500 words. This is part one of a two or three part arc. Not sure yet.

Jennifer had seen people die right before her eyes before. It was part of a doctor's curse, not being able to save everyone. Through the years she'd developed various methods of dealing with the heartbreaking grief and the nearly overwhelming sense of guilt. For almost twenty years, her most reliable emotional crutch had been the man who'd so nervously slipped the wedding ring on her finger those many years ago, and she so desperately needed him right now.

But he couldn't help her, not this time.

The tips of her fingers grazed along the wedding band he wore, the one she'd put on his finger during their wedding ceremony, and the tears threatened to come again. She willed them back, and this time they obeyed.

"Hey."

Jennifer looked up to the source of the weak voice and she smiled when she found his blue eyes watching her.

"You're supposed to be resting," she gently admonished him. The doctor within her knew rest was what he needed yet the wife, knowing there wasn't much time left, wanted nothing more than to spend as much time as she could with him.

"I'll get lots of rest soon," he replied with a half grin, but all trace of it faded when he saw her smile disappear and a tear skip from her right eye. "Sorry."

Jennifer sniffed and tried to muster up what courage she had left. "It's okay, Rodney." She slipped her fingers around his and nearly sobbed when his weak fingers could only barely squeeze hers.

"We've had a good life, right?" he asked as he closed his eyes.

She didn't trust herself to speak so she smiled and nodded. It wasn't for another couple of seconds that she noticed he didn't see her so she said, "Yes."

She internally winced at how her voice had sounded more like a sob than actual speech. Even more so when his eyes slowly opened and he looked at her once again, his lips drawn down in to a melancholy frown.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, and Jennifer's heart shattered.

"Stop, Rodney," she said firmly as she leaned in towards him. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"You know I love you, right?" he asked.

Jennifer kept her left hand clasped with his and moved her right hand up to caress his cheek. "Of course I do, Rodney."

"Because I know I never told you enough," he said but Jennifer stopped him from going on by placing her fingers on his lips.

"You told me enough," she said, her voice steady and gentle. "And you definitely showed me enough."

For a second there was a smug grin on his lips, an all too brief glimpse of the strength and lovable arrogance that had been a big part of reason she'd fell in love with him.

"I'm tired," he whispered as his eyes fluttered shut.

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his forehead. "You rest. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Okay."

A/N: "Good Life" was written by OneRepublic members Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, and Eddie Fisher along with Noel Zancanella and released by OneRepublic on their 2009 album Waking Up.