DEATH COULDN'T SEPARATE US.

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LOST IN FIRE (book three).
°•        CHAPTER EIGHTEEN        •°

"        I'M NOT MOVING FROM THIS SPOT
WITHOUT MY BROTHER.       "

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Harley slowly feels drained as the rover barrels through the desert. The ones who survived the blasting from their enemy has taken shelter at a clear spot far enough from the battlefield and the enemy. She had been trying to get over the shock, her fingers laced with Octavia's and her head resting on her brother's shoulder. Murphy had nudged her softly after a moment, instructing her to stay awake and that they were almost at the campsite. Harley had only groaned. Every bump of the rover hurt, plus they had a child behind the wheel so that didn't help much.

Much to Harley's relief, it eventually comes to a screeching halt, the lights beaming on fires and guards who immediately had their guns pointed. Harley sat up tiredly as Murphy kicked open the back rover doors. "Little help! We got wounded!" He called. He then leaned back in, seizing his sister who leaned into his hold. Murphy easily has one arm curling under Harley's bent legs and one behind her back, lifting her closely.

"Stand down! Stand down! They're with us!" Harper's voice carried through. A second later, Harley sees her and Monty rushing towards them.

Bellamy was out of the rover next, carrying Gaia in the same fashion. She had passed out long before they arrived, the only sign that she was still alive was her chest slowly rising and falling. "Monty, where's Jackson?" He questioned. "They've lost a lot of blood."

Harley faintly felt Murphy hike her up further when Monty went to aid Bellamy and Harper's hand presses over her own wound tightly. The cloth was nearly soaked in her blood now. "I got her," he reassured her.

"Wait," Harley mumbled thinly. She tries to lift her head, only for it to lean back on Murphy's shoulder, letting out soft pants against his neck. "Octavia... I can't leave her..." She breathed out to him, desperate despite the tiredness aching in her muscles.

"She's fine," Murphy assured her, allowing Harper to guide them all to what they guessed was the medical tent. "Goddammit, Harley - worry about yourself."

But Murphy didn't see what Harley did, hadn't lived through the gutwrenching fear and grief when Octavia fell to her knees in surrender and sacrifice. She was about to die to save the rest of them and be given redemption for her sins. Harley doesn't want to let her out of her sight, terrified of what'd happen if they were apart. Madi was here too, she thought. The Commander and Blodreina would finally be face to face and Harley didn't know what that could possibly lead to.

However, Murphy is firm on not letting Harley go or putting her down. She presses her lips together, widening her wetting eyes until he looks at her before she begged. "Please."

"Stop," Murphy muttered, breaking their gaze to focus back on the pathetically lit path so he doesn't cave. "If you won't take care of yourself first, El, then I will." Harley has to shut her eyes tightly before she cries. She is so, so tired, and not just from her injury. The world had taken everything that Harley Murphy was and then some more just because it could until she was an empty shell of who she once was. She buried her face in Murphy's neck, drawing in a deep breath, ignoring the pang shooting through one of her dangling legs.

"Over here," Monty directed them. He holds open a tent's flap so they can shuffle inside. There's a warm glow from the few torches stuck in the ground.

Harper led him to a cot as Jackson, who had been in the corner, went to work on Gaia the second she had hit an old mattress. "I need some bandages," she ordered Murphy. He carefully lowered Harley down who winced as her leg stretched outward. Harper was trying to be as gentle as possible, slicing a perfect line around Harley's denim pants with a knife and untying the knot Octavia had made with a cloth. Harper cursed under her breath at the sight. "Murphy, now."

Harley feels Murphy by her side once more, scrambling to shove dozens of bandages in Harper's hands. She pressed them down, her now blood-stained hands wrapped around her calf. Harley's head hit the flat pillow below her while Harper bent her leg in a position to elevate it and slow the bleeding down. "I don't even know how much blood she's already lost," Harper is whispering to herself. "I don't think..."

"Don't think what?!" Murphy demanded. If Harley wasn't in so much pain, she knows she'd feel his frantic distress.

"We don't have time for stitches." Harper lifted her head to give Murphy a grave stare. "Take her sword and heat the blade."

