Chapter 61

The Gift

Fisk sat in a chair in the corner, hands on his lap, facing the door. To his side sat Detrikov as still and silent as ever. Things had gotten bad almost as soon as Lisa and Joshua had left to see Myers. The accident with David and his ex-wife… Fisk's thoughts were cut off by the sound of the door swinging open. He stood up and walked forward towards the familiar footsteps.

"Lisa, how-"

Fisk was slightly startled as Lisa pushed past him, almost knocking him to the floor. Her footsteps grew quieter as she walked down the far corridor. The distant slam of a door could be heard.

"That is not good." Detrikov commented, putting a hand on Fisk's shoulder.

"No." Fisk agreed, worry creasing his eyebrows. "Where are Joshua... and Miles, for that matter."

Detrikov shrugged and opened his mouth, but the sound of heavy thumps were heard over and over again.

Walking briskly down the corridor Lisa had gone down, Fisk stopped outside her door where the sounds were originating from. She was obviously hitting the wall as well as smashing anything that could be smashed.

"Lisa." Fisk called out through the door.

"Go away!" Lisa yelled, her voice thick with what Fisk recognised as tears.

"I see." Fisk nodded to himself. "Come out when you see fit. I will need to know what happened eventually."

XXX

Pressing a button on the vending machine, Nick grabbed the can and clicked it open. Looking around the corridor with a sigh, he couldn't help but think he'd been around hospitals far too often the last few weeks. Nick was only glad it wasn't him though. Hospitals weren't exactly his favourite places to be. Although not many people liked hospitals.

Leaning to the side of the machine, Nick crossed one arm over his chest. Over the last few days he couldn't help but shake the feeling that he was somewhat of a fifth wheel. Since Lisa had come onto the scene, he was kind of brushed past. If someone needed help, they'd talk to her. Nick wasn't jealous, not by a long shot, but he was a police officer. It was his nature to help people. Being unable to help people so close to death…

"Something on your mind?"

Nick turned to Lukas to respond. "A lot of things." He admitted.

"Hm." Lukas nodded. "Lots of things to think about these days, aren't there? Will we last the year… what of our families, our friends… A damn lot of things to get through for one human being." Lukas motioned towards the drink with a questioning glance. Nick handed the can over, allowing Lukas a sip. "But we still go for that very reason, don't we? Friends and family. While I don't really have any family, I have Dominika. I'll fight for her."

"It seems like you also have things on your mind."

Lukas regarded Nick with a soft smile.

"I guess. But it's not often humans are given the chance we're given."

"To die?" Nick replied simply, raising an eyebrow.

"To survive." Lukas corrected. "Usually we accept death as an inevitability. It'll happen, somehow. Whether it be today, tomorrow or ten years in the future we'll die. Now we're given the chance to change that. We don't have to die today or any day in the near future. Death offers us a solution that we could only dream of before all this."

"But we'll still die." Nick grunted.

"Yes, but of old age. We'll die after living a full and happy life."

Nick shook his head and stood up off the wall. "Look, in theory it sounds like a good thing. But in actuality, living for the maximum? It isn't right and it sure as hell isn't natural." Nick sighed. "To be given the power to live for that long a time shouldn't be given to singular humans."

"What do you mean?"

"How are we more important than anyone else out there?" Nick questioned, trying to keep his voice controlled. "I don't mean to be rude, but look at you. What makes you better than somebody giving the homeless food? What makes us better? No one is better than another human. We shouldn't be given this as a gift. We don't deserve it."

"It's pure chance." Lukas opposed Nick's argument. "Sure, we're not better than some others but we were given the chance, they weren't."

"Death should not be about certain people getting given the chance to live for a longer time." Nick argued. "Death should be fair to everyone, something no-one can chance. An honourable nun could die just as a deceitful murderer could as well. It's what gives humans the will and way to survive. By taking away the possibility of death, then all survival aspects would go out of the window. The possibility of death is the only thing that keeps us alive. In the most basic things, we are animals. Animals strive on surviving by constantly being threatened. When we aren't threatened, there is no point in living." Nick shook his head again. "Besides, if we were able to survive until old age, how could we live with watching our loved ones die in accidents or something like that?" Nick motioned to Lukas. "What if Dominika died while you were assured of your survival? I am certain we would feel guilty. Guilty because we knew we couldn't die when they could." Nick started to walk away. "I already have that feeling with Wayne. I don't need it any more. I need to go check on him, see you."

