Chapter Text
Cody
My eyes widen, and Merrick jumps forward.
“WHAT?!” He yells, and Spike leans his head on Logan’s chest, then shakes his head solemnly.
“He's gone.” He murmurs, and Merrick’s eyes widen.
“No…” He mutters as he moves next to Logan.
I look down at Logan’s closed eyes and his ghostly white face.
My breath is shaky, broken.
Merrick shakes his head, then shoves Spike out of the way.
He immediately presses down on Logan’s chest hard, once, twice, three times, then leans down to send breath into his mouth.
I stand staring at him as he tries to give Logan CPR, pushing down on his chest again, then giving him another flow of air.
Cameron and Spike meet each other’s eyes, then Cameron shakes his head.
"I’m gonna get some more bandages,” he says as he walks towards the closet.
Suddenly the window shatters, and I shelter Logan with my body, blocking any glass.
Merrick stops CPR, looking up with wide eyes.
I look up, and my eyes widen.
“Cameron!” I shout when I see him lying on the floor, unmoving. Spike looks up, and his eyes widen.
“Cam….”
He runs over to him and rolls Cameron over. He falls back when he sees the bullet wound in Cameron’s skull, and the blood that starts to stain the floor.
Merrick takes a deep breath, and I bite my lip.
Goddammit.
I turn back to Merrick to see that he’s started CPR again, breathing air into Logan’s still form.
I can see the determination in Merrick’s face, but I feel the pain in my chest.
He pushes a fourth time, and I frown sadly.
“Merrick, he's…..he's gone," I say sullenly, and Merrick shakes his head.
"NO, HE'S NOT! I...I can bring him back!" He shouts, frantically sending breath into Logan's lungs.
Logan lays still, no movement or sign of life.
I shake my head.
"Thomas, he's dead. Just-”
Then a small cough comes from Logan, and my eyes widen.
Merrick lets out a deep breath of relief, and Logan coughs again.
Groaning lightly, he slowly opens his eyes. Merrick stares down at him.
“Logan? You still with us?” He asks, and Logan blinks a little, then nods slightly.
He coughs again, blood dripping from his lip.
“What...what happened…” He whispers, his voice so quiet I almost can't hear it. Merrick shakes his head.
“Don't talk. It's okay, Logan. It's okay.”
Logan closes his eyes with a nod, then flinches. His hand creeps back to his side, his fingers drawing back when he feels the blood.
My eyes widen.
“I still need to stitch him up,” I say, and Merrick nods.
Picking up the suture, I look down at Logan and his already pained face.
“Sorry, kid.” I utter as I start to push the stitches through his skin. His fist clenches as he grits his teeth.
I finish stitching him up and step back.
Meeting Merrick’s eye, I sigh.
“That'll stop the bleeding. He’ll be okay, I think. Should be.” I rub the back of my head, and Merrick nods.
“Thank you.” He says, and I smile lightly.
“Thomas...” We look down at Logan, who opens his eyes to look at Merrick.
“Where….where’s Keegan….?” He asks quietly, lifting his head to look around, and I glance up at Merrick cautiously.
“Well…..” I start, catching Merrick’s eye.
“He’s gonna be okay, Logan.”
I hear from behind me, and I see Spike stand up from next to Cameron’s body. He walks over and looks down at Logan.
“We're gonna help him. Just stay alive, kid.” He says, and Logan looks at us with wide eyes, then he looks behind Spike.
His eyes widen.
“What-”
His eyes have fallen on Cam, and I immediately move to block his view.
“Logan, I just need you to relax right now. Please.” Merrick says quickly, and Logan shakes his head, trying to look past me.
“No….Cameron…..what…”
He tries to sit up but flinches in pain again. Merrick holds him down.
“Logan. Just…..trust me. I'll explain everything. But right now, you need to rest. You're back from the dead, kid, and I don't want you to go down that road again.” He says, and Logan eyes him worriedly, then lays his head back, closing his eyes.
I glance over at Cameron and slowly walk over.
Kneeling next to him, I stare at the blood dripping down the side of his head.
Clenching my fist, I stare out the window.
I know exactly who did this.
Narrowing my eyes, I stare at the Federation flag still stuck in the ground.
Trent.
Trent
I walk back in the Federation base, the rifle slung over my shoulder. Making my way up the stairs, I open the door to the room.
Thrash looks up, and I glance down at Keegan sitting in the chair, head hung down in dismay.
“You did it?” Thrash asks, and I look back up at him, then smirk.
“Yeah. Cam’s gone.” I say, and Keegan clenches his fist.
“I hate you….” He mutters, slowly raising his head to look at me.
I chuckle.
“Well, you're gonna hate what I have to say even more. When I went to take out Cameron, I saw in the window, and the Ghosts weren't exactly having a good day.” I say, and Thrash raises his eyebrow.
“Explain.” He demands, and I nod.
“When they were all trying to get out of here, Logan was shot in the process. Turns out it was a lot worse than they thought.” I reveal, and Keegan’s eyes widen.
“What?” He asks quickly, and I turn my gaze down to him.
“Your friends were trying to help Logan, but it was too late. I saw it myself. Merrick tried to bring him back, but….”
I smirk as Keegan’s eyes grow wider.
“No….Logan…” He utters, then his eyes narrow.
“NO! YOU'RE LYING!!” He yells, and Thrash crosses his arms, looking at me.
“Are you sure?” He asks, and I nod.
“When I shot Cam, they all freaked out. Merrick stopped trying to give Logan CPR, and I saw Logan lying on the table, eyes closed, pale as a sheet, covered in blood. He’s dead, Thrash.”
I slowly swing my eyes down to Keegan with a devilish grin, then crouch in front of him.