Oh no. Harley voiced her opinion, lifting her head and blinking a few times when she feels Murphy slide her sword from her sheath. "Son of a bitch," she gasped out. Her gaze follows him to the corner when he nudged past Bellamy, watching as he held the blade over a torches' flame. The steel soon turned to a bright orange glow. As soon as he returned and gave Harper the handle, she braced herself, arm flying out until her hand discovered Murphy's and clasped it tightly.

"Ready?" Harper checked. Harley doesn't meet her eyes but she nods to give her permission even though she's the furthest from prepared. The steaming blade becomes so close to Harley's skin that it burns seconds before it at last pressed against her.

And it's nothing like Harley's first burns when she endured the missiles launched at Tondc. The back of her head was thrown back and her jaw fell open into a loud scream that gargles as it breaks free. Her back arched and her aflame limb started struggling under the tight hold Harper had pressed on her. Harley swore she can smell her skin burning to a crisp when she felt it sizzling under the fiery blade.

She doesn't know if it works or if it shut the open slash sealed completely as Harley's body finally gives up. She surrendered to the extreme pain overtaking her, eyes falling shut and promptly passing out.

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The first thing that Harley is able to register is that her leg is still burning when she awakes. A small groan of pain escaped her lips. She pressed her eyelids together tightly, barely conscious, attempting to wrap her mind around everything. It clicked soon. The battle, nearly blowing to pieces, a slash in her calf, Octavia nearly dying, them being rescued... Octavia. Harley's eyes flew open and she made a move to sit up too fast, agony licking up her leg that died down slowly. She flattered her palms on the cot, forcing herself up.

"Easy."

It's probably the first time Harley recognized Octavia's voice as soft. Her head rested over, seeing that Octavia was sat next to her, her arms bent with her elbows pressed against her knees and her hands clasped together. A small, sad smile twitched onto her lips that Harley slowly returned. "Hey," she breathed out like just the mere sight of Octavia had taken her breath away.

"Murphy is out there with Emori," Octavia says as if she read her mind. She moved to start and rise. "I can get him for you - "

"Don't. Not yet." Harley shook her head, giving sitting up another try. With Octavia's hand on her shoulder, she's guided upward until her back brushed against the tent's thin wall so she can actually face her. "How's Madi? Everyone else?"

"Still putting everyone else first, I see," Octavia commented. "Madi's fine. The Commanders are guiding her well. So are the rest - Gaia will live, according to Jackson. Clarke is handling the prisoners." Good. Harley is grateful for that.

Oh, Harley suddenly realized. Octavia had a defeated expression hidden under the mask she could always see right through. Wonkru was following Madi now. Harley was going to ask why but instead decided to put those pieces together herself. Octavia had surrendered, handing over the leadership position to Madi so they could win. Harley's heart swelled with pride, proud of Octavia. None of this was over, not yet, but it was a massive step in the right direction.

Truthfully, she doesn't know what to say. Harley could tell Octavia repeatedly how much she loves her. The sky is blue, grass is green, the sun is bright, and Harley is in love with Octavia. She already knows. Even after everything they've both done wrong - how bad they screwed what they had up - it's still there, unspoken, waiting for the right moment. This doesn't feel it. They've lost the battle, but the war is just brewing. Harley nearly lost her in it. It almost killed her on the spot. Her heart had been restarted when she touched Octavia, being brought back when she feels she's alive.

She hates that what they want will have to wait. Harley wants to hear everything, Octavia could go on for hours about the bunker, and she'd listen, hanging on to every word. She can physically feel the need to know but right now, it'd be put behind them. They can only move forward. "Madi has a plan, then?" Harley guessed. She carefully brought her better leg over, letting it hang off the edge of the bed before the other followed with much more grunts and effort to do so.

The features on Octavia's face become crestfallen, morphing to disappointment and Harley hates how much it's her fault. She looked down at her fidgeting fingers to hide it. "She's working on it with Bellamy and Gaia now," she replied.

"Good." Harley took a quick glance at her leg. The denim was still cut, a bandage taped down over the spot it hurt the most. It was a clean white, no bloodstain in her sight. Cauterizing it must have worked which meant she wasn't useless and she wasn't going to appear that way. "Let them know I want to be apart of it."

