Raylan smirked at Venn as the last of the steam disappeared. Venn slumped against the ironglass, panting. He glared at Raylan.

Raylan ignored the glare. "You see, I've been working on this formula for some time now. I won't go into detail of what's in it, but every ghost I've tested so far has broken their source."

Venn looked less than thrilled.

"This formula," Raylan went on. "Is supposed to control the ectoplasmic memory of a ghost. Theoretically, this would make them come back to life as their body was before most of the wounds that killed them."

Dread built in Venn's chest. The burning of the steam had been bad enough. Coming back to life was bound to be even worse. He didn't bother saying anything, Raylan wouldn't be able to hear.

A dull hiss sounded next to his head. His ironglass prison started to smell of lavender and something else. He tried to not breathe for as long as he could.

When he was finally forced to take a breath, by his brain insisting it was necessary, a dull pain immediately started in his chest. A light headed feeling grew as the pain in his chest built and spread.

Raylan stood back with a notebook, watching intently as Venn collapsed.

Venn could feel himself becoming more solid. He shuddered from the pain. He could tell it hadn't worked the way Raylan had wanted because the rapier wound was starting to bleed again.

Blood dripped from his chest and a bit fell from his mouth as he let out a coughing gasp. He looked up at Raylan with murder in his eyes. "When I get out of this... I'm going to kill you..." he growled.

Raylan blinked in surprise, then grinned. "It worked!"

Venn shuddered again and his form flickered. "Not really..." He couldn't breathe at all now, the ghost touch on his neck had completely swollen his throat shut.

Raylan watched as Venn died again, returning to his original insubstantial form. "Mmh... needs some tweaking."

Three years later

Snow fell thickly outside. You could hardly see the opposite side of the street. The wind blew it at more of an angle as it came down.

Zip drummed his fingers on the table, inspecting the wood grain. His conversation with Reed had dropped into silence and the heavy mood had settled over them again. The radio played music softly. It was just barely four o'clock.

A crackle of static made Zip jump and Reed look up. A voice came over the radio and Reed turned it up.

"Attention all agents. We have a very serious case."

Zip and Reed stared at the radio intently. They were all ears.

"There is a very powerful ghost in front of the Big Ben clocktower. Several people have been ghost touched already. The ghost has been described as a tall young man with dark hair, black eyes, and sharp teeth. Cause of death seems to be ghost touch and being stabbed through the heart. Likely a former agent."

Reed and Zip didn't need to say anything. They both leaped into motion, grabbing rapiers, boots, and coats. Zip checked his pocket for adrenaline shots. The ghost had to be Venn.

They didn't grab any flares or salt bombs before running out the door and sprinting down the street.

They got to Big Ben in only a couple of minutes and saw that they weren't the first ones there. A dozen agents from various agencies were setting a large chain circle. In the middle of the huge circle, stood Venn and Raylan. Just inside the circle, the snow didn't fall. Wind whipped around, throwing the snow out at the people gathering on the street to watch.

The two circled each other. Raylan was clearly trying to play himself as the hero in this circumstance. He would dart in with his rapier trying to get Venn to drop his source. Each time, Venn flitted back out of range only to dart back in in an attempt to touch Raylan somewhere crippling.

"Venn!" Reed called, jumping over the chain with Zip right behind him.

Venn swept away from Raylan toward Reed. Reed took half a step back when he realized that Venn didn't recognize him. "Venn it's me! Reed!"

As Venn drew closer, the wind grew stronger. It was bitingly cold. Reed's ponytail was pulled to the side and his coat flapped against his legs.

Venn stopped about ten feet away. Confusion flickered in his eyes for a second, then recognition. His shoulders relaxed and Reed could see the switch from evil ghost to Venn. The crowd of reporters and young agents didn't. Several people shouted for Reed and Zip to draw their rapiers.

Raylan threw something that exploded in a cloud of purplish smoke at Venn's feet. Almost instantly, he fell to his knees, coughing. His hands went to the ghost touch at his neck. The wind died.

People gasped and pointed, adults shouted in surprise, and the agents watched as a ghost became substantial.

Venn shuddered. Zip and Reed ran over to him into the cloud of purple smoke. It smelled strongly of lavender and chemicals. Without hesitating, Zip pulled an adrenaline shot from his pocket. "Hold still," he ordered. He quickly injected the shot at the base of Venn's neck.

