Chapter 20: 3x17, Countdown
I just want you to know how much I l…
Her voice trails off into silence, her hand slipping away from his face, away from him, and everything stops. Everything is failing. The air gets unbearably cold. His heart stops, a block of ice in his chest, choking him. No. Kate, no. Please.
"Kate, stay with me – Kate – " The words crack like ice from his lips. He reaches for her face, traces her jaw. But his hands are so cold. They're so cold he can barely feel them. And if he can't feel them, how can she?
She doesn't answer. Her eyelids don't flutter. He's choking. He's terrified. He needs her back. He needs to save her.
He turns her face towards his with fumbling, icy hands and kisses her before he can think too much. Maybe his mouth is warm. Maybe it can warm the air, wake up his sleeping beauty, spread his strength to her. His life.
He tries. Her lips are cool under his. She's too cold. He kisses her desperately. Come on, Kate. Wake up. Yell at me. Slap me. Kiss me. Please wake up. He remembers kissing her, remembers it being warm and frantic and scared and gorgeous. But now it's cold and dry and her lips are chapped and Kate, this isn't right, this can't be it –
She doesn't move, doesn't respond. Her forehead settles limply against his cheek. Her skin is cold.
Icy prickles are making his eyes go blurry. He blinks, or tries to, but the tears are freezing his lashes together. He fights to keep his eyes open. She needs him to stay. She needs him to be strong.
He can't lose her.
He kisses her one last time, but he can't feel her mouth. She's there but he can't feel her.
There's nothing left.
It's over.
His mouth won't move anymore. So he says it silently.
I love you.
I'm sorry.
At least you're not alone.