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When Night Falls	By : knight Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Def Leppard Views: 2901 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Def Leppard... Joe, Sav, Phil, Vivian, Rick, Malvin...Forever Knight, Nick Knight, Geraint Wyn Davies. No profit is being made by writing this fiction piece.

Chapter List
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When Night Falls(Pt15)l o n g
Joe slowly came awake, staring into the dim light of the room. His eyes fell on the picture of Thomas as a little boy of 10, one that escaped his wrath and destruction of the living room the previous week. Realization slammed hard into his chest, of what this night held in store for him.
Pushing the light blanket off, not giving it a second though as to how the blanket got there, he rose from the couch. With heavy footsteps he went over to the picture and took it down from the hook. Tracing his fingers over the smooth glass, the eyes that stared back at him, so much like his own. Taking the picture with him, he laid back on the couch, pulling the blanket over his shoulders. Hugging the picture to his chest, the tears fell again for the hundredth time that week. The ache in his heart for a son, which he will never hold or see again, while he remained on this side, among the living.
‘How easy would it be to sit in the midday sun? Have it burn my skin, through and through, to a pile of ashes. Would it hurt, could I do it? Would I be able to withstand that pain, knowing that I’ll be with Rebecca and Thomas again? How would the ones I leave behind feel? As I do now…empty. How do I get through this again...can I, do I want too?’
‘Is he going to be alright mom?’ Thomas’ voice choked on the heartache that he felt from his father. The urgent need to go over and hug him, telling him everything was going to be alright.
‘Yes. Your father will be alright, Thomas. In time he will be.’
‘But, he’s thinking of….’
‘Trust me when I tell you. He will overcome his anguish and guilt. Guilt for not being there for you, when you needed him most.’ Rebecca squeezed his hand tight in hers.
Thomas and Rebecca glanced up as the soft noise of the doors to the living slid open. Sav squeezed through the small opening, leaving it ajar, he went over to the couch and sat on the edge beside Joe. Running his fingers softly through his hair several times before Joe turned slightly to look up at him. Without any encouragement, Joe pushed up from the cushion and went into his comforting embrace. The photograph he held wedged between them.
Sav gently rocked back and forth, holding him as tight as he dared, hoping to squeeze out the pain that Joe felt, but he knew that he couldn’t. Nothing could do that, except for Thomas to be here…alive. Sav swallowed the lump in his throat. He wanted so badly to give into his grief, but he couldn’t, not yet. He had to keep it together for Joe’s sake. Sav hadn’t realized that Amber came into the room, until her hand softly ran over his shoulder. She sat down behind Joe and wrapped her arms around both of them, affectingly encasing Joe between him.
“Shhh daddy, it’s going to be alright.” Amber whispered in his ear.
‘Mom, I..I show me how…please. I want to hold them one more time…please show me how to do that.’ Thomas pleaded with Rebecca as he turned to face her, ghostly tears glistening in his eyes. ‘I know it can be done. I felt you do it to me all those years ago.’
Rebecca glanced behind him to Steve, who stepped forward.
‘Thomas, you have all the time in the world to do that. Now is not the time. What you ask is very taxing on us and gives those you seek to comfort a false sense of hope.’
‘How?’ Thomas shot back.
‘Look at him Thomas. Have you seen him fall apart like this since you passed away and came to be with us?’
‘N..no.’
‘He is coming to terms with your death. If you succeed in this hug, it will lead him to believe that you are not dead. Joe needs his…’
Thomas cut him off. ‘Steve, my dad is not that stupid, he knows I’m dead.’
‘Yes he does know that, but hasn’t accepted the fact yet.’ Rebecca reached out to touch his cheek. ‘Thomas you have to understand. We cannot show you how to do this right now, in time we will. I promise you.’
Steve gently laid his hand on his shoulder. ‘Joe needs his wits about him for the coming days ahead.’
‘Why? What aren’t you telling me?’
‘Just know this…’ Rebecca started, turning back to the scene before them. Joe had calmed down, still in their embrace. ‘..Nick, Amber and the rest of the family will help him through.’
