Angel Dust

A/N: This chapter came out a lot shorter than I expected it to, but sometimes I guess you don't need a lot of words to convey a point. It might be a shorty, but it's important. I think there are about five chapters left in this story, unless some other inspiration hits me out of nowhere - and I'll warn you now: They're big. If you've enjoyed the reveals to this point, been surprised by the twists that the story has taken, I promise you're not done being shocked! But we'll get to that later. For now - Enjoy!

Oh, and thank you so much for your reviews. They mean so much to me. You guys really are the greatest. I was about to do flips when this story reached 200 reviews, and now it looks like it might get 300. I might have to break out the real dance moves if that happens. :)

For the first time in nearly two years, Dave felt as though he could finally rest in some peace. Courtney was planning her wedding to Randy. And she was launching her campaign for a Senate seat. Everything was exactly as he had always known it should be.

Whistling as he walked down the long corridors, he couldn't help but feel there was only one thing left for him to do. Gloat.

He had won. Courtney was marrying Randy. She wasn't with John. She wasn't with Nitro. She was choosing his life, continuing down the path that they had started together. And Trish was going to hear about it.

He had been described, many times, as a sore loser. He wasn't exactly a gracious winner, either.

"Dave," Eddie's voice interrupted him as he rounded the corner toward Trish's room. "Where you headed, Homes?"

"Hey, man," Dave smiled and shook his friend's hand. "Have you seen Trish? I've got some big news for her."

Eddie eyed Dave curiously. "Big news?"

Barely able to contain his joy, a wider smile broke over Dave's lips. "Dude, Courtney's getting married."

The confusion was evident on Eddie's handsome features. "Married?"

"Yeah, man." He looked like a kid on Christmas morning as he clapped his hands together and let out another impromptu laugh. "Randy proposed. She accepted. They're getting married."

"Really?"

Rolling his eyes, Dave rested a hand in the pocket of his white pants. "No, motherfucker. I'm makin' all this shit up because I'm bored and there's just nothing better to do."

Eddie sighed and leaned against the wall. "Alright, funny man," he conceded. A part of him was truly glad to see his friend so happy. But the cost at which Dave had purchased his happiness was more than Eddie could condone. "So you got your way," he sighed.

"Look, I know you don't agree with my methods," Dave started, cutting his friend off before he could preach about the ethics of the situation. "But just come watch the wedding with me. You'll see that I was right," he invited.

A cloud seem to settle over Eddie's face, something foreboding. "Watch," he said softly. "Right."

Dave narrowed his eyes, the shift in his friend's demeanor evident. "What's that look for?" When Eddie looked at the ground, Dave took a step forward. "Eddie." His tone was low, warning that he didn't want any bull shit.

And Eddie wasn't one for slinging it. With pained eyes, he met his friend's gaze. "Trish is in conference with the Higher Power," he informed.

"So?"

"She's confessing everything," Eddie added gravely.

If the statement alone didn't sound bad enough, the look on Eddie's face told Dave that something was not right. "And that's not good?"

Eddie shrugged his broad shoulders and stared at the ceiling above him when he spoke. Meeting Dave's eye was far too intense. "Well, the Higher Power is unpredictable," he started. "Worst case?" Dave nodded. "You could lose your connection to the living forever. We all could."

"Lose my con. . ." Dave started, a furious anxiety building in his gut. "What the fuck does that mean?"

Clearing his throat, Eddie squared his shoulders. He, of all people, had known the risks involved with interfering in the lives of the living. But seeing his friend's determination, his desire to right the wrongs he had inflicted on his wife in life, had been too hard to pass up. He had given in to the temptation. And they all deserved the punishment that they would receive for their sins.

"It means you won't be able to watch Courtney, or anyone else you loved or knew when you were alive. Your platform will be taken, and your connection will be severed."

For an instant, Dave could have sworn his dead heart dropped in his chest. But he didn't have time to stand around and worry or cry. There was only one thing he could think to do. "When did she leave?"

"Twenty minutes ago," Eddie said, reaching a hand out to Dave's arm. "But Dave," he started.

Dave ripped free and gave his friend a stare that said he wasn't about to listen to reason. "Save it, Eddie," he warned, quickening his pace as he walked away. "I've gotta stop her."

He ran like a man on a mission. If Trish succeeded, he would lose everything. It didn't matter if Courtney was happy if he couldn't see it. It didn't matter if she lived happily ever after if he never got a chance to look at her beautiful smile again.

He was once told that this place, the Great Beyond, was neither heaven nor hell. But without his connection to Courtney, it was unadulterated torture. Endless days without seeing her, without knowing what she was doing, would kill him all over again.

As he neared the corridor of the Higher Power, he did not stop to think about what he was doing. Barging into that chamber surely had consequences, but Dave didn't care. If he could just prove his motivation, if he could make the Higher Power see that everything he had done had been out of love for his wife, surely he wouldn't be cut off completely.

He was about to burst through the door when it swung open and a sullen-looking Trish emerged, her head bent as she walked past him and in the direction of her room.

"Tell me you didn't fuck this all up," Dave shouted at her retreating form.

She turned slowly, lifting her head to meet his eyes with a sorrowful expression. "It's over, David."