Do you think I don't know what you're going through? Do you honestly think that I don't care? Ask yourself, boy. Go on. In your heart of hearts, you know that this has hurt me as much as it's hurt you, but for my sins, I can't allow it to interfere.

I understand the pain you're suffering now -- I've had partners, friends, LOVED ONES gunned down. I've held the dying to my breast -- pray God that HE survives...

We were both to blame. He was careless, lazy, whatever, but it was my fault, my mistake that got him into this in the first place -- I take full responsibility for what happened: I should have foreseen it...Damn me, curse me, HATE me if you will, boy, but help me... There's too much at stake -- we can't afford the luxury of grief. If he dies...

It might have saved a lot of pain if I'd never teamed you, but there again...

I've known about you from the start. I knew it would take someone special to break through the walls around your heart, but I never intended that HE should steal into your soul...

I knew that you'd fallen in love, almost from the moment it happened, but I was slower at seeing the signs in him -- he's more subtle at disguising his deep emotions....

Yes, lad, I knew about you, but I left you two together... And now?

Your love lies bleeding, and all the moping in hospital corridors won't help -- we have to go out there and get the ones who did this... For his sake.

I need your help to make him live: yours is the only touch that he'll respond to, yours the only spirit to whom his will bend... I can't give him the things that you give -- warmth, and laughter, and soft words after loving... You have to help him live... Come on, laddie, don't fail me now. Doyle and I both need you to be strong...

-- THE END --