Death. 

            Shane had been rocked by Dana’s death, more then she’d ever let on.  Death was so final, and Shane didn’t think that her love for Sam was finished, it had really just begun.  Getting up off the bed, her sock clad feet silent on the hard wood floors that Sam had so adored, telling Shane once that it was like heaven, walking bare footed on the gleaming floors made of wood.  Shane stopped at the door, removing the socks and letting them fall to the floor, a single tear traveled down her face.  Ambling over to the bedroom door, Shane watched Shay sleeping, cuddling in one of Sam’s shirts, breaking Shane’s heart because she knew that the young man had adored Sam. 

            “I swear Sam, I’m going to do right by him,” whispered Shane her voice hitching at the words, meaning every single one that she spoke.  “No matter what happens, I’m going to be as good a mom to him as you were to Jesse, I promise.”

            Shane was startled by a soft knock at the front door, the door bell didn’t ring, and Shane wiped the tears away from her face, not knowing who it could have been, it was late.  Walking down the stairs, her hands shaking with some sort of hope, it lit her up inside as she pulled the door open revealing Brian Kinney.  “Brian.”

            He didn’t say anything, his eyes were rimmed red, his whole being seemed to have lost something, Brian’s lip quivered and he stepped into the house, doing something Brian rarely did, he hugged Shane.  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, needing her as much as Shane needed Brian.

            That was when Shane lost it, shaking, her whole body vibrated and she broke down, crying hard in Brian’s arms, “Oh god, she’s gone, man.”

            Brian nodded, “I know.”  Shane collapsing in his arms, her knees giving way.  Brian gently pulled her down to the floor, holding Shane close as she cried until she couldn’t cry any more.

***** 

            The sun was beginning to turn the world golden again, but Jo didn’t think she’d ever feel the light in herself again.  Jo, who’d always come through, who’d always seemed to be able to save the world, had finally failed.