A/N: Glad to see I didn't lose all of you. Thanks for the great reviews(I kinda expected people to hate me.) Most of the stuff in italics is a part of the countdown.

Disclaimer: I don't own IS, Coheed and Cambria, or anything else you recognize (unless you agree that my writing is becoming slightly monotone.)

Chapter 3: Bye Bye, Beautiful.

Jude was sitting at the kitchen table next to Tommy. It had been at least a month since Jamie had left, and she was very sick. She had asked Tommy to come over to help her out since Jamie wouldn't be back for a while. He asked her why, and after she had told him everything he finally agreed to come, but had shown up with a strange box that he had explained was a pregnancy test. She thought it was rediculous, but decided to take it anyway so Tommy would leave her alone about it. After sitting in silence for the first few minutes, Jude began to get nervous. She waited 2 more minutes before deciding she couldn't take anymore silence. "Tommy?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?"

5:00, 4:59, 4:58...

"Sure."

"If-- if I told you I was nervous would you think it was stupid?"

"No, why? Are you nervous?"

4:55, 4:54, 4:53...

"Kinda. I mean, what if it comes out positive?" There was silence.

4:51, 4:50, 4:49...

She started freaking out. "Oh my god. What if it does come out positive?" She asked again. Tommy just continued to stare at her.

4:45, 4:43, 4:41...

"I--I don't know. You have to call Jamie either way, though." She nodded.

"Of course." She heard a knock on the door. "I'll get it." She got up, the strip still in her hand. She opened the door to see a man in an army uniform who looked to be about 20. "Who are you?" The man looked up at her.

"I'm Steven Hartburg. I'm one of your fiance's friends. At least-- I was." Jude was startled by his last statement. Had something happened to Jamie? "You must be Jude Harrison," He continued, holding out his hand. She shook it.

"Um, nice to meet you."

3:56, 3:55, 3:54...

"Listen, I don't mean to sound rude, but why are you here? Is something wrong?" He looked at her grimly.

"Actually, yes. Do you mind if I-- come in?" Jude nodded.

"Sure." She held the door open to let him in and led him into the living room. They sat down, and he continued.

"Jamie has asked me to tell you this personally, so he'd be sure you were aware." He cleared his throat.

3:40, 3:39, 3:38...

Tommy had heard the majority of the conversation and had come into the living room to join them. "You see, we were out in the middle of a battle yesterday and-" He managed to hold back a few tears; he was trying desperately not to break down in front of them. He had been through this before and he knew that that would help them. "He was-- distracted. He didn't really see the person behind him shoot until it was too late." He looked away. He hated this: telling them something like this and then watching them break down. It was, to say the least, awful. Neverhteless, he had to go through with it. He had to respect his dead friend's last request. Jude gasped, and Tommy remained quiet.

"You mean--" She couldn't finish. Instead, she broke into hysterical sobs.

"I'm-- i'm so sorry." Jude looked at him and nodded, but couldn't say anything more, so Tommy decided to speak.

"It's ok. You didn't cause it. You were just-- trying to help out a friend," He said, partly to himself. Steven smiled.

"Thanks. I really have to leave. If that's ok." Tommy nodded knowingly.

"Sure." Steven left and Tommy went back to Jude.

1:02, 1:01, 1:00...

"Hey, girl. " He sat down next to her and hugged her tightly. She shook her head and let out another sob.

"He-- he said everything was gonna be ok. He pr--promised me." Tommy closed his eyes. He hated seeing Jude like this.

"Shh. It's ok." He squeezed her gently. She rested her head on his shoulder.

15, 14, 13...

They sat mostly in silence as Jude sobbed quietly into Tommy's shoulder. He looked down. "Wanna talk about it?" She looked up and shook her head.

"No. Not right now, at least."

"Ok." He held her tighter.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

An image appeared on the screen. While Jude was too distracted to remember it, Tommy glanced down and managed to make out the ends of a tiny pink plus symbol. This can't be good, he thought.

A/N: R&R to find out what happens next. I know that chapter was weird, but it was the best way I could think of to write this.