Thank you to all who have been following this story. I hope everyone has enjoyed it thus far. Yes Sarah has become just a bit cynical over the years, and it has been great to write a different side of her. I have had fun writing this and hope that it is as exciting for everyone to read as it is for me to write.

The day seemed to drag for Sarah. She wished it would end. For what had to be the twentieth time in as many minutes she glanced at her watch. She swallowed the groan and muttered under her breath. She felt the tension of the last few weeks in her neck and reached up to rub at her shoulders. She couldn't seem to relax. The more she rubbed the more her muscles protested.

Sarah sighed and lowered her hands, letting them fall to her lap. The beeping of the machines and the dim light drove Sarah to the edge of screaming. Instead she stood and paced the room at the foot of the bed. Toby, who still lay silently, looked worse than he had yesterday. Finally the door to the room opened and an older man in a white coat walked in. Sarah stopped her pacing and watched the man. He didn't stand out. He was short, only inches taller than Sarah's own 5'4. He was portly, with a cranky grandfather appearance. Grey hair was freshly trimmed and glasses perched at the end of his nose. He appeared to be in his mid 60's with a grim manner.

Dr. Trenton looked Toby over casually. He moved slowly, making notes on a clipboard. The doctor acted as if he had all the time in the world. He seemed more bored than concerned as he checked Toby's vitals. Once he was finished with his evaluation of Toby he turned his attention to Sarah.

"Well?"

Dr. Trenton sniffed as he studied his chart before answering. "Well what?" The doctor looked at Sarah and shrugged. "He's in a coma. Not much else to say."

Sarah ground her teeth, trying to keep her temper in check. "How is he? When will he wake up?" Sarah nearly spat the words out.

Dr. Trenton grunted. "Obviously it's impossible to know when he will wake up. As for how he's doing, I suppose he could be better." Trenton looked at his watch pointedly.

Sarah silently counted to ten, clenching her jaw with each number. She wanted to slap that condescending air right out of him. Instead once she reached the number ten she took a deep breath and spoke. "Have somewhere to be, Doctor?"

"As a matter of fact-"

"As a matter of fact you can take the time to give the proper care to Toby, just like any other patient who walks through the doors here." Sarah folded her arms and scowled at the older man. "He has to be as healthy and well cared for as anyone else if he's to wake up. Or is that a problem for you?"

Trenton sighed. "Ms. Williams, perhaps I have been somewhat lax in the care of your brother. You must understand there is little that can be done for him. We would hope that he will wake from this. But we have run every test possible. We can find no reason for the coma. And we can't say he will wake from it. For reasons we can't explain, your brother is dying."

Sarah gasped and felt her knees begin to buckle. Forcing herself to stay standing she took a deep breath and stared at the doctor. "Why wasn't I told sooner?" She fought to stay calm, but she knew the shock of his announcement must show on her face.

"What difference would it have made?"

Sarah left the hospital some time later, her thoughts in turmoil. She felt numb as she walked. She followed a mostly empty path that wound through a small stand of trees. She wasn't sure where the path led, but she didn't care. She felt lost no matter where she was. So she continued to follow the well worn foot path surrounded by trees.

The end of the path was brightly lit, in comparison to the dimmer dappled appearance of the path. It looked to Sarah as if a door had been opened at the end of the walk. The brilliance of the setting sun helped to lift her spirits somewhat. Sarah took a deep breath of the fresh air and for the first time noticed the bird songs of the area. With renewed energy Sarah walked through the break in the trees. She stepped into a large clearing. And noticed that she was at the back entrance to the local cemetery.

Sarah shrugged her shoulders, not sure why she had walked to the cemetery. She stepped through the wrought iron gate and followed the walkway through the rows of old headstones. She had never realized how rustic some of them seemed. As she walked she studied the various cherubs and hearts that graced the many graves. She almost felt calm as she wandered through the stones. She hadn't been back to the graveyard since the day of the funeral. It had been a long day for her. One she didn't want to remember. Yet she found herself walking toward the graves, laid side by side, looking for the headstones she had ordered.

She was halfway down a middle row when she saw them. The headstones sat, polished and shining in the glow of the evening, at the top of each grave. Simple stones with the names of her father and step-mother carved into them. She had chosen to have a small angel carved on each one. But little else adorned the freshly dug earth. Sarah looked at the graves, knowing she was beyond tears. She had even felt bad for the loss of Irene. A feeling that had surprised her more than she cared to admit. She still didn't understand what her father ever saw in the woman, but she had eventually moved past hating the woman.

