In the pelting rain Doc flew quickly. His lab coat was soaked clear, but he continued to fly home. He smiled at the small eco house he built but flew over it and to Rens.

Once he had landed and opened the door quickly, he was led into a dark living room.

The breath in his lungs quivered as he swallowed. A light caught his attention and he shouted "Ren!" He heard the blast and then a choking sound coming from the restroom.

He bolted to the restroom as a skeleton shot at him. He froze as he saw blood and rose petals lining the floor.

Every movement Ren made him contort in a way he couldn't control. His color changed rapidly from tan to red to blue and back.

"I'm sorry," Ren said as he contorted and suddenly a rose stuck in his throat.

Doc lunged at him, blood splattered on his coat and jeans. He then reached back into Ren's throat and tried to pull.

Ren started crying and Doc couldn't make it move. He gave up and put his head to Rens.

"I will always love you," Doc said.

Ren nodded and put his head on Doc's thigh.

...

Doc frowned and held his head in his hands.

Ren contorted rapidly again and faded to a red as he dissolved.

Doc screamed and sobbed as he saw the remnants disappear.

He looked in the chat and saw a small message through his teary red eye.

...

(Renthedog died permanently due to Hanahaki disease.)

He could see the other hermits panic but, he just fell back into sobbing. He clutched his heart as he walked out into the rain.

The blood was still in his hands.

He let himself fall into X's arms and X just held him as he sobbed. 

The hermits were all silent except for a few hermits that started to cry as well. He could hear Iskall try and comfort Stress as they were sobbing.

...

Doc let go of X and held Iskall in his lap as the three of them sobbed together.

A few other hermits crowded them; Doc couldn't speak to them, but they seemed to understand and hugged him instead.

"Thank you all but I've got to go home," Doc said bleary-eyed as he tried to push them off his lap after a few minutes.

"If you go, I go," Iskall responded.

Doc nodded and held his hand as they walked away. Doc could see Grian sniffling into Mumbo's suit as Mumbo tried to hold him.

Doc coughed trying to laugh at Mumbo but another wave of tears threatened him.

Iskall just walked faster and, they walked to Doc's Eco house in the pelting rain together.

"I figured we could spend the night here," Iskall muttered.
...

Doc grimaced, "Do you have a bed?"

"No but we can share it just tonight," Iskall said as they blushed.

Doc nodded and took off his coat and jeans and took a neatly folded set of clothes and gave Iskall a pair of pants.

'Just one night.' he reminded himself.

Iskall nodded and stepped behind the divider and quickly changed before getting into bed. By the time Doc got into bed, Iskall was fast asleep.

Doc smiled and gently cuddled his back. Iskall pushed back into him and he smiled.

"Thanks," Doc muttered holding them closer.

Iskall smiled. "Thank you."

Doc pushed his head closer to his ear and drifted off with Iskall drifting off in his arms.

...

Doc woke up in the middle of the night and started coughing he then spit out what looked to be a flower petal.

He urgently woke Iskall up and showed it to him.

...

Iskall held his hand and pulled him down. "Who?"

"What do you mean?" Doc asked fearfully.

"Who do you love?" Iskall asked.

"Ren. I've been in love with him for three seasons and I never got the guts until..." Doc blinked back at his tears. "Until he was dying in my arms."

Iskall hugged him gently. "Get over him. Please."

Doc frowned "I feel like I deserve it."

Iskall took a shaky breath. "You don't."

Doc nodded and slipped down further into bed with Iskall; the rain now gently pattered on the roof.

...

'I love you, Ren. Please forgive me.'