Leaving Lukas in his stead, Nick walked towards a private hospital room paid for by Fisk, hands in his pockets. The conversation with Lukas had only made him much more miserable. The next hour would only go even worse. Almost groaning out loud, Nick composed himself in front of the door. He was a policeman. He had announced things like this many times before, hat on lap, composed face. Be a policeman, Nick. No matter how they react, remain sorry for what has happened and remain calm. No matter how they react, allow them to. You will be their outlet.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

David was already propped up, staring at the door and looking confused. He had bandages wrapped around his chest and a plaster just above his eyebrow.

"I was fully expecting to be dead." David commented as Nick made his way into the room. "It's… a weird feeling, being so certain that you were to die but then waking up later." David smiled and stroked his goatee. "I'll have to tell Lucy about it later… speaking of which, I wonder where she is." David noticed a small flinch in Nick's composure and immediately narrowed his eyes, catching on. "What's wrong, Nick?"

Be a policeman, Nick…

"I-I'm sorry to have to inform you that…" Nick paused slightly, which was the wrong move. David stiffened, eyes digging deep into Nick. "That Lucy passed away in the accident." Nick finished as calmly as could, forcing himself to keep eye contact with David.

It pained Nick to see the emotions running through David's eyes. First the few seconds it took to register what he had just said, then the shock. Then anger.

David swung his legs off the bed and stood up, chest heaving. "You…" David licked his lips which had suddenly gone dry. "What did you say?"

"Lucy sustained serious head injuries, David." Nick stood up, hands together at his waist. "There was nothing anybody could have done."

"Bullshit!" David growled, eyes bulging. "I jumped in front of the damn car, I protected her with my own damn body! This is some kind of sick joke you're playing-"

"I am sorry but it is not a joke." Nick said firmly, fixing a look onto David which completely threw any hope of a joke out of the window.

David looked to the ground for a few seconds before looking back at Nick with fury so intense Nick was certain he was going to have to defend himself. However David seemed to deflate, shoulders slumping, hands unclenching. He sat down on the bed, head lowering even further. "Ho did she… Why…?"

"I know this won't be easy to hear but the weight on top her caused her head to the ground harder than would be expected."

"Weight… you mean me?"

"It was an accident, David." Nick assured. "You did what you could and what anyone else what have done."

David slid a hand on his face. "It was… my fault? She's dead because of me… First it's…. it's Dorothy… now after I thought I finally managed to do something right in my life…" David grit his teeth. "Now Lucy is…? Now she's…"

A knock on the door sounded like gunshots, causing both Nick and David to jerk into alertness.

"I don't want to see anyone. Send them away." David hissed from under his hand.

Nodding, Nick stood up and moved up to the door. He opened the door, already speaking. "I'm sorry but David isn't… available to…" Nick blinked, unable to comprehend the person standing in front of him. A slim hand lightly pushed Nick to the side. He was too shocked to respond and allowed himself to go against the wall.

Still looking down, David growled. "I don't want to see anyone right now. Come find me later."

"David…"

"I told you now is not the time, damnit!" David snarled. "Get out."

"David."

"For God's sake!" David stood up, enraged. "I am in goddamn… mourning…" David found all speech lost. His mouth opened and closed again. Running a hand over his eyes, David shook his head. "This… no… This isn't real…"

"I realize this requires conversation, David. It is probably best we talk now."

David spun in a full circle, fully expecting the person to be gone the moment he looked again. Instead he took in the wavy dark-brown hair that fell down to her chest. Those friendly ice blue eyes… faded from the loss of sight…

"D-Dorothy?"

"It is really me, David." Dorothy said quietly. "There is… a lot to explain. I, myself, am having a hard time comprehending it all in these short few hours."

XXX

"I hope this puts your head in the game. This is the best gift anybody can give. Life itself." Joshua looked on as Dorothy entered the room from the end of the corridor. "You better appreciate it David. The survivors are gonna need you. Mother and I… we can't be depended on now. The others need a strong, familiar leader." Joshua turned around, arms crossed, fresh tears sliding down his cheeks. "The gift of a boy sentenced to death. Miles obviously saw something in you. Hell, we both did. I'd love to say goodbye, but you and Dorothy have a lot of catching up to do. Maybe I'll see you again… maybe I'll see you all again… but it's unlikely."

A/N: Thanks to Gabe's-Girl-Forever, Bookreader2010 and DARKWOLF180 for the reviews.

I told you Dorothy would be important, and boy, is she ever. This is something I've been planning ever since I first got Joshua's character and I am really happy with how it turned out. You can expect the explanation next chapter from Dorothy's own mouth.

Also, the next chapter featuring Joshua as a boy is out on 'The Chosen Five', go check it out if you haven't already.

Thanks, and things are sure heating up.

'Till next time!