No one spoke on the way home; the only sound, weeping from the two women. Elisabeth sat with Jackson's head in her lap, her tears dropping on his face. Connor wished he could comfort the women, yet knew if he tried to speak, he would break down.
***
Elisabeth laid Jackson's body on the sofa and knelt next to him. She placed one hand in his hair and the other on his chest. "We should bury him under the scarlet oak. He will have a blanket of red each fall."
Sarah wailed, "Oh, he would love that."
With her lips touching his ear, Elisabeth whispered, "I don't know how to live without you." She laid her head on his chest and wept. Connor held Sarah, her face buried in his chest. Any attempt at comfort was out of reach. Grief threatened to consume them, and there would be no reprieve from their anguish.
Elisabeth lifted her head. "I think I heard..." She placed her head back on his chest. "I hear a heartbeat. Sarah, listen." Sarah looked sympathetically at her, assuming she was imagining things.
Connor went wide-eyed. "His eyes just twitched."
"Jackson, wake up! Open your eyes! Wake up!" She squeezed both his hands, and felt pressure from his.
He was still for another moment then his lids opened. He looked around using only his eyes, then slowly sat up, staring straight ahead. "I'm freaking Lazarus." The other three stood in amazed silence. Jackson eyed Elisabeth. "What's with the toga?" She laughed then collapsed onto him sobbing. His arms enveloped her. "What happened after that bitch staked me?" Elisabeth continued to cry. Grief had overwhelmed her so completely, it was like a bad dream she could not shake off.
Connor began to recount the story until Jackson stopped him. "Wait. How did she morph into a wolf, it's not even close to a full moon?" Connor shrugged and Jackson put his hand on Elisabeth's head. "Can you turn into a wolf whenever you want?"
She shook her head. "I've heard of wolves morphing in dire situations, but always thought they were just stories. I remember thinking over and over that I couldn't allow him to kill someone I love again, and when Connor removed the IV, I went insane with rage."
Jackson raised his eyebrows. "You killed Victor. You're my hero."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and started crying again. "I never thought I would see that smile or feel your hands on me again."
Sarah sat on the other side of Jackson hugging him. "The defenses the Exemplars gave us must work for anyone trying to kill us."