sparklehannah : I knew when writing it that you were gonna be excited. Sorry though, but I promise you will have your big-reveal-chapter someday ! As for Pitch, you're kinda reminding me to write something about him. I never really liked his character, but I know for the sake of the story that I should give him some light.

IF YOU HADN'T READ THE A/N I LEFT LAST CHAPTER PLEASE DO IT NOW. Like I said, it will be the last update in a while, but this fic won't be abandoned. Still, don't expect a chapter until Christmas break.

Warning, this one is full of drama. I can't say much without spoiling, but for the people who can be bothered by this, I had to say it.

Characters : Jack & Jamie
Timeline : 2065
Words : 1257

The second he set a foot into the room, Jack had to resist the urge to flew out of the window he came from. He never liked this place, and this time would certainly not change his opinion.

He wrinkled his nose at the smell. It wasn't bad, per se, but it always made him uncomfortable. It brought back memories he would rather leave alone.

"It's been awhile, Jack."

He jumped at the raspy voice.

Slowly, he looked at the form lying in the bed. Jamie smiled at him, but Jack didn't return it.

It hurt, seeing him like this. In the last months he had lost so much weight, Jack wasn't even sure he would be able to support himself if he could get up.

Jamie wasn't very old, barely in his sixties, and had always led a healthy lifestyle. He should have been kept away from this.

But mortals were fragile, and a sickness would always bring them down in little time.

Life was unfair.

"Come here, please."

He flew closer to Jamie but still kept some distance. He had already chilled the air by his presence, and Jamie was pretty weak. He didn't need to have his condition worsening just because Jack went too close.

"You look good."

Words were stuck in his throat. He couldn't say the same about Jamie obviously, he looked worse than a corpse, but Jack didn't have the strength to make a better comment.

It was ironic, really, how he could always cheer people up in their daily lives but not when the times really counted.

"Do you know... what day is it tomorrow ?" Jamie asked softly.

Of course he knew.

"I would never forget." Jamie smiled at that, and Jack felt a little better.

How could he forgot the day his life changed for the better when, fifty-three years ago, a child saw him for the first time ? He still remembered the pure joy he felt when Jamie's wide brown eyes didn't pass him but actually looked at him. It was a moment that would forever be carved in his memory.

It hadn't been easy, the friendship between a growing human and a spirit forever frozen in his fourteen-years old body. They had fall outs, and more than once Jack believed he would never see him again, but in the end things always settled and their friendship only grew up from these phases.

A silence took place, Jack took advantage of the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The room wasn't as bare as he thought it would be. A flower bouquet was resting on the bedside table, full of roses. Some photos were there too, most of them about Jamie's family, his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren. But only one held his attention. It was old, certainly the older one, and representing a group of six teenagers covered in paint. The first five were huddled together, but a gap was separating Jamie from them.

"Do you remember this day ? When we... decided paintball was a good idea ?" He breathed out with difficulty.

"Yeah, Bunny complained for a few weeks afterwards because he couldn't get the paint off. The best times of my life."

They laughed together at the memory. It had been a good day indeed, one of the few times another Guardian went with him to play with the kids.

Feebly, Jamie traced the empty spot on the photo, a lingering look on his face.

"I wish... we could see you… maybe then the others would still be able to…"

Jack didn't think it would have change a thing, but he could still wonder.

It had hurt, when the others stop believing, but he had soon learnt it was a part of a Guardian's life. He was only more grateful that Jamie kept his belief.

Jamie closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he planted his gaze on Jack with all the strenght he could muster.

"I'm going to die soon."

The honest statement hurt more than the words themselves.

He knew it of course. If Death creeping into the city wasn't already an indication, then Jamie's appearance left no room for argument. It wasn't an eventuality anymore.

Jack had known it for weeks now, preparing himself for the innevitable outcome. But now that it was finally coming, that he could sense the Reaper waiting behind the door, the sudden realization that everything would be over soon ripped his heart in pieces.

He couldn't cry anymore, but his eyes still felt on fire.

Jamie smiled sadly, and maybe that was the worst.

"They're here, right ?"

Jack nodded, his throat to tight to talk, but he was shacking so much he wasn't sure Jamie saw.

Death's presence was becoming persistant, and Jack knew they were just waiting for him to leave before they could do what they were here for.

"Are they... nice ?"

It was so like Jamie to ask something like this, that despite the circumstances Jack couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Dunno, I never stuck around long enough to talk."

"Will I... be able to see them ?"

"Maybe." He whispered. Some did, others not. Even among spirits, few were those who could see the Reaper.

Jack was unfortunately one of them.

Jamie closed his eyes for a second and Jack swore he stopped breathing too. Fortunately, he opened them again after a few moments and fixed his dull gzae on his family's portrait.

"Can I... ask you a favour ?"

"Anything."

"Could you... could you look after them ?"

Jack squeezed his fists harder. The fact that Jamie felt the need to ask something so evident hurt way more than he thought it would.

"Always."

Jamie smiled, but his riddled eyes had already almost lost their light.

"You'll be good Jack, right ?"

He nodded.

"Tell the Guardians to take care, okay ?"

He nodded again.
He didn't know what to say, nothing would soften the situation and every word that came across his mind seemed pretty ridiculous.

He took into Jamie's form. He was only skin and bones now, and he was so pale he could see all of his veins. It was clear the only links to life were the countless strings piercing his skin.

For the first time since he came out of the lake, Jack wanted to hug someone and never let go. But no matter how much he wished to, he was too numb to move.

"You'll be alright, Jack."

He felt a last surge of Belief rush into his body as Death came nearer, and then, everything was over.

He didn't budge. He didn't even registered the medics passing through him as they hurried into the room. He just kept staring at Jamie's still body, in the vain hope he would wake up soon like nothing happened, but even he knew it was just a foolish dream.

He left. He didn't want to see Jamie's family. He didn't want to see them screaming and sobbing over his covered body. He couldn't bear with it.

He flew out of the window and put a foot on the freshly-fallen snow. A storm was ragging, no doubt created by his internal turmoil.

He didn't appease it. Maybe it was foolish, but for once he wanted the world to feel as dead as he was inside. People would be pestering him about it later, but frankly he didn't care.

For now, he just wanted to sleep.

Depressing much, huh ?

Actually, I had to change half of it, hence the delay. At first, Jack should have killed Jamie after he asked him to. But then I thought it wouldn't be really fair to ask your best friend to kill you knowing he would have your death on his conscience for eternity.

This one will certainly get a sequel. And I left some things there and there that should get the chance to be developped.

Big thank you for all those who read/reviewed/favorited and followed !