Moments In Time

Chapter 10

Tig hated seeing Devin deteriorating before him but he knew from day one this was going to happen. She tried to do things around the house but more and more she was stuck in bed. He knew she was getting weaker by the day but didn't know what he could do to help her. He made sure she had breakfast every morning, came to check on her during his lunch break, and left as early as he could to get home to her each afternoon. Although he was never the type of guy to stay by a woman's side, she was different. Not just because she was dying.

Her last week she was confined to the bed although a nurse came out once a day to see her and was on-call if they needed her. Tig asked for the time off just so he could be with her 24/7. She had once the told him at the beginning of their relationship she didn't want to die alone. He made sure that she wasn't. It frightened him at how much weight she had lost and just how "sickly" she was looking. He had begun just ordering in every night so he wouldn't have to be away from her for long stretches of time. A few times Gemma had come over to bring some left overs for them and to check on Devin. She was the only one who knew of their relationship and thus just how this woman affected the Sgt-At-Arms.

The last few days she was constantly on pain killers. He knew the time was fast approaching and even though he knew it was coming he still felt helpless in the situation. He stayed with her constantly and he thought about her requests for her funeral. She had insisted on a closed-casket service, and only wanted just a few people there. At first she wanted him to ship her body back home but he convinced her to allow him to cremate her. Looking into his eyes and realizing that request was more for him, so he could keep her near him, she gave in and gave him the ok.

"Alex? Hold me." He heard her meek voice say, pulling him out of his thoughts

"I'm right here, Doll. Is there anything you need?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around her fragile body

"Just.... hold.... me...." She finally spit out

"Devin, Doll...." Tig asked, tipping her chin up so he could look in her eyes

"Alex" Was all she stated

Tig's heart started racing. He was afraid she was slipping away.

"Doll, how are you feeling? Talk to me!" Tig asked as he tried to stave off the rapidly building panic inside his mind

"So tired. Kiss me?" She replied

He tenderly placed his lips to hers and caressed her face. She looked up into his eyes and grabbed his arms. She wanted to feel the warmth of his body since she was beginning to feel cold. The emotion in his eyes both saddened her and comforted her. She shivered slightly making him look at her with concern. She just stared up into his eyes until her heart simply quit beating.

Tig Trager was the last person quite a few people have seen. She saw Alex. A man who had shown her a wonderful 5 1/2 months. A man who had taught her some things she never would have learned on her own. A man she had somehow grown to love. A man who stayed with her while she died. His eyes were so full of concern and love as she slipped away from him.

"Devin? Devin?!" Tig stated

He moved so she was on her back and he kneeled beside her, "Devin, Doll, say something!"

When she didn't speak, move, or react in any way he knew. And he couldn't stop the flow of tears that silently made their way down his cheeks. He hugged her tightly and let the tears flow. He would call 911 soon enough but he wanted to keep her solely his for just a while longer. He needed to let the emotion out before any one else saw him. After calling 911, Tig called Gemma. He knew he would be in no state to deal with people without shooting them. Honestly he needed some extra comfort.