Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock. Static Shock belongs to Dwayne McDuffie, Milestone Comics, DC Comics and WB. I wish I did though. That'd be sweet.

Warning: Will contain slash, drugs, violence and one sided relationships. This will be a bit riskier than my average fics. Knowing me, it'll be okay but I only thought it fair to place a warning. I hope everyone enjoys the rendition of Shiv by a third author. I want to be original and hope this is.

A/N: This is the final chapter of TL. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope to keep writing. Thank you to everyone who read, who reviewed, and who is reading now. I hope to see you again.

The Epilogue: The Death

Shiv hunched positioned in a large tree on the south end of a small graveyard on the outside of Dakota. It was fenced carefully with only a few trees surrounding it. It was almost twilight now, making the shadows more exaggerated than any other time of day. Shiv hunched lower, his eyes darted across the small patches. He was looking something.

It had been two months since his escape from the clinic. Static had left him well enough alone and Shiv had behaved, for the most part. He had not rejoined the Breed. This trust had been violated and no good beast went back to a pack that didn't want him. He was alone. He had to admit it wasn't hard living alone. He was nineteen now and a considerably healthy young adult with plenty of fight and spirit in him. However, he did miss the company.

Shiv's head bobbed erratically for a moment longer then stopped. He had seen what he was looking for. He hunched him and stopped down from the tree and hurried across the graveyard. He stayed hunched, it was habit now more than necessity, as he ran up to single tombstone. He looked down at almost doubting his eyesight from the tree:

JOMEI CHEN
1984 – 2000

Shiv recoiled a bit. It was unnerving to see his better half's grave, his better half's empty grave. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small folded gum wrapper. He unfolded it to reveal a few strands of pure black hair. They were ratty and rather split but were intact. "Joe, are you there?" Shiv said quietly standing alone in front of the grave.

He picked up the few strands of his hair and a feel came over him. He felt tired and worn down all of the sudden. "Of course, I'm here."

Shiv put the hair back on the paper. "How should I know you hardly say anything anymore? You used to never shut up."

He placed a finger on the hair resting in his palm. He felt tired again but did not respond.

He removed his finger and his strength returned. "I didn't mean..." Shiv paused. His other half was weak. He was acted beaten and tired. He used to come out form time to time. He'd make a remark to Ebon and spoke to Static only a few months ago. "Do you see it?"

He touched the hair. "I see it."

Shiv grinned. "How is it being dead?" It was sick toying with him but Shiv thrived on it.

"The same."

Shiv was taken aback. Joe had never frightened him before. "I mean the tombstone."

Joe hunched slightly and sighed. "You killed me a long time ago. You know that. You don't have to brag."

"I didn't kill you!" Shiv was almost indignant yelling into his hand. "I mean I think its idiotic that they add a tombstone with no body."

"A death is a death."

"You're insane! I don't know why I talk to you!" Shiv said crossing his arms in a spiteful pout.

"You won't have to."

"What do you mean?"

"If I'm not dead, then I'm dying."

"What are you talking about? You're me."

"I am not. You're Shiv. This isn't your grave. Its mine and you know it. You know, I'm right."

Shiv did. He frowned for a moment. He knew Joe wasn't real anymore. That he was as fleeting as a memory. "I... I didn't mean everything. I mean... I didn't mean... to... kill you."

"Yes, you did. You're an animal, Shiv. We all know it. I was human, Shiv."

"Survival of the fittest. If you can't survive..."

"...you don't." Joe said. He sounded exhausted. "You kept us alive Shiv and took it all in the end. That's what it takes on the streets."

"What about you?" Shiv seemed genuinely concerned looking at the hair.

"Leave the hair." His body felt infinitely weaker than it should.

Shiv placed the hair on the tombstone. His body felt light and empty of something. Though he didn't remember what. It was all like some type of dream that he couldn't remember. He would no longer see to Joe and Joe no longer existed. But in many senses, he never did.

THE END.