As his legs carried him down the stairs it felt like his mind left his body. Somehow, he could see himself from above, running, almost wishing to slip and fall so he could feel another pain besides the one that kept growling inside his heart.

Every breath felt like it would be his last. Every beat of his hard made him feel like it was about to explode and fill his insides with blood.

Blood. It was everywhere, on the walls, the ground and the stairs, making them dangerously slippery.

"Dad.", JD gasped as he threw himself against the bunker door with his last strength. "Dad!"

Struck by surprise, Marcus jumped up from his seat only to frown one second later.

"James!", he gasped. "How did you get in here?"

Panting and twisting in pain, JD rushed to the hospital bed to take a look at your blood splattered face.

"(Y/N)!", he gasped and had to cough.

But before he could touch you, Marcus pulled his son away with such force, that he crashed into one of the shelves.

"How did you get in here?!", he asked in an angered voice.

Huffing in pain, JD had to squeeze his arm to milden the pain that was stabbing into his bones.

"I broke the door.", he gasped and wanted to rush to your side again.

Marcus held him back.

"James!"

"No! No, let me see! I have to see! I can't just let it happen without being there... I- I promised!"

"James.", pulling a face, Marcus pushed him back against the wall again.

Tears were running down JD's face. His eyes were reddened and his entire body was trembling. As his gaze locked with the one of his dad, he couldn't help but let out a whimper.

"Dad...", he whispered. "Is it... Will it... It won't be fine... Shit! Shit, shit, it won't be fine! It won't be fine!"

It wasn't a question but a slow realisation that hit him all at once. But there was still hope hidden in his shaky words. There was still that one last spark that wished for a happy ending.

But as Marcus squeezed his eyes shut, a painful expression on his face, this last spark of hope died down like a fire that had no source to feast on anymore. Carefully, he took a step back to reveal the machine underneath which you were laying.

Your eyes were tightly shut. Not a single breath made your chest rise and fall, not even one single bit.

But the monitors showed that there was still the hint of a heartbeat, so small and fragile that there was no way it would ever beat quicker again. It wasn't trying to heal, it was desperately beating it's last moments before time was running out.

The robotic arms attached to the arch were working restlessly, moving as quickly and precise as if their own existence depended on it. The needle stitched layers of blood flesh together, while the claw assembled bones and repositioned organs so the other arms could apply medication and the necessary treatment.

It looked bad, worse than JD had ever imagined.

The floor underneath was already covered by a small, red puddle left and right of the bed.

"Go and hold hands.", Marcus hummed as he stepped aside to make way for his son. "It will... be the last time."

Holding his breath and biting his lips to suppress a whimper, JD walked towards you. His legs were shaking. Never before had he felt this weak. It was as if every step he made took a little piece of him and threw it into the deepest darkness there was, for it to never return again.

"(Y/N)...", your name dripped from his tongue as if it was the only thing that kept his mind bound to sanity. "I'm sorry... I failed you. I- I didn't do enough... I should have been there, by your side. But I didn't. I love you. I promised myself I'd always protect you... But I didn't."

Hot tears ran down his face, drawing sticky trails on his dirty skin and making his lips taste nothing but salt. With a shaky breath, he grabbed your hand and pressed it to his chest as he squatted down next to you and buried his face in the crotch of your neck.

The metallic scent of blood filled his nose. It was so sweet, yet unpleasant that he almost had to throw up. Everything was spinning.

But all of a sudden, his body lost all feelings. It just felt like he was crying, hut his chest didn't hurt no more. He was breathing, but the air didn't taste anymore. It just filled his lungs and faded again. Now, he was nothing more but a hollow puppet that was about to be filled with suffering.

All that was left was the feeling of your cold hand trapped in his.

All he could notice was how your fingers twitched slightly.

Struck by hope, he let his head jump up. His blue eyes widened. But not a second later he had to realise it had all just been his imagination.

Your face looked as tortured and restless as JD had never seen it before. The skin around the eyes was so dark, it almost looked as black as tar. Your lips, on the other hand, were still pale and chipped from the long influence of the frosty temperatures.

You looked like a corpse, covered in your own blood.

He didn't even dare to let his eyes wander over your body, down to your side where the biggest wound of all was showing your bloody insides. Bones and torn flesh showed themselves to the outside world while hood dripped from the opening, onto the table and over the edge only to drip onto the tiled floor like a waterfall of red.

The machine was still working, but it seemed like the process was about to end. Most of the damage was fixed, at least visually.

A desperate sound escaped JD as he turned back to press a kiss onto your forehead.

"If this is the last moment...", he whispered, lips pressed against your icy skin. "If those are my last words, I want you to know that I love you. I always did. And always will. Until we meet again. Until I can love you again. (Y/N)."