**Blair's POV**

I woke up to see someone being chased down the hallway, Kyle and Barnes? I sat up slowly and then stood for a moment.

"Kyle! You can't go in there—!" Barnes yelled.

"There's something wrong! I ha—!" Kyle objected.

"Everything's fine! Go back to your room and I'll send someone to exp—" Barnes started.

"Just let me know what's going on! What if Marcus dies and—!" Kyle yelled.

I didn't hear anything else; I darted out of the room and to the left towards where the confrontation was.

Kyle and Barnes both stopped immediately and looked at me.

"Blair, stay right there—" Barnes started, trying to look calm.

Ignoring Barnes I did my best to struggle through him and Kyle to get in the door to the room. This can't be good if even Kyle doesn't want me in.

I could here machines in the room going haywire and coughing.

"Blair, it's for your own good—" Kyle said.

"Blair, do not go in there!"

"No, I can't let her see this," a voice rasped.

Marcus, no, I thought.

"Williams do not come in here! That's an order!" I heard Marc— I mean John yell from inside the room.

Finally breaking through Kyle and Barnes I hollered, "I think I know what's best—" I lost my voice, all feeling in my body was gone as I saw, my "new" Marcus, lying on the ground, looking up at me with those blue eyes… dying?

I rushed to him as quick as I could, kneeling to his side.

"I didn't want you to see this," he rasped.

"What's happening? See what?" I asked confused.

He closed his eyes for a moment, he then took my hand in his and placed it on his heart.

His heartbeat wasn't normal; it was off the charts, too fast.

I began panicking, "No…"

"I'm not gonna make it," he said as calmly as he could, he then started coughing again.

"No. You're gonna be fine—"

"Blair please, I don't have much time," he rasped coughing again. This time I saw blood at the corner of his mouth.

"You're not going to die. I won't let you—" I panicked.

"Blair, I need to tell you something," he choked up.

"Don't talk like that," I said trying to stay calm on the verge of crying, "Don't talk like you're dy—"

"Blair, look at me," he said taking my face in his hands, he was losing his strength, I could see the struggle in his eyes, "Listen to me, no matter what ha—" he began coughing brutally, and then continued, "No matter what happens, I'll be with you, right here," he said placing his hand on my heart, I took his hand in mine once more, "You were my second chance Blair, I—" his coughing was getting worse, the machines were going faster, "I—," he was trying to hold on, closing his eyes but then suddenly, his eyes opened. He was calm, the machines continued but he at ease, this was it… "I love you…" was all he said.

His blue eyes began closing and he was gone…

The room was silent except for the sound of an overbearing long tone… I looked at the machine… deadline…

"No…" I said under my breath, "Marcus…" no response, "Marcus please…"

Kate came up behind me quietly, "I'm sorry Blair, I did everything I could. He's gon—"

"No, don't say that. He's fine," I said hysterically, "Marcus, Marcus I know you can hear me," I put my free hand on his face, "Squeeze my hand if you can hear me… please," I didn't even realize when tears began running down my face, "I love you," I said as my last plea, "I love you Marcus! You're not dead… you can't be… please," I said lying my head on his chest, finally losing it.

Kate started, "I'm sorry Blair, it was out of the blue. He was fine one minute, on the ground next. He was getting into the wheelchair an—"

I didn't listen, I didn't care. I knew the man for a week and he stole my heart, in fact I let him have it. With him, part of me died. I didn't care if we barely knew each other; we'd met through extraordinary circumstances. I didn't care anymore what happened to me. Even in death he had been strong, he was a fighter, a man, the only man I could ever love.