Larry sighed as he gently set the Roman down, stepping back a pace as he slowly walked off his hand. The Roman paused when he reached the tiny bedside, and stood very still, his eyes scanning the figure that lay there so still and cold. His eyes made contact with pale blue spheres, and he took a deep, shaky breath before speaking.

"You...you wanted to see me?" He asked quietly.

The lying figure nodded, then grimaced at the movement. "'Course I do. Ya don't think I 'd leave 'thout sayin' goodbye, do ya?"

Octavius shook his head. "I-It would be unlike you, Jedediah." He forced a smile onto his face, though he wanted to do anything but.

The cowboy smiled weakly, and glanced at the chair set up beside the makeshift bed. Octavius swallowed, and slowly lowered himself into the seat. They sat in silence for a while, both collecting their thoughts and thinking about what to say. There was so much that needed to be said...but not enough time. Jedediah weakly turned his head towards his distraught friend, and gave a faint smile.

"Ya know somethin', Ockie?"

The Roman looked up, but remained silent.

"I don't think I've ever told ya how much I appreciate ya. You know that?"

Still, Octavius was silent, not trusting himself to speak.

"Ya know what I'll miss the most about life?" Jedediah asked, staring up at the ceiling. He sighed softly when his Roman friend didn't reply. "I'm gonna miss you, Ockie. And the car. You and the car made for good times, ya know that? All your panickin' was kinda a funny, ya gotta admit. And that time ya accidentally changed the radio station to rock and almost wrecked us. That was great."

Once again, silence met the poor cowboy's ears, and he sniffed, blinking away the wetness at the corners of his eyes. "Ockie, ya ain't makin' this easy fer me..."

Finally, Octavius could stand it no longer, and spoke in a barely controlled voice. "I'm sorry..." He whispered, still refusing to meet his friend's gaze. It was all he could think of to say.

Jedediah sighed, and reached a shaky hand out towards the Roman. Octavius took it gently, and finally looked into his dying friend's eyes.

"I'm scared, Ockie."

It took all of the Roman's willpower to keep himself from breaking, and he took a deep, steadying breath. He could cry later. Jedediah needed him now. "Do not be. You will be alright."

"Don't lie 'ta me, Ockie. I know I'm dyin'. Ahkmenrah told me."

Silence again. Octavius could no longer take it. He bit his lip until it bled, but failed to keep the tears out of his eyes.

"Ockie, don't cry." Jedediah said, a frown on his face.

"How can I not?" Octavius asked, his voice breaking. "I...I a, loosing you."

"Naw, Ockie. I'm never lost. Just...just away. Think of it like that."

"You are away and will never return again..."

Jedediah sighed, and gave his friend's hand a weak, comforting squeeze. "There's better things 'ta do in life than mourn, Ockie. Yeah, I wanna be remembered. But don't let it drag ya down. Ya got your whole life ahead of ya, Ockie. So much stuff you can do. Live a little."

"But I will not have you."

"Ya don't need me, Ockie."

Octavius blinked rapidly, refusing to break down in front of his friend. "Do not say that. I do need you..."

The cowboy shook his head. "Ockie, ya gotta live on your own." He paused, and closed his eyes gently. "We knew this would happen one day. I'm glad it's me rather than you. I'll always be with you, ya know."

Octavius bowed his head, choking down a strangled sob as he shoulders shook with sorrow. He heard his friend take a deep breath, and felt something brush against his hand. He looked down to see a Stetson, battered and old, just like the one he'd given Jedediah the day they'd accepted their friendship.

"Take it," The cowboy said, pushing it towards him. "I don't need it now." He took a deep, strangled breath, then said in a low, strained voice, "Remember me...Ockie..."

The Roman was about to reply, but he paused when he noticed a faint glow building up around his friend. He looked at the Tablet a few feet away, which was also glowing. He felt anguish grip his heart as he realized what it was. He looked down at the cowboy and saw his eyes screwed shut in pain. The dying man's hand still gripped his, and he felt it growing slowly weaker as the glow became stronger. The cowboy stiffened as it burst from the Tablet, and for a moment gripped tighter, before it grew strangely cold.

The light softened, then disappeared altogether, leaving Jedediah nothing but a wax figurine.