Joe relaxed more between them, pulling the strength he needed to get through this night from them. In his mind he felt the soft caress of those that he shared a blood bond with. It was mind boggling and giving him a headache, so he pushed them all away, all but the two that held him now. Although Nick, the persistent, refused to leave and stayed at the very edges, lurking in the darkness.
“Your thoughts scared me.” Sav whispered.
Joe sniffled and tried to push out of his arms, only to have Sav tighten them. Amber reluctantly let him go, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“I’m trying so hard to hold it together and be there for you. When you think of killing yourself, all I want to do is scream at you.”
“Nor me daddy. I’ve lost my mother and now Thomas, a little brother that I adored. You and Rick are the two most important men in my life. I don’t want to lose both of you.”
“Why would you even think about that?”
Joe wiggled from his embrace. “You just don’t get it.” Pushing him away, he grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around him he made to leave.
“Joe…” Sav started, but he waved him off. When he was gone, he turned to Amber. “What did I say wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Let me talk to him.” Amber rose, leaning over to kiss his cheek before leaving Sav alone to ponder what Joe meant, then leave so abruptly.
***
Around midnight, the long line of limousines followed the Hurst to the cemetery, where Thomas would be laid to rest besides his mother.
Joe glanced around the darkened hillside as he led Amanda to the grave site. The Community, from what he could see, had shown up for yet another fallen mortal friend. Later that night when the mortals who surrounded the grave left, the Community would pay homage to Thomas in their own way.
The ceremony was relatively short, the way Thomas wanted it. He didn’t want them to grieve for to long; instead he wanted everyone to celebrate his life.
“Joe are you coming.” Amanda linked her arm through his.
He covered her hand and looked at her. “You go ahead, I’ll be there shortly,” he leaned down and placed a linger kiss on her cheek.
Evelyn glanced at him briefly, then led Amanda to the waiting car.
He watched them walk off in the darkness a moment before turning his attention to what lay in front of him. He stared at the shiny mahogany casket, lightly running his fingers along the smooth surface. Flowers adorned the top, their sweet smell turning his stomach, while the rest of him felt numb, dead inside. The void that his son left in his mind of his sudden death remained unfulfilled. Instead Thomas lay inside the darkness of the casket, alone, his life cut short for whatever reasons unknown. Ones Joe silently vowed to Thomas that he would never rest until he found the man that took him away.
He didn’t feel the gentle hand on his shoulder or the soft voice that told him it was time to go, the gentle tug, when he didn’t move. His eyes remained transfixed on the coffin.
“We aren’t supposed to out live our children.” His voice flat, devoid of any emotions.
“Things happen for a reason Joe.”
Turning to look at him, eyes brimming with tears. “What reasons Rick? Why would some one do this? Thomas never hurt anybody. He spent his life helping others, he is kind, gentle, saw the good in everyone, even vampires...why? Tell me why some one could take him from us?”
Sav slid his fingers through Joe’s, squeezing gently. “I..I can’t, I don’t know why.”
Pulling his hand away, Joe looked back at the coffin. “I would have died years ago, of old age, natural causes, like I was supposed to,” he turned back to face Sav. “But, thanks to you and your obsession to bring me across, to live forever. I stand by and watch everyone that I care about, everyone I love, die, while I still live.”
“You’re not the only one hur….”
“Do you even understand how hard this is for me? How hard it was for us to even conceive him? Hoping that it wasn’t too late.”
”I was there Joe, just like I am now.”
“No, I guess you don’t understand. Kyle, the son you never knew about, a son you barely know, is still here among the living.”
”That’s not fair.”
”Life isn’t fair and I hate it.” Joe hissed close to his face. Staring him down a few seconds longer, he brushed past him and headed for the limousine.
‘What is he doing?’ Thomas turned from the man that knelt behind a thicket of bushes. Dressed all in black, to blend in better with his surroundings. The high powered rifle, resting against his shoulder, pointed at the group of mourners. “Doesn’t anyone in the Community sense him or the danger?’
