"It's alright baby, it's alright," said Sam as he hugged Louis on the floor of his living room. He wrapped his arms around the boy and tried to envelop him with all the love in the world. He wanted to protect him, keep him safe as he cried. Louis gurgled and his eyes flickered as though he knew something the rest of the room didn't. Like all babies, and most pets to be honest they had a sense when things were not right and although they couldn't convey it verbally they knew what was going on. "Mr. Hanson, sir?" the police officer said breaking Sam's thoughts. "We'd like you to come to the hospital with us please. We will need someone to identify the body." "You can't be serious! Look at him!" interjected Patty, "he's not in any condition to do this." "Madam, it really is for the best to do this as soon as possible. It won't get easier for him." replied the officer gently. "Can you look after the baby for a while?" Patty nodded her head as the officer continued, "Sam, I need you to acknowledge that you understand what I am asking you. We are going to the hospital to identify the body. All you need to do is nod your head if it is Miss Jones. That will be enough. It will be the hardest thing you will ever need to do but it will be quick." "I also need you to understand that we may need to ask you to come to the station and answer some questions. We know you called late last night and came in again later. We'll need you to do your best to tell us as much as possible. How Miss Jones was feeling, what time she left. We may ask you about your relationship with her and your movements last night. I know you told us you were looking for her last night. We'll need to know where and when you went places. Do you understand what I've just said to you?" Sam could hear the words but not truly take them in. He nodded his head, feeling distraught and confused. "Can't you wait a while?" implored Patty, "He doesn't know what's going on." "Come on Sam," said the officer leading him towards the door. "Louis, he needs changing, and he needs his breakfast and..." said Sam distractedly. "It's okay son, I'll be here." said Patty, her own heart breaking to see her boy so desolate. Sam felt abstract from the whole world, like he was out of his body looking down on this terrible event as though it wasn't him. The whole immediate stress of the news had led him to disassociate from what was going on. His soul was lost, his body just flesh and blood. The safest place was not to be here. To come back was to feel all the pain in the world. He somehow found his sneakers and jacket and kissed Louis before leaving the house. At the door he felt himself come back to the present and the horror of what had happened to him came back to the forefront of his mind. [I]'Brooklyn'[/I] he thought as he imagined her face, her smile, her laugh. His heart ripped open again, like strong hands were physically tearing at the muscle and pulling it open. He had a memory of his fingers interlocked with Brooklyn as they walked by the river bank on a warm sunny day, the sunlight reflecting on her face. He felt her fingers gently slipping away, softly moving away before disappearing into nothingness...... ------------------------------------------------- At Ella's and Chad's house the two soulmates sat at the kitchen table crying and holding each other. ------------------------------------------------- By the freezing roadside on a cold morning a recovery truck was on standby, the ambulance had left some time ago. Police officers and forensic teams were analysing the area. Snow covered everything but deep in the steep ditch was the ugly scar of the motor vehicle smashed and mangled against the tree. It was as though there Mother Nature had fought back against the disturbance to it's peace. A hulk of twisted metal. Human wreckage. Emotional wreckage. ------------------------------------------------- On a cold metal gurney lies a young woman. She is at peace, resting. Her eyes closed. She looks virginal, laid straight, her body covered in a white blanket up to her neck. Her face, pale and cold is marked by sharp lines, red and brown in contrast to her face. Her long brown hair has fallen around her. A young man, exhausted, distraught, black circles around his eyes nods once and turns to cry into the taller man beside him. His tears staining the uniform as the man leads him away. --------------------------------------------------- An interview room. "Yes," "uh-huh," a shake of the head. Patience, frustration. -------------------------------------------------- This isn't happening. I love you, iloveyou,iloveyou,iloveyouloveloveloveyou. Why? Nononono. Baby, why?why?why? ------------------------------------------------- A tired and emotional Chad walks into the police station. "You're interviewing my client Mr. Sam Hanson. You will stop the interview right now and then we'll start again with his counsel present." Chad is professional, yet fraught. ------------------------------------------------- Chad and Sam hug as Sam, bewildered, wonders what the hell has happened in the last twenty-four hours. He holds Chad and wishes Brooklyn was with him. [I]'Why isn't she here?' 'I need you.' 'Where are you?'[/I] Sam sees Brooklyn as she was before Louis, when they spent lazy Sunday mornings in bed kissing his chest as she giggled at the goofy joke they just shared. He watches Brooklyn soothing Louis when he's cranky. Sam call's him 'Mommy's Boy'. [I]'He's not a Mommy's Boy anymore![/I] thinks Sam as he wails. [I]'Why has she gone? Why has she done this to us?[/I] Sam is angry and his fists clench. A washing over of guilt as he feels ashamed that he is thinking only of himself and he imagines the pain his beloved must have been in. That empathy, of Brooklyn in pain punches him so hard it feels like a demolition ball has smashed into his chest. The idea that Brooklyn suffered rips his heart open even more.[I] 'I hate this and I want to fucking die so I can be with her'[/I] Chad soothes Sam a little, "we're going to have to do this Sam, and I'll help you." Right now Sam couldn't care less. He just wants to be with Brooklyn....