Pope Benedict the 16th...formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzsinger...! from Germany!