As My Heart Dies-Chp84

[everyone else remained to pick up the pieces n bring in the surrendering enemy troops, slowly but surely they made their way to the base as well]

Wander: [was at the base entrance in a flash once he saw the fight ended] Hatey, oh Hatey... (worry)

Terry: :(

Hater: Uh...s...sunshine...?

Wander: Hatey, Hatey, I'm here... ;( I'm here... Pls! Medic! Someone! Anyone! Help!! ;(

Sylvia: :( Don't go out on us, Bonehead!

Hater: Uh... uh... (blackness closed on him)

Wander: Hatey, no, no, Hatey, stay with me ;( [patted his cheeks to keep him awake]

[The medics soon came to wheel him off to the med bay]

Sylvia: (held Wander's shoudlers) :(

Wander: Oh gob, oh gob, pls let him be OK... ;(

Sylvia: (hugged him) It'll be okay, buddy. It'll be okay... :(

Terry: (approached Grimm)

Wander: I can't lose him... Not now... It's too soon... ;(

Grimm: [panted as he hissed from the burns on his hands] Wow, I didn't realize Hater's power explosion could pack such a punch (doh)

Sylvia: (held the nomad close)

Terry: :( You're alright, Grimmy?

Grimm: I'm alright, Terry. It's over now. Ur parents... I'm sorry, I tried... :( [doesn't know tht it was Terry who did it]

Terry: No...you shouldn't be the one saying sorry... :( They brought it on themselves...

Grimm: Bt... Bt they're ur parents... Doesn't it bother u tht someone killed them...? :(

Terry: ...It was me, Grimm...

Grimm: :O [was speechless for a moment] Y... You...? Bt how... Wen... Why...?

Terry: I had to... they weren't backing down... if anyone could've stopped them... it was me who had to...with that rifle...but it was father who taught me how to... ;(

Grimm: Oh... Oh Terry... :( [wanted to hug him bt the burns on his hands stung him as he hissed in pain] (doh)

Terry: :( (embraced Grimm gently)

Grimm: [let him embrace him] It's over, Terry... It's over now...

Terry: It is... ;(

Grimm: I know I've asked u before during the courting ceremony, bt I want us to finally get married. We've been thru so much n this war has taught me tht life is short n I don't want it to be without u. I want to make our victory celebration of our war as our wedding day. So... Will u marry me?

Terry: ... :) Of course I will.

Grimm: :) [leans in to kiss him deeply]

Terry: (also leaned in) (kiss)

Sylvia: :) (nudged Wander for him to see)

Wander: [sees them, smiled sadly a bit, n turned bk to look at the medic door, still worried abt Hater tht he wasn't reli in the mood]

Sylvia: :( (rubbed his back)

[an hour later, the medic finally came out]

Wander: Doc, how's Hatey? Is he OK?

Medic: He's stable now. Unfortunately all the stress from the war n the fighting has escalated his cancer. He's... He's in Stage 3 now. His powers won't go haywire anymore, bt it'll still seize his body inwardly frm time to time. It'll hurt, bt we will issue him some strong painkillers so tht it'll be more bearable

Wander: Oh.. Oh Hatey... ;(

Sylvia: :( (hugged Wander)

Grimm: [hears the news too] Oh no, poor Hater

Medic: If u want u can go see him now

Wander: (nod) U better get ur wounds tended to, Syl, Grimmy [went to see Hater]