Major tissue warning. Possible trigger warning - See chapter title! Emotional chapter ahead!


Meg was slow to answer. "Ah, where was he? How long ago?"

Renee repeated what she had already told Meg, knowing she was shocked by the news. "The chief was getting ready for work and had a massive heart attack in his front yard. His neighbor saw him and called 911. We don't know his prognosis yet. We can't reach his kids to make the necessary decisions. We'll keep you updated on everything, Meg. If anything changes, we'll call."

"Call Dean. He's got Power of Attorney. Since things are so rocky in that family, the chief talked to Dean a year or two ago. I'll get someone to cover the rest of my shift." Letting go of the old-fashioned wall phone, Meg let the corded hand set hang against the wall as she held her head in her hands. The rhythmic beating of the plastic receiver brought her co-workers to her side. "He's like a father to me. I can't… How am I…? Dean's going to…" Tears coursed down her cheeks. Raising her already pink eyes to look at the people on the fringes of her inner-circle, she confessed "The man I call Chief is the man whom I respect most in this world. He's the man that I would want to walk me down the aisle should I ever marry again. He knows what Rat-Bastard put me through and won't let it happen again. I have my family back, the one that means something, anyway. Chief made sure that it was a safe place, that Rat-Bastard wasn't there. He's been suspended. And now Chief's had a heart-attack and I'm not with him. I'm here…" The phone was slammed onto the wall and Meg was hauled of the floor and into a group hug.

"Get to the hospital. Shift's over." someone said gruffly. "We've got ya."

"Get there safely."

"Let us know if you need anything."

Meg's partner held her the longest. "Trauma?" Meg nodded. "Know you won't want to call. Just text. And hon? You know you have family here, too. We love you. Hang in there." Meg nodded again, grabbed her gear (because it was ingrained in her brain) and headed for her truck. Glancing over her shoulder as she pulled out of the parking lot, she saw the apron of the fire house lined with everyone from the station. They were all standing at attention, honoring a man they didn't know. A fresh wave of tears flowed.


"Do you think Meg will make it?" Renee leaned against Seth's shoulder. His arms wrapped around her waist to support her but to give himself emotional security as well. Unable to articulate anything without his voice cracking, he simply nodded against her hair. Meg had to get there in time. There wasn't another option. She had to get to say goodbye. She had to be with Dean.

The friends observed their normally jovial comrade sitting at the chief's bedside. Bent in what looked to be a prayerful position, his elbows rested on his knees, his hands were folded, his forehead pressed against his fingers…his toes were on the floor but his heels were tapping against the chair legs restlessly. The only sounds in the room were the heart monitor beeping, the ventilator breathing for the chief, and Dean's heels keeping time with the ventilator. Does Dean realize that he's in sync with the chief's breathing? Is he doing that on purpose? Roman mused silently from the corner of the room. Jay's head shot up from his position in the doorway. He stepped to the side and held open the door. Most occupants in the room turned to look and see what caused this reaction, hoping… "Meg." A collective sigh was breathed but unheard by the men in the front of the room.

Meg didn't acknowledge her friends as she rushed to Dean's side. Sliding her hands along his shoulders, she leaned across his back to whisper "I'm here, Chief. I'm right here with you." Her tears dripped from her chin and mingled with the ones that already soaked Dean's chest. "You've been such a big part of our lives, an influence like no other. We love you and cannot imagine life without you. You've protected us, guided us, counseled us, corrected us, and fathered us when our own parents couldn't or wouldn't. You've not just been the Big Show, you've been the Only Show…" Meg's voice broke as she gripped the man's hand as hard as she could. Everyone in the room came closer and touched some part of him; a hand, a foot, his leg. "Rest easy, we have it now." Ducking her head against Dean's neck, Meg let out a sob. The sound of her sobbing was drown out by the wail of the machines.

The Chief was gone.