Reed turned to Raylan, who was watching with barely contained rage. Reed started walking toward him, stopping a few feet away. The cousins stood there glaring at each other.

After a few seconds, Reed was the first to speak. "I don't know what you did to him, but you better not come anywhere near him again," he managed to keep his voice level, but his eyes burned with anger. "If I were Venn, you'd be dead in an instant."

Raylan gave no response. The two glared at each other before Reed turned and started back toward Zip and Venn.

Venn was on his feet, shivering slightly. There was a relieved smile on his face. It vanished a second later as his eyes went wide. He started running toward Reed.

"REED DUCK!" Zip shouted.

Reed turned his gaze to Zip, not fully processing the warning. Four shots rang out in the air. Pain burst to life in four places on Reed's back.

Reed staggered forward a couple steps, looking at Venn in pained confusion. He fell forward as Venn reached him, his right leg giving out completely.

Raylan turned and ran. Zip hesitated for only a moment before sprinting after him. The two disappeared into the snow.

"Reed!" Venn cried. He caught Reed and gently lowered him to the ground. He sat in the snow, pulling Reed close to him.

Reed huddled against Venn. He forced his breathing to stay steady. He could fight this. He could survive. He had to survive. He felt one of Venn's hands pressing against one of the wounds in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding.

Venn glanced around with wild eyes. The circle of people was starting to press closer to them. He bared his sharp teeth at them and growled. "Stay away!"

The people stopped, not daring to get any closer to the boy who used to be a ghost. Reed shuddered, whether from cold or pain or some combination of the two, Venn couldn't tell.

Venn bowed his head, tears starting to fall from his eyes. "Please Reed... don't die on me," he whispered. "Please..."

Reed rested his head against Venn's chest. Fighting the darkness was growing harder by the moment. His breathing was starting to catch occasionally and it was clear each one was a struggle. "It'll be alright," Reed murmured. "You'll be alright." He reached over himself, forcing his arm to move. It took him several tries to find one of Venn's hands. He squeezed it weakly.

Venn pulled Reed closer, not noticing Reed's hand. He could sense that time was running short. It had been almost eight minutes already. How he knew the timing, he wasnt sure. "Don't leave me..."

Pressed to Venn as he was, Reed could feel his best friend shivering violently from the cold. He wished he could do something to keep Venn warm or ease his pain.

Venn turned his face to the sky, glaring up through the snow. "WHY ME?!" he wailed. His voice was shaky from shivering and full of helplessness and grief. He hunched over Reed again, tears freezing to his face.

Reed closed his eyes, struggling harder to fight against the death. He dimly realized his face was wet and cold. He hadn't realized he'd been crying a bit as well. "Venn... it's... alright..." his voice was barely more than breath leaving his mouth now. "Live..."

"No... Reed, please!" Venn closed his eyes. His voice grew softer as he added. "I can't..."

Reed wanted desperately to respond, but couldn't spare the strength. Everything sounded so far away. He could hear an ambulance siren wailing, but knew he wouldn't survive long enough.

Reed slumped limply against Venn. His breaths grew slower and slower. It was impossible to tell exactly when they stopped completely, but there came a point when it became clear he was dead.

Venn didn't let go of Reed's body. He shut out the world around him, ignoring the people who hesitantly moved closer. Someone put a thin blanket over the shuddering Venn's shoulders.

By the time the paramedics arrived, Venn was almost unconscious. He was shivering weakly and ice covered his face. His legs were mostly buried in snow. The people had done their best to wrap him in blankets, but they didnt seem to help.

Reed's body was removed and Venn was loaded into the ambulance. He looked small and frail curled up in front of the heater. He stared at nothing, tears still falling from his eyes.

A nurse led Venn out into the waiting room. He had a blanket around his shoulders and had been given a new sweatshirt and pants that weren't covered in blood. He had a hollow look on his face and walked hunched over rather than standing tall like usual.

Andrea was waiting for him there. She took in Venn's posture and expression with confused eyes. He was dead wasnt he?

The nurse stopped before Andrea. "He's suffered from extreme shock and some mild hypothermia. I don't know how he bounced back from the cold so quickly. His body temperature is lower than normal and his heartbeat is concerning with how slow it is, but he should live."

