After all Jack had been through, after his courageous battle with Whip Hand, Drake sliced his tentacle across Jack's neck. He thought he could save Diana, from both Drake's harm and Caine's claims at love, but no. Blood spewed from beneath his chin in a constant stream, staining scarlet. Staining his clothes, but worse, the little dignity he owned. Jack knew he had nothing left to loose.

"Diana!" he called out, his knees giving way, falling to the dusty ground.

As Diana rushed to kneel by his side, Drake watched from a distance. No, not whiping Diana, but staring, observing, waiting for the show. He grinned his sadistic smile and herded Justin with his whip to stay right by his side.

Instead of Diana carefully squatting down to Jack, her legs diminished underneath her, causing her to tumble down near his face. "I'm here, Jack," she whispered. "I'm here."

Jack, with a small tear making it's descent down his cheek, took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down. "Diana, you're beautiful."

Diana gazed with her midnight eyes down into his. "I'm so sorry, Diana. I'm sorry I made out with Brianna! I'm sorry Caine's been a jerk to you! I'm sorry you, of all people, are stuck in this stupid mess of a world. That we're stuck. We're all stuck. But... I've loved you for over a year now, and I just can't stand it!" The tears roll freely now, and in the hazy light, his nose is a rosy pink.

He didn't care about how Diana always said she was horrible. It was the best she could do, and Jack appreciated her for it. I know what I am, Jack. I'm not a very nice person. She faced the facts and he loved that about Diana. What I'm trying to say is that you don't seem like a bad person, Jack.

With grace she cradled his small head in her arms and began to stroke his dirty-blonde hair. Jack knew it wasn't soft, for it was caked with blood and gravel. But Diana didn't seem to care, so she kept up the lulling tranquility.

Jack had loved her, even though she never appeared to pay him any attention. You're a deep sleeper, Jack. Just now, while you were sleeping? I held your pudgy little hand. Probably as close as you'll ever get to holding hands with a girl. Assuming you even like girls. That had hurt. But nothing ever stopped him.

"Diana," he croaked, "you don't deserve Caine. You don't even deserve me, but just don't go with him. Your way too good for that ungrateful bully."

Diana released a sniffle. "Oh, Jack. You don't understand. He's all I have."

Blood gathered in a pool on the ground, reddening Diana's thighs. Jack diverted his eyes. "You're already counting me out in this world, aren't you?"

Shocked, her eyes watered. "No, no, no!" Dianna corrected. "You're still here, and you're going to live. Do you here me? Nothing is going to happen to you."

"You're right," Jack said, gasping for air. "Nothing is going to happen to me anymore. I'm done. It's okay though, I counted myself out when this whole entire mess started. There's only one last thing for me to do now."

Diana sobbed a loud cry. "No, Jack! Don't you dare do this to me!" She cupped her hands on his smooth face. His breathing became ragged and forced.

She then spoke in a voice so low only Jack would be able to hear. "I'm sorry I've never been there for you." She kissed his tear flooded cheek.

Jack, the dying warrior, gave one last smile, and closed his eyes.