Chapter Text
Deep under the huge cavernous professional football stadium, with thousands of fans above them.. an explosion rocked the thick cement walls and over her com a familiar voice yelled,
*Carrie, stay put.
*I can get to them Quinn, I can.
*Carrie, don't do it... Carrie.
It was too late, she was already running down the dark corridor. By the time he reached the stairwell to chase her down, another explosion knocked him off his feet. He jumped up and flew down the stairs. His heart filled with dread as he pried open the fire door. Dust chocked his lungs and there was just rumble before him. Frantically he began to dig until he found a flashlight and her hand.
She opened her eyes for the first time, after he had already carried her up three flights of stairs.
* Don't worry, I'm going to get you out of here.
* Stop, stop running Quinn.
* F* no.
* Please... please.
With pleading eyes, he knew he couldn't say no to her.
He gently set her down and slumped next to her in the sterile stairwell. With just a dull green emergency light overhead, he could tell she was turning more and more grey as the seconds ticked by. He turned her over and examined her spine concerned about internal bleeding. He was ripping the back off her dust filled jacket, when she protested,
*Quinn, let it go.
*F*, we can still...
*No.
She was both firm and resigned all at once. Her eyes spoke the truth, but Quinn was too stubborn to accept it.
*Don't do this Carrie, I can still get you home, you have to fight, we have to ..
She pulled away and looked up into his face.
*No, no... this is home.
Her hand gently touched his chest. Shock filled his face and disbelief clouded his eyes. Somehow all the years of longing came crashing into that moment, everything that could have been, everything that never would be. Their faces said what their words never could.
*Carrie.....
*It's OK.
Everything wasn't OK, but arguing with Carrie was pointless. He had learned that. Her breathing was pained, as she said,
*There is just one thing.
*Whatever you need.
She took a long, labored breath, closed her eyes and said,
*Be there, for her.
She opened her eyes to look into his intense stare, and saw a gentle nod of his head. Of course he would say "yes".
He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and all the things they never said hung in the air. All the hopes they once had, could never be fulfilled. It really was never to be. It felt as if the light grew dimmer, as they mutually recognized there were no second chances.
*Quinn... I...
But she couldn't finish her thought. Carrie's coloring was fading as she leaned her head into his chest and with all she had, she whispered,
*For always.
It was a declaration, it was a long held silent promise, it was unwavering devotion. It was their anchor in the darkest storms. They were each others...always. Tears streamed down his face, as he wrapped her up in an embrace. He could barely utter the words into her ear,
*For always now.
That had been his goodbye and now this was hers.
She went limp in his arms and he was never the same.