"Don’t you dare," I whisper, my throat tight, my vision blurring as I press down where I think the wound is. "Don’t you dare leave me right now."

My hands are shaking again and my breathing is uneven...everything feels like it’s slipping but I hold on to him and to this moment, because I’m not losing him. Not like this.

I grab his hand again tightly.....Too tight, probably, liqk if I loosen my grip even a little, he might slip away from me.

His skin is warm, but there’s something off about it. Not the steady warmth I’m used to. It feels... fragile, likw it’s at the edges.

And then, somehow, he smiles faintly

"Little spitfire..." His voice is rough and strained, almost gone. "You’re... crushing my hand."

A broken laugh catches in my throat, turning into something ugly and wet as tears spill faster down my face.

Even now, even like this.

"I swear to God, Zane," I choke out, my voice shaking, "if you weren’t bleeding out on the floor right now, I would smack you."

My thumb brushes over his knuckles, softer this time, like I’m trying to undo the pressure I didn’t realize I was putting there.

I shut him up when it looks like he wants to talk again.

"Shhh... it’s okay," I whisper quickly, even though nothing about this is okay. "I’m sorry. Just... don’t talk, okay? Save your strength. Please."

The word comes out broke as My other hand presses harder against his wound, trying to slow the bleeding, trying to do something, anything but there’s so much blood, too muc of it..so much that it stains my hands, my clothes, the floor beneath him, I can feel it soaking through, warm and terrifying. More tears slid down my cheeks.

His fingers twitch slightly in mine and his lips part again, like he’s trying to say something.

"Zane?" I lean closer instantly. "What? What is it?"

But nothing comes out, just the faintest movement....A breath that sounds too shallow and weak

My heart drops straight into my stomach.

N No, no, no....he’s loosing blood and his life is fading away.

"Stay with me," I whisper urgently, my forehead almost touching his. "Don’t do this. Not now. Not like this please Zane."

His eyes flutter and that scares me more than anything. I look up quickly, panic taking over completely now.... And I see Lucas, his coming toward us fast, his face set, focused, already in control of the situation and behind him, paramedics rush in with a stretcher, moving with practiced urgency.

"Here," one of them says, already kneeling beside Zane. "We’ve got him."

I don’t move, I can’t. My hand is still locked in his.

"He’s losing blood," I say quickly, my voice trembling but desperate to be useful. "It’s bad. It’s really bad....i tried pressing on the wound but...but."

"We’ve got him," the paramedic repeats, calmer this time, already working. They move fast and efficiently. Cutting fabric, checking vitals, pulling an oxygen mask over his face and pressing gauze where my hands were, I don’t even realize I’ve shifted until they’re lifting him onto the stretcher, away from the floor...Away from me.

"No..." I move with them instantly, still holding his hand. "I’m here. I’m here."

His fingers weave through mine but more weakly now and I hate it, I hate how weak it feels.

I glance back for half a second at Margaret...I need to make sure she’s been attended to too and bless my brother he made sure she is.

She’s on the other side, surrounded by people, being worked on just as urgently.

Alive....She’s alive, that’s all I need to see.

I turn back immediately and follow them out, through the house, the chaos and right into the night air that feels too cold, against my damp skin.

They move him into the ambulance quickly, and I climb in right after them.

"Ma’am, you can’t...."

"I’m his wife," I snap, my voice breaking but firm. "I’m not letting you take him anywhere without me."

There’s no time to argue so they let me stay, the doors slamming shut.

And suddenly it’s just the inside of the ambulance with bright lights. I sit close, gripping his bloodied hand again.

It’s much colder now and terrifies me as tears fall faster, blurring everything.

"Zane..." My voice cracks completely as I lean down, pressing my forehead gently against his. I close my eyes, like if I shut everything else out, he’ll still be here when I open them.

"I love you," I whisper, the words trembling out of me like they’ve been waiting too long. "Please... don’t leave me. Please."

My fingers tighten around his again, like I can hold him here, lik I can make him stay.

"I love you...."

Zane’s POV.

Pain...That’s the first thing I register.

This is the second time....."I try to think, but even that feels like too much effort. "...second time I’ve been shot in just a few months."

A rough, almost bitter thought pushes through the fog and just like the other times, it hurts like a motherfucker.

My body feels wron, too heavy and too light at the same time, like I’m sinking and floating all at once.

That’s how I know it’s bad....really bad. Everything feels muffled like I’m under water...

i try to hold on, force myself to stay awake, to stay present but i slip...and then darkness.

...

When I come back, it’s not fully, it’s like I’m peeking through a crack, just enough to see.

And the first thing I see is her.

Elaine.....she’s right in front of me. Her face is blurry at first, like my vision needs time to catch up, but I’d know her anywhere, even like this...her eyes are wide, shining with tears that won’t stop falling. Her lips are moving, fast, like she’s saying something over and over again but I can’t hear it properly.

But I can see it.....She’s scared.

Even now...She looks unreal and Ethereal.

Yeah...That’s the word.

Even with tears streaking down her face, even with blood on her hands, she’s still easily the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen to walk this earth.