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Softly	By : OpenPage Category: 1 through F > 21 Jump Street Views: 330 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own 21 Jump Street or any of the characters from it. Please see full disclaimer below.

Chapter List
- 1-As I Leave You
- 1
Disclaimer:
I do not make any money from the writing of this story. All characters and events in this story are fictitious.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
No copyright infringement is intended.
Based on the TV series 21 Jump Street.

For my beautiful friend, Bea.

Inside the spacious penthouse apartment, the metronomic tick of an antique mantle clock added another oppressive layer to the dense atmosphere shrouding the darkened bedroom. Two men shared the spacious bed, the obvious intimacy they shared almost melding them into one cohesive being. Almost, but not quite. On closer inspection there was a glaring difference between the two men's faces. One's had the relaxed, peaceful look brought on by natural slumber, while the other's haunted countenance suggested a level of prolonged suffering. Age, however, had wearied them both, their once boyish faces now heavily etched with the passing of time. But beneath the wrinkles, a vague hint of their youthful beauty remained, forever preserved within the folds of sagging skin. The ghostly visage bore testament to the vibrant young men they once were, a historic commemoration of their lives and the love they'd shared for fifty-two years. A love that had truly, in every sense, stood the test of time.
As the clock struck eleven, Tom's eyes fluttered open, the comforting pressure of his husband's arm circling his waist momentarily easing the pain that consumed his every waking hour. Slowly, his mind shook off the sluggish effects of his medicated coma, and turning his head, his eyes sought out the man who, for over half a century, had been not only his lover, but his very reason for living.
Dennis Booker was unlike any man he'd ever known. He wore his arrogance like a shield, leaving him almost untouchable. His cock sure manner easily deflected those who dared to challenge or criticise, but beneath the conceited exterior lay a man whose kindness and empathy rivaled even the most altruistic of souls. He loved with a passion unlike anyone Tom had ever known, and being the center of his lover's universe was the only reason he kept fighting a battle he would ultimately lose. Because life, in its finality, had dealt him a cruel blow. Cancer now ravaged his body, but even through his darkest days, he had valiantly struggled on for his beloved Dennis. However, with every passing day, time had become his enemy. He was slowly losing the fight against a disease that had no mercy, his will to live only existing because the thought of finally saying goodbye to his adored husband was too much for his heart to bear.
Closing his eyes, a kaleidoscope of memories swirled through his tired mind. Their first case together, the animosity and distrust feeding Tom's immediate dislike of the brash young officer. Over time, that dislike had slowly transformed into begrudging acceptance, before an indisputable shift of attitude had him re-evaluating his feelings. After working side-by-side with Dennis, he began to see chinks in his armour and it wasn't long before he'd captured his heart. If anyone had told him at the age of twenty-three he would fall head over heels in love with a man, he would have laughed in their face. But a man it was, and the same man it remained. They'd shared a lifetime of dizzying highs and gut- wrenching lows, but through it all, one thing remained constant. Theirs was a love story unlike any other, their unwavering devotion and commitment to each other the envy of many in their lives. That their love was born out of animosity never failed to bring a smile to both their faces. The Universe had seen fit to intervene, and two warring souls had eventually become one.
With a sigh, Tom's mind turned to their two beautiful daughters, both of whom had exceeded their expectations. The thought of leaving them and their children pained him to tears, but knowing his love would transcend even death helped heal the ache in his heart.
His thoughts then turned to his friendships, both past and present. Judy, who had selflessly and without question, bore them their two children, giving them the family he and Dennis had so desperately craved now lived in Florida with her son. Doug, whose good-natured humor and fierce loyalty had made him the perfect best friend, had lost his life on the job, the stray bullet depriving his devoted wife and young son of years of happiness and laughter. Brave Harry, who, at the age of sixty-two, hadn't hesitated to dive into turbulent waters to save a drowning child, had tragically died in hospital the following day. And last, but by no means least, their beloved captain had succumbed to the ravages of age, passing peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Each death had left an indelible hole in both Tom and Dennis's hearts. The Jump Street officers were more than just colleagues, they were family, and each and every one of them had impacted their lives. Over the years, other friends had come and gone, but theirs was a bond so strong, even death itself couldn't dissolve it completely.
A sudden weariness washed over Tom, and opening his eyes, he slowly turned his head and stared at the dozen medicine vials cluttering his bedside table. That someone who had never even taken an aspirin for a headache was now reliant on pain medication was, in his mind, an abomination. But his desire to spend quality time with his lover had eventually won over his ingrained aversion to drugs and he'd reluctantly given in to Dennis' tearful request. It had bought them some much-needed time and they'd enjoyed outings with their children and grandchildren. But as the cancer slowly progressed, the higher doses of medication slowly robbed him off those precious moments and he'd given in to the effects. He slept more and ate less, and as his body grew weaker, he knew his days were numbered. During his gradual decline, his lover rarely left his side. They spent the few hours a day he managed to stay awake, listening to music and reminiscing about their lives. The only taboo subject was their final farewell. Neither man could face the thought of leaving the other, and so they spoke of happier times and ignored the impending moment they would have to say goodbye.
Without warning, a sudden burst of pain ripped through Tom's body and his vision waned. It was then a strange peacefulness washed over him and mustering every ounce of strength, he propped himself on his elbow and pressed his lips against his lover's forehead. "I love you, Dennis," he murmured in a hoarse voice. "You are my everything. Now, forever, always."
Exhausted, he flopped back against his pillow and closed his eyes. A soothing calm enveloped his weary body, pulling him toward darkness. There was no fear, just a quiet acceptance that with life, also came death.
Minutes passed, the crescendo-decrescendo pattern of his breaths tearing invisible strips through the warm night air. But before his mind completely dimmed, a long forgotten song played through his head.
Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break if you should wake and see me go
So I leave you softly, long before you miss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
(Softly, long before you kiss me)
(Long before your arms can beg me stay)
(For one more hour) or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
As I leave I you there
As I leave I you there
Unbeknownst to the man sleeping peacefully beside him, it was his time. After a year of suffering, Tom's body was ready to surrender to the disease. And as he inhaled his last tortured breath, the clock struck midnight, the slow, measured tolls eerily announcing the end of a life.
But as his spirit began its journey toward the great unknown, his dying brain drew comfort in the knowledge that one day soon, he would see his lover's face again.

(Softly As I Leave You
Music by Tony De Vita/Sung by Elvis Presley)
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Softly