A/N: This is, by far, the worst chapter I have ever written. But at least I wrote something to lengthen it out a little.

CHAPTER 65 – Take it All Away

There Must be an angel

With a smile on her face

When she thought up that I should be with you

But its time to face the truth

I will never be with you

- J. Buffet (You're Beatiful)

Tristian looked ghostly pale, lying on his bed, blankets around him, one arm across his stomach the other by his side. His chest heaved up and down as he breathed deeply for air, it was the only way she knew he was alive…and all this for her. To save her life from Emplate, he took it from her. She should be dead…but he took it.

Tears brimmed her eyes and she blinked them away, not right now. She couldn't cry now. Not in front of him. She couldn't let him know what she already did. She took a deep breath, straightening her shirt.

His eyes opened just then, the blue skies staring back at her weakly and a smile came across his lips with effort. "Hey," he said as he exhaled a breath. "Come on…I don't bite, Jeanie."

She chuckled sadly and came over, sitting on the side of his bed. She licked her suddenly dry lips. "How you feeling?"

He took a deep breath, "Tired, worn-out, but other than that, I'm fine."

She laughed at his humor, it was the only thing she could do to keep from crying. If she didn't laugh, she'd break. "That's good."

"Question is, how are you?" he asked, smiling at her.

"I'm fine…thanks to you," she told him and held his hand in her own. He was surprisingly warm and she held his hand tighter, forcing him to not leave her alone.

"Good, I did my job then," he sighed, swallowing hard and fidgeting a bit at the pain.

"Yeah…you did. But you'll be okay. And after you get better I'll take you to Pennsylvania so we can really see the meteor shower. How's that sound?" she told him.

He smiled and in that smile she could tell he knew the truth. He knew he was going to die and he was okay with it, despite the fact she wasn't. "Sounds great Jean. I'll be there I promise."

She nodded her head, "So will I." He chuckled a little and gasped, closing his eyes against the pain that tore at him from the inside. His hand squeezed hers and she saw him through it, never letting go. He opened his eyes, looking more worn out than before. This was a battle he was going to lose, one she couldn't even help him with. She hated it, he had helped her so much, saw her through so many things, saved her life and now he needed her and there was nothing she could do to help. Her bottom lip quivered slightly.

"Hey, none of that now," he told her, catching her sadness. "I'll be okay, Jean."

"This is my fault," she cried as tears spilled down her cheeks, unable to hold them back any longer. All her frustrations spilling in one great flood

"No it's not. It's not your fault. It was my choice…I chose to save you," he told her.

"Why did you?" she asked quietly, her green eyes staring into his worn blue. What she saw there wasn't pain or fear…but comfort and acceptance and something more pure, more surprising, she saw love.

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, cupping her face in his hand, his thumb wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Because you're needed here. People need you here; your life is just getting started. It can't end so soon. Not again, not yet."

"But you're needed here, Rogue needs you, Bobby needs you, John needs you, I need you, Tristian. I can't do this without you," she spoke only the truth. Over the time she got to know him he had become such a vital person in all their lives. To picture him not there tore her apart inside. She loved him too much to let him go and just imaging losing Scott or Logan this way made it worse.

"You are the strongest person I know, Jean. You can do anything."

"I can't without you."

"Yes you can…and I'm not gone, as cheesy as it sounds. As long as you remember me I'll never be gone. Jean," he told her, lightly with humor. "I've been through so much for a person my age. After Bonnie died I thought I was done. I was over. Then after Emma and her X gang I thought I was through. That no one could get close to me because I'd never let them," he paused to take a breath, eyes staring into hers. "But you did…everyone here…but you especially. I saw in you the radiance of something great, something that would change this world for the better just like you changed my life…I swore to never let anyone I love die…its why I saved you."

She just shook her head and wiped at her eyes. He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You didn't see them, Jean. I did. You didn't see what the thought of losing you again did to the others. You didn't see the pain they were going through when they thought they lost you forever. They need you and you need them."

"I need you, too," she told him.

"No," he shook his head. "You'll be okay without me, I promise. You have two wonderful guys vying for your affection. That's a battle of its own for you to stay and fight for. And you got three teenagers who desperately need some guidance…not to mention discipline. You have a lot to do without me mixed into it. You lived before I arrived you'll live after I'm gone. You can struggle with it for awhile, but I want you to bounce back stronger. For me."

Jean let out a sigh and wiped at her eyes, nodding her head. "Yeah…I can do that. For you."

He touched her face again, his face more serious and she dipped her head into his hand wishing it would never end as he spoke to her in a whisper. "You know that place between asleep and awake…it's called your dreams…that's the only place I can love you…and that's where I'll be waiting."

"I'll be waiting there too," she whispered back to him.

Tristian gave her a weak smile, eyes heavy, the brilliant blue fading to a whimsical light now. "I'm tired right now though. Think I spent myself talking for so long."

"I'll stay here, if it's okay?" she asked and moved herself over to the chair near his bed, panicked at the thought of leaving him alone.

He pushed himself up onto his elbows with effort and scooted himself over, biting his lower lip. "Okay…but you're not sleeping in that chair. Those are hell on your back."

Jean smiled and shifted herself gently onto the bed, letting her body curl up next to him. She lie there and listen to his heart beat as he held her. "I'm scared."

"Don't be. Just get some sleep. I'm right here," he told her.

She wanted to ask him if he'd still be there when she awoke. But she was too afraid of the answer. Instead she snuggled deeper into him as she drifted off to that place between asleep and awake, hoping to find Tristian there.