"Harley, wait - " Octavia is too late, halting in her sentence when Harley is forcefully pushing herself to her feet. Octavia stood immediately, hands flying out to catch her when she staggered, lips parted in silent noises at the hot pain that rushed its way up her leg until she could feel it at the tips of her fingers.

"I'm fine," Harley insisted. She sounds too weak to convince her but there's no chance in hell she'll ever give up. She pushed Octavia's hands away, proving herself. Harley's leg still feels as if she had dipped it in boiling water but she takes one step anyway. Octavia is hovering over her, concerned, but Harley doesn't look her way. If she does, she'll give up. She straightened her back, broadening her shoulders, clenching her jaw, holding her head up high, and limped ahead. "I want my sword."

A second later, it's placed in her hand. Harley loves the weight of it, the feeling it gives her. That she's stronger than who she used to be. She sheathed it, letting it dangle near her knee that almost gave out with every step that makes it bend. Harley won't let it stop her. Nothing will. She isn't okay, is actually far from it, and knows she needs to rest. There's no telling how much her body is messed up already. But this was war now, she is a warrior, and she'll be damned before she is plucked from the battlefield to be sat out. Not like it was six years prior.

"... We can't wait much longer." Harley's head darted in the direction she heard Echo's voice from. She's standing with Miller, a grave look on her face. Scattered around the camp is lines of people, dressed in armor, prepared for directions. "McCreary has Raven and Shaw. One of them will break and fly that ship."

"Terrific," Harley interrupted. She pretended Echo wasn't now staring at her hobbling towards them. If anyone knew Harley wouldn't give up besides Octavia and Murphy, it was Echo. She trained her in space, a close bond starting from respect was built in space. "How do we stop it?" She asked.

"We'll find a way, or we'll make one," Echo responded, quoting the words Harley had said inside the ring when they saw the transport ship. The corners of Harley's mouth twitched into a sharp grin, one that Murphy would be proud of.

Octavia appeared by Harley's side, their shoulders brushing against one another. "You said Clarke was handling that," she remembered.

"She is," Echo confirmed. "But I'd rather not let missiles tell us she's failed."

"What's left of the first battalion is ready," Miller informed them. "The Commander's army is, too."

Footsteps came up from behind them. Bellamy and Indra join the group, Indra speaking. "We're all the Commander's army now." She shared a look with Octavia that makes Harley wonder what it could be of. Respect, maybe?

Bellamy approached Echo, his hand sliding into hers. She tilted her head. "So, where's the Commander?" He only gives her a shrug before casting a gaze to the tent he would later enter to sort through what Madi had planned with the Commander's guidance.

And when Bellamy came back out of the tent with a look of determination ready for war, so is she.

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"I don't see any missiles... Thank you, Clarke."

Harley fought the urge to roll her eyes at what her brother drawled on about. She carefully had her damaged leg stretched forward so she could twist her upper body and stare out the rover's window that were padded with bulletproof covers that shielded them all from the guns firing in sprays of bullets towards them. It caused the whole vehicle to bounce, Emori trying to avoid any bumps in the sand so they wouldn't crash. She needed a focus, needed a distraction due to how fast they were going. Harley didn't know if this would even work - barreling back into the gorge - drawing them out of their weapons so the army left were led by Madi, Octavia by her side.

They didn't say good-bye to each other because they didn't have to. Harley knew they'd meet again. Madi was wise with the Flame. This was going to work, no matter what it took and then they'd be on Eden and settle down, rest, and most of all, talk. Harley took a deep breath. She wasn't in any condition to fight. This was all she could do; sit and wonder. If anything, she was the one on a suicide mission, not Octavia.

"Someone explain to me why I'm not shooting this gatling gun," Murphy demanded.

"This is Madi's plan," Bellamy reminded him from across Harley. "We have to draw out the cannons."

"By giving them a big target?" Murphy questioned him with a scoff. "Yeah, that's a great plan."

Because Echo had quoted Harley beforehand, she pulled away from the window and sent the back of her brother's head a smile. "Ye of little faith," she mocked, reusing Monty's favorite phrase. She smiled genuinely, her fingers reaching up to tug the black knitted hat down further in adjustment. "It wouldn't kill you, John."

All of a sudden, the rover gave a violent lurch before stopping completely. Harley nearly toppled over and would have if her hand hadn't flown out to grab a handle. Murphy glanced over his seat again to narrow his eyes at them. "You were saying?"