Venn's eyes flicked up to Andrea's face, then away again. He looked like he was in the last place he wanted to be.

Andrea looked at the nurse. "What about Reed? Tall, bright red ponytail?"

The nurse paused. "I'm very sorry, miss. He was already dead when the paramedic team arrived."

Andrea forced herself to keep a strong expression. All she had to do, was bring Venn to Zip. That was it. She could handle it for that long. "Oh... thank you. C'mon Venn."

Venn followed Andrea out to her car silently. He made no sound the entire way back home.

Andrea pulled up outside the house and parked the car. "Off you go. I'll be back later."

Venn hesitated, glancing at her. "Thanks," he said quietly. He waited a moment for a response. He got out when he didn't get one.

Venn slowly climbed the steps. He stood in front of the door for a minute before he went inside. Everything his eyes touched reminded him of Reed. He closed his eyes for a second and leaned back against the door.

"Venn?" Zip's soft voice asked.

Venn opened his eyes again and looked at Zip. "What?" His voice shook and he wanted to punch himself for sounding weak.

Zip held out a jade and steel fountain pen. "This used to be Reed's. He would have wanted you to have it."

Venn took the pen and squeezed it in his hand. He didn't say anything. He gave Zip a tiny sad smile before moving past him to go downstairs. Zip didn't follow.

Venn passed all of the desks in the basement. He squeezed behind a stack of crates in the corner and sat down. He pulled his knees up to his chest and turned the pen over in his fingers. It was cold in his hands.

Venn rested his forehead on his knees. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the tears. He didn't want to cry anymore... but he couldn't stop it. He curled tighter in his little ball.

He sat there in the corner until his mental clock was telling him it had been almost two hours, putting it near midnight. He lifted his head and looked blankly at the crates. Reed hadn't come back.

Venn couldn't bring himself to move. He was lost in memories of all the cases he and Reed had almost died on. After all of that, he was shot down by his own family.

A sudden chill filled the air. Venn frowned and looked around, but didn't move. He fixed his eyes on the place where he could see the spirit forming. It didn't take long for it to become recognizable. The red ponytail was what ultimately gave it away.

Reed didn't move, watching Venn. He stood a couple inches off the ground. "It'll be alright," he whispered.

Venn stood slowly. "Reed... I'm so sorry."

Reed stayed where he was. He was silent for several seconds before he repeated, "It'll be alright," in a thin whisper.

Venn's hopes fell. Reed was a type two. Incapable of full fledged conversation and likely very dangerous. The thought of potentially needing to destroy Reed's source made Venn will slightly.

Venn stepped closer to Reed, so they were only a couple feet apart. After watching Reed for a moment, Venn took one more step. The distance between them was gone as Venn wrapped his arms around Reed.

Reed tried to pull away, sudden panic flashing in his eyes. He twisted in Venn's grip, ignoring the pain in his bacr for the moment. "Venn let go! You're going to kill yourself!"

Venn didn't respond. After a couple seconds of useless struggling, Reed realized that Venn wasn't shuddering from cold. His breathing was shaky, yes, but he was crying so it was to be expected. He wasn't getting ghost touch.

Hesitantly, Reed returned the hug. "Hey... it's okay. I'm here now."

Venn pulled back just far enough to see Reed's face. His broken black eyes were searching. "You're not just some wishful hallucination are you?"

Reed smiled faintly. "Would some wishful hallucination give you a hug you can feel? I don't think so."

Venn gave a weak laugh. "That's true." He leaned his head against Reed's shoulder again. "I thought you were gone forever."

Reed pulled Venn closer. It felt odd being physically three years older than his best friend. He was tall enough to rest his chin on top of Venn's head. Part of that could have been the fact he was floating. "I would never leave you on your own. I can't imagine the things you would attempt to do if I wasnt there to stop you."

Venn made no response to that. The two stood there in silence for quite some time before Venn finally pulled away. He wiped his eyes. "We should go upstairs... I've been down here almost three hours now."

Reed drifted backward until he wasnt blocking the way out of Venn's hiding corner. "Yeah. We don't want him worrying about you any more than he needs to."

With Venn in front, the two headed upstairs. One walking quietly, the other floating silently.