Jake simply feels helpless at this point in time. Jake remembers lying on the jungle floor in Venezuela after being hit by the piece of shrapnel that took his legs. This time it isn't a physical wound that has made him feeble, it is an emotional one. Now that the initial wave of grief has passed, Jake can only contemplate the object in his hands: an urn that contains the remains of Thomas J. Sully.

In a low whisper, "I'm probably just talking to an urn right now, but buddy it wasn't meant to turn out like this. On the trip out with Norm and Grace, I was going to find a quiet scenic place, spread your ashes and grieve later. But then that damn cat came along."

The strangeness of the situation is not lost on Jake. Taking inventory of the situation: Here I am on an alien world, in an alien's body, making excuses to a tin can which contains my dead brother's ashes. That last thought puts a lump in the throat and tightens his lower jaw. Here comes another one. With one hand over his eyes and the other around the metal container, Jake lets the tears flow. It's a quiet, dignified release of emotion. Minutes seem to pass like hours.

This one is intense though. While crouched over the bag, Jake has to put one hand on the ground to balance himself. Jake hangs his head and takes a labored breathe. A split second before contact, Jake is aware who has come for him. A set of four finger hands massage his beleaguered shoulders.

Then a hand reaches up under Jake's arm and gently lays itself across his heart. What is sensed is a loving heart that has held much grief, but is now getting ready to let go it. Having just found the greatest personified force in recent Navi history emotionally distraught, Neytiri can only ask in a concerned, but loving voice "Ma Jake, what is this thing you hold that causes you so much pain?"

Jake pulls a beathe in, holds it for a long moment and exhales. In a soft voice "It's Tommy." The arms that have wrapped themselves around the front side of Jake tighten up as if their owner had been hit by a lightning bolt. Sensing the need to explain and eliminate the uncertainty, Jake reaches for one of Neytiri's arms and whispers "C'mere."

Bringing his life mate around to sit in front of him, Jake sees an uncertain face with eyes begging for understanding. Jake forms a theory in his head about Neytiri's confusion: The Navi always bury their dead, return them for the all-mother to use for her needs. It was probably decided long ago that cremating the dead was stealing from the all-mother. Once that decision was made, burying a body just became the sensible thing to do and to do anything otherwise, passed from memory.

In a soft voice "My love, remember when I told you that Tommy had died before I came here from my home world?" Neytiri anxiously nods her head. "I didn't exactly give you all the details of how I said goodbye to him, because I really didn't get a chance to do it. You see on Earth, one of the ways we say goodbye is by burning the body and releasing the ashes in a place that meant something to the one who has passed. What I am saying is that Tommy's body was burned and his ashes were put into this container that I hold in my hand. "

Neytiri instantly connects the dots "You brought your brothers ashes with you so you could release his ashes here on this world." Then asks a valid question "Since Thomas never knew this world, why wouldn't you have released his ashes on your own home world though?"

"Tommy was an adventurer at heart. He had put so much time and effort into the training needed to be a dreamwalker." Jake thinks about the three years that Tommy had spent training in order to get selected to get sent to Pandora. In a semi-distracted voice "I just couldn't leave him behind."

Having understood that Jake had come to conduct a small, private funeral, Neytiri still has some questions about the manner in which the tawtute say goodbye to their dead. "Jake? Thomas was your brother, part of your family. When it is time to say goodbye to a family member who has passed, do you not surround yourself with other family members to do this?"

A small voice in Jake's head warns: Be careful here. She's trying to understand why you didn't include her in on this. There's no intention to send you on a guilt trip, just a very sincere attempt to understand.

Jake looks lovingly into Neytiri's eyes "Sugar. Tommy was a part of my family, you are a part of my family and maybe I should have asked you to be a part of saying goodbye to him today. It's just all this happened before I ever met you. I guess I'm just guilty in wanting to spare you all this weird tawtute stuff."

Neytiri knows her Jake. It makes sense to him, so it makes sense to her. This simple truth along with the recollection of an old teacher talking about the jarhead clan: They are taught to rely on themselves first and foremost. These are elements to Jake's personality that cause her to love him and at times drive her nuts. But in the end, that's her Jake.

Though Neytiri has been a bit of a student today, but being a Tsahik in training, she now takes on the role of a teacher. "My Jake, it is not good to dwell on these things. It is better to say goodbye and then move on."

Jake silently agrees with her and then stands up. "C'mon, let's go say goodbye."

He pulls Neytiri up and then quietly leads her down a path he'd taken once before. Just a short walk from where the backpack had been, puts the two at a cliff overlooking a waterfall. In a way, this had been the place where Jake had started his journey. It seemed kind of fitting that this would be the place where Tommy would finish his.

Now a pair of four fingered hands hold Jake's one free hand. Neytiri draws close and leans a head on his shoulder.

The sound of the waterfall is not deafening, but it does cause Jake to turn his head slightly and speak in a raised voice. "Neytiri, I want to say an old tawtute prayer before I release his ashes."

She catches an impression that Jake had just asked permission to give the tawtute prayer instead of the all-mother's prayer. She quickly nods her head in acknowledgement to Jake's request/statement.

Jake pauses for a moment as he reaches back in his memory for the simple, but powerful prayer that was fitting for moments such as this. Neytiri participates in a ceremony that is new, yet seemingly familiar to her. Jake begins to recite the old tawtute prayer:

In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life…

It is a prayer she has never heard before, but like the ceremony, it seems very familiar to her.

…we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

As she focuses on the words that quietly come from Jake, she can only think that the essence of these words are somewhat in line with the prayer that would be recited at a Navi funeral.

...make his face to shine upon him…

Just a different way of saying, the body stays behind, but the soul goes to the maker.

...lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.

Holding the metal container in one hand, Jake hits the automatic release mechanism with his thumb. Holding the container carefully, he watches the lid slowly slide open. Holding the container firmly, he waits for a second and then swings it in a horizontal arc. As the ashes of Thomas J. Sully mix with the water vapor of the waterfall, Neytiri reflects on what she has just witnessed.

My Jake. With all the changes you've made in your life recently, it seems you've kept a bit of your human self. It seems my brave, invincible warrior does have a weakness. A weakness that you wanted to hide from even me, a weakness for family.

She watches Jake as these thoughts flow through her head. She senses that a heavy weight has been lifted from his shoulders. This is a new side to Jake that she is only now starting to glimpse. A Jake who has put the last of his ghosts to rest and is now ready to enjoy the fruits of his accomplishments.

Jake contemplates the milestone that has just been achieved. Tommy's been put to rest. The people are safe and recovering. I have a woman who loves me about as much as I love her. Yeah, it is starting to look like we may have a bit of calm sailing.

With the light of his life standing beside him, Jake beholds a serene place that he'll end up coming back to from time to time to commune with the spirit of a dear, departed one. In these future times, he will sometimes come alone and other times he'll bring members of his family, some yet unborn. Taking in the scene, Jake sees Tommy's face from a particular happy moment he shared with his brother superimposed upon the view from the cliff. Filled with a sense of relief, Jake draws in a breathe soaked with water vapor, holds it and lets it out.

A small smile finds its way on to Jake's face. In a voice only meant for Tommy to hear "Well buddy, it's over. Your journey is finished. Now it's time for me to say goodbye." Jake savors these last few seconds and then lets go: "Bye Tommy."

Hand in hand, a pair of lovers slowly make their way back to their mounts. The two go to start a journey, in whose duration, they will know love for each other, love for their children and for the time being, a well deserved peace.