"What's wrong?" Echo asked, craning her neck to see through the shield.

"We're not close enough. Why are we stopping?" Bellamy demanded.

The rover was no longer making any noise. "They got the engine," Emori hissed. She delivered a furious punch to the board. "Damn it!" She jumped out of her seat, crawling to get in the back with her head bowed. "John, get away from the windshield!"

Murphy doesn't move right away. His eyes flicker to the outside before he's scrambling to get out of his seat as well. "Ready to strike, big gun!" He exclaimed, ducking out of the way just in time. He picked his head up to nod at Bellamy and Echo. "Go, now! Be heroes."

The pair share a look before Echo sprung into action. She kicked open the backdoor that wasn't facing the edge of the cliff that the enemy was upon and hopped out, Bellamy on her heels. He held his gun up as Echo positioned her bow and arrow. Not even a minute later, Harley hears an explosion so loud it rumbled through the air, shaking the rover with it. She looks back out the window, peering through the slits, seeing smoke rise closer to the sky over a hut that must have been a gunner's post. Damn.

Bellamy leaned into the opening. "I need to get closer," he informed them.

"Get closer," Murphy declared. "I'll cover you." He ripped away from Harley who shot out to grab his jacket and hold him back, throwing himself right into the face of danger, otherwise known as the front seat.

"Get back here!" Harley furiously shouted, struggling to lift herself when he completely ignored here.

"John, you'll get hit!" Emori reached out to grab him only for Murphy to jerk back and cry out in pain. Harley shouted his name, sick with distress the second she knew he had been shot.

He doesn't care. Murphy grabbed the handle that controlled the machine gun attached to the rover, jamming it forward with his finger on the button, firing rapidly at them as a scream made for war erupted. Seizing Murphy's sacrifice, Bellamy and Echo take off through the opening. They soon hear Bellamy's shout over the gunfire. "Murphy, ceasefire!"

Harley and Emori have to work together to heave Murphy back. Harley's panic settled in when the palm of her hand is sticky with new blood, pouring from a hole below Murphy's shoulder. Shit! Her mind screamed at the same time her mouth does. Together, they lay him down, his back being rested against the rover's floor. Harley's head is spinning but she tried to remember the little notes given from Clarke and Harper here and there. "Help me," she ordered the other, shifting Murphy over to inspect his back.

If there's no exit wound, it means he'll be safe. The bullet most likely would be in his shoulder. But of course, with their stupid luck, Harley feels the hole gushing more blood on his back. Her ears ring so loudly she almost missed the second explosion, meaning their signal to the rest. Harley knows it's over for the prisoners. They're outgunned, outmanned, Wonkru has the upper hand now. She doesn't care. None of it would matter if Murphy wasn't here. She pressed her hands together frantically over his injury, eyes desperately searching to meet his as he gave soft pants.

"John, look at me," Harley commanded. He blinks a few times, in a deep daze. Their eyes barely meet when he smiled at her, his lips shivering.

"Don't worry about me." Murphy had said it so insisting that Harley wouldn't think he was bleeding out if she wasn't pressing against the hole in his chest. She wants to tell him to shut up, to keep his eyes open, to not leave. But all that comes out if a shattered cry in a way that brings her so much emotional pain that she can physically feel it twisting its way into Harley's gut.

Emori shook her upper arm, shouting her name despite the fact that the gunfire had stopped. When she finally looks at her, eyes wide in terror, Emori lowered her covered hand to Murphy to start and move him. "We need to get him to the survivors. They should be transporting by now."

"If we move him, he'll die!" Harley exclaimed, her voice breaking. Murphy gives a pained groaned as Emori helped him into a sitting position, making Harley's hand push down on the bullet wound harder. She can feel his blood starting to flow heavier.

"If we don't, he bleeds out here," Emori retorted, giving Harley a grave stare. She's right and Harley absolutely hates it. The rover is broken and they don't have the tools or time to repair it and despite her leg, she has to help Emori practically drag Murphy to meet up with the survivors who couldn't join the army, all while praying he makes it.