Sarah had always wondered what life would have been like without her step-mother. Now she knew, and she wondered if it was really worth the loss. Sarah shivered as she read the stones. Her light jacket was little protection from the coming night. Shaking her head she turned away from the headstones, and paused. She thought she saw someone, or something, move nearby. But the cemetery was deserted. She pushed the thought from her mind and walked through the rows of stones to the front gate. From there it would be just a short run to the house.

It was dark when Sarah reached the house. Stepping inside she turned a light on and fell onto the couch. She was suddenly tired. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, content to fall asleep where she sat. She thought she would, until her stomach growled. Sarah opened one eye and looked around. She was alone, though she wasn't sure if she expected someone or not. Reluctantly she opened both eyes and sat forward. She didn't feel like cooking anything. But she knew she should eat. Reaching in her pocket she pulled out her cell phone and dialed the local pizza place.

Her favorite pizza ordered Sarah sat back and waited. She didn't close her eyes, but stared blindly at the ceiling. She was lost in her own thoughts when the door bell rang. She nearly jumped at the sound then scolded herself for being so startled. She walked to the door, digging in a pocket for the money to pay for her pizza.

The smell emanating from the box was almost intoxicating. She inhaled deeply as she walked back to the couch, barely controlling the urge to just dig in where she stood. Flopping on the couch she sat the box on the table before her. She smiled as she raised the top and snatched a large slice. She had just taken her first mouthful when a chuckle surprised her into a coughing fit. Barely managing to swallow the bite she sputtered and cleared her throat, glaring at the figure in the corner.

"Jareth, what are you doing?" Sarah wiped her mouth on a napkin that was sitting next to the pizza and defiantly took another large bite. She could see no reason to interrupt her meal for the Goblin King.

"I would think it should be obvious. But then you never did notice what was right in front of your little nose."

Sarah snorted and took another bite. She took her time to swallow it before meeting Jareth's gaze. "That is no concern of yours. Not anymore. And it suited me just fine then. After all, I did beat your Labyrinth."

"You gloat as if that is a profound accomplishment. And yet you still don't know."

"Know what? I know all I need to right now."

Jareth chuckled again and moved to perch on the arm of the couch. "Poor Sarah. You can be so naive. Such a pity. But you will see soon enough. It is inevitable." Jareth pulled a crystal from the air, playing with it disinterestedly. He rolled it along his fingers lightly, and waited. Finally he broke the silence. "It's in you now you know."

Sarah stopped chewing and looked at Jareth. She wasn't sure what he was getting at, but she doubted she would like the answer either way. Finishing the bite she cleared her throat and huffed. "And what do I have in me. Right now all I can feel is pizza."

Jareth made a tsking sound. "Sarah you must learn that your sharp tongue really is a double edged sword. Maybe one day it will serve you well in the Labyrinth."

"Doubt it." Sarah glared at Jareth again, still waiting for an answer to her question.

"Silly girl. The Labyrinth will show you when it feels you are ready. It is a part of you, now and forever after."

Sarah shook her head violently. "Thanks but no thanks. I have enough to take care of here."

"Aww yes, Toby. And how is he?"

Sarah stood, holding Jareth's gaze with an icy one of her own. "As if you don't know. Don't mock me Jareth. I can be as dangerous as you, even without the use of crystals or goblins. I will ruin your kingdom if you mess with me."

Jareth stood. "Just don't burn a bridge you may need to cross later Sarah. It makes for a very long trip. You may need the Labyrinth whether you are willing to admit it or not."

Sarah wanted to laugh. She wanted make it a joke. But she couldn't. She could only stare at Jareth, and his knowing smirk. And fume. "Leave me alone Jareth. I have to take care of Toby."

"You can save him you know. All you have to do is say the word." Jareth stood, a smile on his lips at the shock on Sarah's face. With a chuckle he disappeared before her eyes.

Sarah blinked several times. "Jareth!" Sarah knew it would do no good to scream, he was gone. She tried to make sense of what Jareth had said. But it sounded more and more like a riddle. Or a trick. More frustrated than she had been while Jareth was present she sank to the couch. Her head spun as she tried to put the pieces together. Finally she picked up her last slice of pizza and nibbled at it absently as she laid back, her thoughts going to the day she ran the Labyrinth.