”Jane.” Tag whispered softly as he crouched at her side. She didn’t move nor did she acknowledge his presence, even as he picked up the gun from where it had fallen and removed the magazine. Tag felt his heart break just a little bit more as he watched Jane. Her eyes shone in the moonlight, puffy and red and staring blindly out across the ocean.

Wrapping the sweater around her shoulders he squeezed gently before turning to leave.

”Tag?” Jane’s voice was hoarse, gritty and barely audible.

The young man paused, glancing over his shoulder.

”She’s really gone.” Fresh tears shook Jane’s frame and Tag crouched down at her side. He stole a glance at Maura who appeared for all the world to be sleeping. He reached out slowly so as not to startled the brunette, his hand brushing over her forearm lightly.

”She was a wonderful lady.” He said softly, squeezing her arm.

Jane looked at him, almost surprised to see him there. ”She was too good for me. She admitted, ”I should have been better for her.” Her gaze returned to the doctors face. ”Then you’d still be here.”

Tag couldn’t speak, his throat constricting painfully around unshed tears.

”Are you coming back?” He asked eventually, knowing full well what the answer would be.

Jane shook her head. ”I need one more night with her.” she ran her fingers over warm freckles. ”I need to…” her voice cracked, she knew it was over, she was now alone, completely and totally alone and yet, she couldn’t say what she meant. To vocalise her need to say goodbye was to make it real.

Tag nodded. ”Sweetest of dreams.” he whispered, transferring a kiss from his fingers to Maura’s forehead.

-/-

The next day…

Steve had heard the the screams, sobs of a shattered heart echoing around the forest, filling paradise with sorrow. He’d collected his things and headed north, towards the sounds. When he had fallen and cut himself in the darkness, he had given up, deciding to wait until first light.

Setting out at the crack of dawn, Steve had been less than a couple of miles into his trek when he came across a small clearing. Vegetation was flattened and evidence of a camp fire littered the space. As he searched for clues as to who had camped here, a loud crunch caused him to turn, aiming the rifle in the direction of the sound.