“Logan. Is. Dead.” I taunt and Keegan’s breath stops short, his eyes wide, tears teetering over the edge of them.
“He can't be….” He whispers, and I stand up with a grin.
Thrash hits my shoulder, and I turn around.
He eyes me carefully, pulling me aside in a hushed tone.
“I want you to go back and make certain that Walker boy is dead. I know what you saw, but Merrick is a very persistent man, and he wouldn't have just given Logan up like that. I have a feeling he's still alive. But don't let Keegan know that. We won't give him an ounce of hope. Now go.” He tells me quietly, and I nod.
“Yes, sir,” I reply, then I look back down at Keegan, who looks up at me with red, agonizing eyes.
I smirk, then bring my fist down to punch him in the face, hard.
His nose sprays more blood, and he groans, then lets his head fall down, his shoulders shaking.
“....Logan….” He cries softly, and I look up to meet Thrash’s eyes.
He nods, and I walk out the door, then close it behind me.
Keegan will drown in his sorrow as he watches his whole world crumble down around him.
Keegan
Tears run down my face as my head hangs down.
“...Logan…”
My shoulders shake as I sob, thinking of my little brother, the boy who I have worked so hard to protect.
He can't be dead.
He can't be.
Trent….
He...He must have been lying.
Shaking my head, my attempt at optimism fizzles away as a vision of Logan lying dead on the floor fills my head.
“No…..” I mutter, closing my eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Hesh puts his hand on my shoulder.
“Keegan, you need to stay focused. You can't just give up. I won't let you. And I've known you long enough to know that you don't give up. Don't leave our brother alone.” He says, and I look up with red eyes.
“But….he's dead, David…..I failed him, too...just like...you….” My tears erupt again, and Hesh crouches in front of me.
He holds both my shoulders and I glance up to meet his light brown eyes caringly gazing at me.
“Keegan, you didn't fail me. You never did. It wasn't your fault, nor was it Logan’s. And you haven't failed Logan. He's still alive, Keegan! HE'S STILL ALIVE!! You have time to save him! I know you can! I just need you to stay strong!! Please, Keegan. I don't want to see you fall.” He tells, and my eyes widen.
“He's still alive?!”
A punch to my face snaps me back, and I groan, looking up at Thrash’s angry eyes.
“No. Logan is gone.” He remarks, and I shake my head.
“He's still alive. I know he is!” I shout, and Thrash narrows his eyes.
“Russ, I would silence yourself before you get into trouble again.” He warns, and I raise my eyebrow.
“Get into trouble again? Well, Thrash, according to you, that is what I’m best at!” I retort, and Thrash takes a deep breath and turns away from me.
“You always have had an attitude.” He speaks, then he spins around, gun in hand, and pulls the trigger.
I scream in agony as the bullet tears into my chest, and blood immediately wets my torso.
I pant heavily, tears running down my face in pain.
“Keegan, keep your eyes open!” David yells, and I try to keep myself from screaming.
“Just...focus on something else…..” He tries, and I shake my head.
“How?!” I shout, and Thrash smacks me across the face.
“Shut your mouth, Russ.” He growls, and I close my eyes, despite Hesh’s order not to.
Meeting David’s eyes, tears drip from my chin.
“What the hell else am I supposed to think about, David?!” I plead, and David frowns, thinking, then he grins.
“The first time we met.” He says, and my eyes widen.
“That day, when Logan and I had just found that Federation camp, and we were all going to find Ajax. You and I worked together and made a great team. And after, do you remember when you rescued Logan and I from Santa Monica? And we first found out dad was a Ghost?” He asks me, and I feel a smile starting to creep its way onto my face.
“And what about the times when we fought side by side, protecting each other at all costs?”
I nod, and David stares at me with his big, brown eyes.
“But what I think about the most is when I saw you for the last time.” He says, and I feel my heart stop for a moment.
He smiles painfully.
“‘I’ll never forget you, Keegan.’ That's what I said. And you grinned at me, with that brotherly love in your eyes, and I felt this happiness wash over me, like every single time we had laughed together, saved each other, talked together, was all filling me at once, and I had never felt so happy. Even though I was heartbroken to leave you, I had you by my side the entire way. Always.” He says, a single tear running down his cheek.
I smile sadly, and nod, the sting of tears on my cheeks.
“That was how I felt, too. I saw you leaving, and I felt part of my heart leave, too. But you were still the most important thing in my life. You and Logan. That's why I went after you both. Because I never cared about anyone as much as I do you.” I say caringly, and Hesh nods.
“I know. Now you need to keep that happiness here in your mind, Keegan. Hold onto it. Thrash can't beat you. He may think he can, but he can't. You're strong, Keegan. No matter how much you get hurt, you always come back. Like that stubborn seventeen-year-old boy. The youngest Marine ever who is the bravest and most determined man I have ever known in a lifetime.”
My eyes widen, and Hesh nods.
“You need to live. So you can protect my brother. Your brother. Logan needs you, Keegan. And I know that you'll keep him safe. But you have to survive in order to do that. Use your strengths, Keegan. The love you have for Logan is stronger than anything that could try to break it. I’ll be by your side, Keegan, but you need to be strong on your own. You are my brother, Keegan P. Russ. You always have been, you always will be.” He says, and I open my eyes, then glare up at Thrash.
“If you ever think that you are going to hurt Logan again, then you are in for a hellstorm. I will rip you apart, and cause you just as much pain as you plan to cause me. Logan is MY BROTHER, and you WILL NOT KEEP US APART!!” I yell, the determination behind my eyes surprising Thrash.
I grit my teeth.
I will get out of this.
I have to.
For myself.
For Logan.
For David.