My Way

Ch. 7

"Joe, get the boy and get out!", he screamed, before he turned around to face the wall again, at which the little girl was still standing, shivering with fear, and to scared to move. And with one last hope, putting all the calmness that he had left into his voice, Nash began to speak, loud, but not screaming, urgently, yet not pushing.

Demanding attention. Yet soft, as if they weren't in this building. Not here, in the fire. But somewhere else. Somewhere safe. Where he and the little girl would be able to talk, just talk, and don't let anything else come between them.

"Darling', you can hear me, can't ya? Yeah...I know you can. You're brave. You can hear me...", he started, not taking his eyes off her, looking straight at her little face, and keeping his voice as even as a soft breeze on the water, letting the girl know that he was there, and that she could talk to him whenever she was ready.

Even Joe, who had just thought about calling out for Nash once again, even more urgently, hesitated now, not wanting to risk the bond to break, that seemed to be building there between Nash and the girl, over the distance of merely a few feet, yet far enough away, that it was impossible to reach her. Unless with his voice.

"Come on, please, just look at me...I know you can, darlin', all I want you is to just look over here, don't move, just look over here, can do you that for me, please?", Nash was still softly talking, kneeling even closer to the burning wall that kept him from getting too close.

The hot fire was making his eyes water, and he felt the tingling sensation on his face, whenever the hot air of the flames around them, was reaching for him. If only the girl would make a few steps forward, through that small way that wasn't burning yet, then he could reach for her and pull her out of there. Just a few feet, two steps, three, not more...

"Please, look at me...", he felt the hot waves closing in on him, and didn't know how much longer he'd be able to kneel there where he was now, but suddenly seeing the small, bright eyes, looking at him, he didn't care about the heat any more.

The girl was watching him, scared to hell, and still not moving. But she was now watching him, with a fear in her eyes that told him he would have to think fast, before he lost her again.

It was like rush hour traffic. Not one person went for their cars, most stood and watched as a group of uniformed officers lifted Nash's casket and carried it out the door to the burial site.

Lisa was walking out with Cassidy and Inger holding each others hands.

Harvey stayed sitting where he was before, only this time facing the crucifixion that hung above him. He stared up at it with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"So Mr. Almighty God, you take Evan...and now Nash? You trying to rid the world of exceptional people? Now I know Evan had his problems, but he trusted in you and you took him away. Nash loved so much, did everything with his heart and you took him away from us. I guess I'll never understand the way you work, but if there is this place called heaven, I know Ev and Nash are there, so I'm not worried per say, I just wanted some more time with them. But I guess they say you work in mysterious ways."

He turned back to watch all the people started to leave the church. He was startled by a little girl who had appeared at his side.

"Hello sir."

"Hi little girl, what are you doing up here?"

"You are sad because your friend is gone?"

"Very sad yes." He knelt down to be at eye level with the girl.

"Well, he…he saved my life. And I thought telling you that might help you feel a little better."

Harvey sobbed slightly before thanking the girl. She hugged Harvey and walked away. He turned back to the cross.

"I see your point, thanks."

A quiet smile fell upon his face as he watched the little girl walk out of the church with her mother and father. He held his head down and listened to the song ringing in his ears.

"Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has not

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of One who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!"