final time, leaving it standing in the middle of the grave.

"Does anyone want to say anything?"

Karo's voice is loud, but not in the usual stoic manner that he displays. There is an underlying wave of compassion riding his words. Norman unclenches his hands from around Daisy, she and Patrick follow suit, breaking their shared embrace. Norman wipes his eyes as he approaches the grave that holds his husband.

"No, um, I don't think we should. Jack's life is worth more than a few words, and I could never adequately say what he really means to me. We all know him, we all have our own relationships with him, and I think it's better that we just know that. I love Jack, that will never change, but I'm not ready to talk about him like he's not here, not yet."

Daisy rubs Norman's back, motioning her agreeance. Karo picks up his backpack and slides his arms through the straps.

"I have a question for you, though." Norman says, his tone still weak and damaged.

Karo's brow raises, he motions for Norman to continue.

"You think Jack's blood can lead to a cure?"

"I don't know, maybe, that's not something I can figure out."

"Then why did you take it?"

"Because maybe someone can."

"In Oasis?"

The rugged man somberly nods.

"But you can't go back, so I don't understand."

"If I bring a cure to them-"

It strikes Norman without warning, no build up, no precursor, just instant rage. He snaps, balling his hands into fists and shaking them at Karo.

"What?! They'll let you back in? You think you can use this to get good graces? You said you could protect us! You said you could protect us! And-and now Jack's dead, he's fucking dead!" Norman viciously snarls, his body quaking with fury.

Karo's hands wave about in the air, an attempt to show submission.

"No, no, that's not what I think at all."

"Then what?! Huh? What?! Tell me what good your protection is? You couldn't save him, how can you keep us safe?! You think you can just go back there with all his blood and get back in?! You just want to save yourself!"

"Norman, please, I'm sorry-"

"Fuck you! Fuck your sorry! What does that do? How does that bring back my-"

His lips quiver, his eyes shake, he falls to his knees next to Jack's grave.

"How does that bring back my husband. My Jack, my-my..."

He trails, his mouth opens again, but only damp air and saliva follow. His hands dig into the soil covering Jack's body. He clutches the dirt, his head falls over, pressing into the earth. His shoulders bounce up and down, writhing with torment. Karo's head drops in shame.

"Listen, I know you think I'm cold, and I have been for a long time, but I'm not indifferent to this. Jack was a good man, you're good people, and I failed you, all of you."

Karo runs his hand through his hair, spreading wet mud across it. He fidgets, uncomfortable and ashamed.

"It's my fault Jack died. I didn't check the surroundings well enough when we fled those buildings. We got followed, and I should've known it, but I was so concerned with getting Jack and me to safety that I failed to make sure we were safe to begin with."

The corners of Karo's eyes gloss. The moisture from his ducts mixes with the mud on his face, running the combination down his neck, to the top of his shirt.

"I failed you Norman. I failed Jack. There's nothing I can say to make that better, but I am sorry. Jack deserved better than this, he earned better than this. I can't create a cure, or a vaccine, or anything else, but there are people at Oasis that might be able to. They won't let me back in, and that's not why I'm doing this. I told you I would protect you, all of you, and if I can deliver you to Oasis with a potential cure, that's probably the best way of keeping you safe."

Karo kneels down, his face looking to the ground.

"I know what loss is. My wife and child might still be alive, in Oasis, but I'll never see them. To me, they're gone, but if they're still alive, then Jack's blood might make the world a safer place for them too. So that's why I want to take you all to Oasis. It's the best way I can think of to keep you all safe, and it might make the world a better place for everyone, including my wife and child. I don't need to make anything better for myself, but if I can give that to those I care about, then that's what I'm going to do."

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

“Mikey, don’t run in the house!” Rosaline says, a bit of irritation underlining her words.

Mikey flies by the kitchen, Rad and Outlaw chasing after him, the child in a mad dash to escape the out stretched arms of his playful friends.

“Mikey!”

The sudden stamping of feet come to an abrupt stop.

“We’re gonna go out back.” Rad shouts from the living room.

“Rad, be careful!”

“We always are!” Outlaw reassures her.

Rosaline sighs, motioning her annoyance. Zee and Hawaii chuckle, shifting about in their chairs at the table. Sweetie leaves the counter, going to her partner at the entrance of the kitchen, and pats her lower back for comfort.

“Respirar nena. You’re so tense today, what’s wrong?”

The young fighter slides her arm around her companion’s side, turning to face her.

“The more he gets comfortable here, the more he’s letting his guard down. I don’t like it.”

Sweetie runs her finger along her girlfriend’s jaw, pulling Rosaline’s gaze up to meet hers.

“Is it so bad that he’s starting to feel like a kid?”

“No, but-”

The petite warrior sighs once more, rolling her eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“Hey, look at me. You’re not used to feeling safe somewhere, I get it, but, just, you know, try to enjoy it.”

Sweetie kisses her partner’s cheek. Rosaline’s lips crack, a smile easing it’s way out.

“It’s not fair when you do that.”

“I never play fair nena.”

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