A/N: Two chapters in less than 24 hours? This has never happened before! My muse kept poking me with a fork, so I had to write and post this chapter today.

Thank you all for the support again! XD

Warning: Emotional angst.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's apprentice...

26. Tears

The letter was short and to the point, giving him no time to prepare himself. He held the paper in trembling hands, eyes staring down at the words that were scrawled on the page.

We are sorry... condolences... honorable death... funeral...

The sentences blurred together as he griped the page tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. His breath came in small gasps and his knees buckled, sending him crashing to the hardwood floor of his cabin.

He wasn't even aware of the physical pain as his soul tore apart, his vision fading to black.

The next thing he was aware of was a hand on his shoulder, shaking him, pulling him roughly out of unconsciousness. He blinked a few times, head pounding. He looked up to see Halt kneeling next to him, a worried expression on his face as he spoke softly. "Gilan? Are you okay?"

The younger man shook his head, sending a spike of pain through his head, his eyes watering again as he saw the crumpled letter next to his head. He had thought it had been a dream for a moment, that none of it had been real.

"Halt.." His voice cracked with pain as tears spilled down his face, creating little rivers on his pale cheeks. "My... my father is dead."

"I know, son. I know," Halt said, reaching a hand out and clasping his former apprentice. "I came as soon as I got the letter."

And then Gilan was sobbing, his breathing erratic and his heart feeling as if it were breaking into a thousand pieces. He buried his face into Halt's shoulder, the older ranger wrapping his arms around the trembling man's shaking shoulders.

"It's okay..." Halt muttered softly into Gilan's hair. "Let it out."

The light spilling through the window slowly faded as the sun fell behind the trees, the cabin now bathed in cold darkness. Gilan had grown silent, his breath evening out as he fell into the comforting folds of sleep.

Halt picked up his former apprentice, carrying him down the hallway and to his room, laying him gently on the bed. He pulled up a chair to the bedside and sat down, resolving that he wouldn't leave Gilan until he was sure the man would be alright.

TEARS

He was kneeling in the grass, his hands running through the freshly turned earth in front of him. His eyes were fixed on the gravestone if front of him, and he smiled sadly as he made out the words carved on it.

David

Father, Friend, Hero

"Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names"

He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Halt standing next to him, his usual ranger cloak replaced by black mourning clothes.

"He was a good man and a good friend to me. I will miss him," Halt said, squeezing Gilan's shoulder before releasing it. The younger ranger nodded, his throat constricting as tears prickled his eyes.

"Me too," he said, brushing his hand along the cool marble headstone, feeling the hard, polished rock underneath his fingertips.

"You take as long as you need," Halt said, turning and giving Gilan privacy once more.

"Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names," Gilan read aloud softly. "I thought you might like that quote, father..." He cleared his throat, pausing for a few moments. "I will never forget all of the things that you did for Araluen... for me. I'm going to miss you..."

He slowly stood up from his kneeling position, brushing off his hands and making his way over to where Halt stood. The grizzled ranger smiled at him, leading him over to where the horses were waiting.

"It will be okay," Halt said and Gilan smiled at his former mentor.

"Yeah," he said as the rode away from his father's grave. Gilan glanced one last time at the headstone before turning and facing forward... because that was what he had to do now. Face forward and push on.

A/N: Hmm... that didn't turn out like I expected it to. I hope you liked it! XD

Many of you wanted to see Gilan crying so I spent a little bit chewing on the idea.

The quote that was on David's headstone is a popular proverb. I don't own it... I didn't make it up. I just saw it online. XD

Next up is 'Foreign'. What should I do for that one?

-Dawn