She's grateful the gorge is dead. The prisoners must be grouping up at the valley after they ran out of bullets, surrendering to the Commander and her army. Harper is already waiting for them when they arrive at the shelter, rushing through the frenzy of people who were well enough to stand helping others who weren't and packing supplies. "What happened?!" Harper panicked when she sees Murphy's state, taking over Harley's position to relieve the pressure on her leg.

Emori's the one to answer when Harley can't say the words. "He got shot."

"That means it's time to go," a new voice cut in. Harley turned her head to see Monty, breathless, sweat beading on his forehead. He reached out to catch Harley's arm when it looked like she was about to topple over after using what little strength she had left to carry her brother. Noticing this, Monty turned to someone passing by. "Grab us a stretcher," he requested.

"No," Harley breathed out, shaking her head. Someone will need it more. "I'm fine. You're right." She sent one last look of despair to Murphy whose head was starting to loll to his shoulder, clenching her jaw. "It's time to go."

Harley missed the woods more than she cared to admit out loud. The spot they were traveling the survivors in was small but just enough. The desert was hot and the emptiness was a permanent reminder that trees could never grow to replace the golden sand. She missed how much green there was. She tried to observe every inch of it as Monty guided her past the trees, engraving every color and plant in her mind in case she never had the chance to see them again. Something stirring inside of Harley became true when the radio Monty had crackled with static in his jacket pocket, causing him to frown and pull it out with his free hand.

"Everyone, listen up," Raven's voice announced. "Life as we know it is about to end... Again. Get your asses to the transport ship now for immediate evacuation."

The pair shared a look of trouble. Harley had no clue what Raven was speaking of but she knew she'd never mess around like that. Something was seriously wrong and by the alarm hidden in her tone, Harley knew there wasn't enough time to ask. Monty could only press the walkie's button and lift it. "Raven, it's Monty," he greeted. "We're transporting the wounded."

They hear the sigh of relief Raven let out. "Thank God, Monty. Hurry!" She urged.

"For what?" Harley demanded. All of her instincts were screaming, sending her into the calmest panic mode state she's ever been in. Maybe she's becoming used to it.

Monty shrugged, tense, before speaking to Raven again. "So, putting aside a thousand other questions, how long do we have?" He asked with a tone that suggested he may not want to know the answer.

There's a brief pause of silence they don't have time for before Raven replied. "Nine minutes. We'll wait as long as we can," she promised.

Monty shut his eyes for a second. "Deja vu," he whispered before working to turn the radio off and put it away once more.

He's not wrong. Harley shook her head in dismay, giving Monty's forearm a squeeze. She opened her mouth to suggest that they get a move on but the words die in her throat when she heard a gasp of pain behind them. Her head snapped to the side at the familiarity of it, looking over her shoulder to see Murphy, led by Emori, had propped himself against a thick tree. Niylah knelt next to him, peeling back the collar of his jacket to peek at the injuries slowing him down.

Harley released Monty in an instant, limping in retreat to join them, just in time to hear Niylah say; "He won't make it." She sent Harley an apologetic look when her mouth gapes open but doesn't spare her. "We have to go without him."

"Like hell we do," Harley sneered back at her furiously, shoving past Niylah to crouch by Murphy's side, straightening her burned leg so it doesn't cause more damage being bent. Her hand moves to cup the side of his face, her thumb brushing against his temple. She doesn't have to say anything. The gesture makes her message clear. Harley isn't taking another step without her brother.

"Show the others the way," Harley heard Monty instruct Harper who agreed. "I'll take Murphy."

They whisper a few words to each other before Harper kissed Monty, her eyes full of love when she pulled away. "Follow me!" She called to the rest, leaning down to pick up the stretcher carrying Gaia, Jackson on the other side, urging her to hurry.

As they leave, Monty knelt on Harley's other side. Murphy's head fell to the side, his fingers curling around his chest. "She's right," he mumbled. Harley's heart started to sink. "Just go on," he begged her. "It's too far. There's not enough time."

Tears brimmed Harley's eyes. Her lower lip trembled, her hand moving up to brush the fringe of Murphy's hair back. "Then I guess we're both gonna die," she decided without having to think twice. "Because I'm not moving from this spot without my brother."

Harley would rather sit and watch the world explode with her brother before she abandons him to die alone.

