He wanted to grab him, hold him, and tell him he’d stay. Only, they were being hunted because of him. That was unacceptable to him.
“I can’t let you get hurt.”
Poe shrugged.
“I’m already hurt. I’m watching you sleep, and I know you’ll disappear. I didn’t mean what I said. I’m your doctor, but I already crossed the line. I’m already there. Please don’t leave me.”
Gamble wanted to weep.
“They’re chasing me.”
“I’m chasing you, too, Gamble. I’m right behind you, trying to catch you. Stop running. For me.”
The wind picked up.
“I can’t. They’ll hurt you.”
Poe had tears on his cheeks. There was that same sad look in his eyes that Gamble saw as the time got closer for him to be sent back to The Hunters.
It was of loss.
Poe devastated him with his words.
“Then, I’ll leave first so I don’t have to say goodbye. I’m not as strong as you think. I’ll leave so I’m not hurting anymore.”
Gamble had been left once by Storm and his child.
He wouldn’t survive this.
“Poe.”
Before he could say anything else, the man fell backward, arms out, and disappeared from the cliff.
Gamble raced up the slight incline as quickly as he could, and when he reached the top, he saw the man on the ground below.
Dead.
He stared up with nothing behind his eyes, lost to him once more.
“POE!”he screamed.
In fact, Gamble screamed his name over and over again.
He’d been too late.
Again.
And he’d lost his last chance.
At love.
When he began screaming his name, Poe grabbed him, and tried to wake him up.
“Gamble, Mate! I’m right here,” he said, shaking him. The screams were blood curdling, and shook him to his core. They made his blood run cold.
He’d never heard him scream like that even though he’d had plenty of nightmares.
With the last shake to his body, the Marine sat upright, so fast, it actually scared Poe.