‘No they do not.’ Steve answered softly.
‘You know what’s going to happen, who he’s going to shoot at. You can stop him.’
‘Changing one’s destiny is forbidden, Thomas. We are not allowed to interfere, only to observe.’
‘That’s bullshit.’ Thomas heatedly replied. ‘If you don’t do anything, then I will.’
Steve grabbed his arm and stopped him. ‘You cannot interfere.’
Sav dropped his head to stare at the ground, taken back by Joe’s tone of voice toward him. The pain of Thomas’ death, clear in their bond.
“He didn’t mean it the way it sounded Rick. Joe is hurt and angry, that will pass in time.”
“I know,” Sav looked up at Nick. “But, he was right in one thing…my obsession to bring him across. He wouldn’t be going through this now, if I wouldn’t have done that.”
“You cannot blame yourself for this. Blame the mad man that killed him.”
“Nick is right.” Phil moved closer to them; placing a reassuring hand on Sav’s shoulder. “Don’t let that consume you, like it has in the past. Concentrate on being there for each other, through the bad days ahead.” Phil pulled him into a gentle embrace. “We’ve all lost a son; Thomas was a part of us all.”
“Take Amber and Amanda home with you, take care of them.”
”Where will you be?” Phil asked pulling away.
“Where ever Joe is or goes.”
“Call if you need anything.”
”I will. Thanks Phil.” Sav turned his eyes to Amber as she made her way over to him. Taking her into his arms, Sav held her tight. “Everything is going to be alright pumpkin.”
“Take care of Daddy.” Amber said before she pulled away.
“You know I will.” Sav replied and brushed the tear from her cheek.
Phil and Gail flanked the two women and headed toward the line of cars, along with the rest of the families. Nick waited a few minutes, then disappeared into the shadows.
Sav took a few minutes to himself, saying his own goodbyes to Thomas.
Kyle came to stand beside him. “How are you holding up Dad?”
“I’m…alright.” Sav replied softly. “I have to hold it together, be here for Joe.”
“You can’t be strong for everyone, sooner or later you have to give into your own grief.” Kyle softly sighed, glancing at the man beside him, “I’ve seen a lot of grief in my career, so many levels, some so profound it touc...”
Sav suddenly turned and crushed Kyle to his chest, just a loud, echoing pop rang out, splitting the silence in the cool night breeze. It slammed into Sav’s back, jerking him forward a bit. It was quickly followed by a second, it too hit him.
Sav tightly clang to Kyle, sucked in his breath against the searing pain, “Don’t mov…” he hissed just as a third bullet sliced through his lower back, one rendered him unconscious as it shattered his vertebra.
Nick spun around, he recognized the sound of gunshots from his years on the police force. He swept his eyes over the landscape, looking for the point of origin when another shot rang out. It glanced off of the wooden casket. That’s when Nick noticed that Kyle was struggling to hold Sav up; he could see the blood stains on his back. Nick flew toward them as yet another shot cut through the air. It slammed into Kyle’s shoulder, causing him to drop Sav and stagger backwards. Nick knocked him to the ground seconds later, protectively covering him with his body.
Joe emerged from the back of the limo, just in time to see them falling to the ground. He heard the loud pop, then a woman’s scream. His gaze fell on Lily, who was kneeling beside Tracy.
“Don’t leave the car Crystal.” Joe yelled and flew toward them. He pushed Lily to the ground, covering her body with his, as another bullet whizzed passed them. Raising his head to get a look at Tracy, his heart lurched into his throat seeing her lifeless eyes, the blood quickly spreading across her chest.
“I have to get you to a safe place Lily.”
“No.” She cried. “What about Tracy?”
“I can’t help her now.”
”Bring her across Joe.”
”I can’t honey, her…” another bullet hissed by them. “…her heart has stopped.” Joe quickly got to his feet, using his body as a shield. He flew toward the car where Crystal was. Telling them both to stay on the floorboard. “Don’t move from this spot until I came back for you.”