Murphy's lips pressed together to fight back the tears Harley knew were pooling in his eyes. He shook his head desperately. "I'm not going to do that to you, Harley. I can't watch that. And we can't run." He becomes more agitated, pleading with Monty and Emori this time. "You can only help one of us, please. Drag her away kicking and screaming if you have to, just take her."

Neither Monty or Emori move, partly because they know better. They're well aware they don't have time and Harley will somehow find the fire inside of her to fight back, would break their fingers if they attempted to pry her away from her brother facing death because if Murphy goes, she won't be too far behind. But he's also family to them. In the six years that they spent in space, with Bellamy, Harper, Echo, and Raven too, they became as close as blood, no matter the problems between them.

At last, Monty moved. He launched forward without a word, seizing Murphy by his hips and starting to lift him. Harley, feeling as if she was just slapped in the face with Monty's selflessness, had to move out of the way as he lifted him. Murphy gave a painful scream, his protests going unheard as he's thrown over Monty's shoulder. A second later, Harley feels Emori's hand scrabble to grip hers and lift her, snaking an arm around her hip so she can stand.

Together, the four travel through the woods. Harley stopped focusing on the trees and leaves that rustled around them. She kept her gaze locked on Murphy's limp body, draped around Monty's shoulders. She knows he's still breathing. If he wasn't, Harley is positive the second that his heart stopped, hers would too. He's half of her as she is half of him.

If Harley picked her head up to observe her surroundings and not worry about her brother, she'd see the smoke clouding the sky that was once blue. The ringing in her ears would cease and she'd be able to hear Emori point out the atomic bomb whirring as it hurdled through the atmosphere, heading straight for Earth. Harley can't concentrate on anything but Murphy and the fact that they need to get to the ship.

The only noise that breaks through Harley's barrier is the robotic counting a good distance from their spot where they had broken out of the trees. "Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven, twenty-six, twenty-five..." Harley was prepared to beg Emori to leave her behind and help Monty with Murphy when he has to adjust him so he doesn't slip out of his grip. Emori somehow knows it's what about to come out as she only tightened her grasp, her gloved hand digging around Harley's waist stubbornly.

Running was only getting harder. Harley could now feel the agonizing pain that is shooting up her leg, worsening with each step. The countdown is sending adrenaline pumping through her veins, pushing her to not give up. "... Twenty, nineteen..."

As they maneuver around a dry bush, Bellamy's voice cried out. "There they are!" He appeared a moment after, going straight to Monty's side just as Murphy slid off. They each took an arm of his, slinging them over their shoulders. They don't waste another minute, bolting to the open door of the ship.

"Twelve, eleven, ten, nine..."

"Time to spare," Bellamy panted. Harley doesn't know whether she's relieved by that or still drowning in sorrow. It's too hard to tell. Everything is just moving so fast for her to keep up.

"Five, four, three, two, one..."

Emori catches her when her legs nearly give out. At this point, Harley is hardly moving, too exhausted to continue. She's hauled up the open door, dizzy when they just about throw themselves inside. Harley is only conscious for one last second to see Clarke standing there, yanking down a lever, hearing the door creak as it shuts. She blacked out just before the bomb hits and the ship she had entered lifted, carrying them away from the deadened Earth and straight back to space.

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author's note:

intense.

also this happens to be longest chapter in this act because i realized that if i split it it'll just be way too short so sorry that harley had to black out twice! i know it's dumb! by the way the injury on her leg isn't permanent obviously but she pushed herself way too hard when she should have been resting. give harley murphy a break 2k19.

anyone else emotional at the fact she would have sat with murphy and died just so she wouldn't have to watch him die alone oR AM I JUST SENSITIVE.

HARLEY MURPHY PUTTING HER FAMILY BEFORE HERSELF BECAUSE SHE LOVES THEM MORE THAN HER LIFE. HARLEY MURPHY REFUSING TO SIT OUT EVEN THOUGH SHE NEEDED TO HEAL BECAUSE SHE WASN'T GOING TO LET HER FAMILY FIGHT A WAR ALONE.

AND I REPEAT,

HARLEY MURPHY WILLING TO DIE WITH HER BROTHER SO HE WOULDN'T DIE ALONE!!!!!!

ok i'm done. i'm just naturally sobbing. also there will be one more chapter and then we're heading right into season 6!

- koda