He rushed back into the mayhem. Shouts and screams were coming from many directions. The mortals that came to the service, were running for cover, some that were too far away from any protection hugged the ground. Members of the Community raced from the shadows to protect them.
Joe spun toward a familiar heartbeat and flew in that direction. He skidded to halt behind a headstone that was immediately hit by a bullet, sending shards of granite flying.
“Evelyn.” He touched the warm clammy skin on her face. She opened her eyes to stare back at him. Joe ripped his shirt off, then tore away the material of her dress, to expose the wound low on her stomach. He gently pressed his shirt over it to stop the bleeding.
“I never stopped loving you Joe.” her voice a soft whisper among the noise in the background.
“It’s going to be…your going to be alright.”
“We had so many wonderful years together.”
”And we can again.”
Evelyn smiled weakly up at him. “No.”
He could hear her heart slow with every beat, with every gush of blood that soaked her dress. Grabbing her arms firmly, giving her a gentle shake. “Evelyn, I asked you a long time ago to come across. I don’t want you to leave me again stay with me forever.”
Evelyn placed her blood covered hand on his cheek and held his eyes with hers. “It won’t be forever Joe, we both know that.”
“Then share my life with Rick, like before. I promise it won’t be like before.” Joe pulled her into his arms. “Please baby let me bring you across.”
**
Kyle pushed against Nick to get him to move, flinching from the pain in his shoulder. “Get off…I want to go…”
“Stay down.” Nick growled as a dozen or more shots rang out. It finally grew silent of the loud pops that echoed against the slopping hills surrounding the cemetery. Mere minutes passed since the last gunshot rang out. Several minutes passed before Nick felt it safe enough to move, as other sounds floated to his ears of shouting and muffled cries. Even then, he was still leery about removing himself from Kyle. Finally pushing himself up, he tore at Kyle’s shirt to see how bad he was hurt.
“I’m fine Nick. The bullet is wedged in my shoulder go help the others.”
“Forget it. I’m not leaving your side.” He glanced around to where Sav lay unconscious, blood had trickled from his mouth. He crawled over to him, turning him over to check the wounds in his back. Nick slashed his wrist with his fangs, placing it against Sav mouth.
“He’s going to be alright.” Nick sucked in his breath from the hard pulls on his wrist. Letting him take a little more, then he pulled away. “He’ll most likely sleep now, giving his body time to heal as much as possible until I can get the bullets out.”
Kyle sat heavily on the ground beside them; he didn’t even see Phil standing there until he said something.
“Everyone that was with us are fine.”
”Beth.” Kyle looked toward the car where she was.
“She’s fine, a little shook up. Gail and Amber are with them. How about you Kyle?” Phil leaned over to see his shoulder.
“It’s nothing.”
“Philip stay here with them. Don’t leave for even a second.” With that, Nick flew off in the direction he saw the spark of gunfire.
**
Joe gently picked up Evelyn’s limp form, cradling her to his chest. He moved across the gentle swell of the hill, back to Thomas graveside, where he placed her on the ground beside Sav. He softly caressed her face before looking to Sav. His mind reaching out to feel for him, feel his pain, his healing.
“Joe.” Phil touched his shoulder, pulling him from the worry for the man laying beside him.
“I couldn’t let her die. I can’t help Tracy, but I reached Evelyn in time.” Joe glanced over the hill. He could see at least three people dead, several others wounded. He slowly rose to his feet and walked a few yards away.
“Where are you…you fucking coward!?” Joe yelled into the darkness. “Is it me you want? Well here I am motherfucker, come and get me!!”
Heads turned to stare at him as he screamed in the still night. No one bothered to stop him, instead went about taking care of the wounded.
The members of the Community felt his rage at the unseen foe, they heard about the danger that Joe’s family was under, but it didn’t stop them from coming tonight.
Joe moved in a small circle, still shouting until he saw Rick stagger from behind the car. He flew towards him, grabbing his arm to hold him up, blood oozed down his face from the gash just under his hairline.
“I was going to Lily....they’re gone Joe…Crystal, Lily someone took them.”
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When Night Falls