Howie and Brian rushed back into the house at the sound of the gunshot. They stopped cold when they saw Nick lying on the floor, a small pool of blood forming under his head. AJ had fallen to his knees and was crying.

"AJ, what happened here?" Howie yelled. He grabbed AJ by the shoulders and shook him.

"He said he wanted to die! That it was his fault about Kevin. He grabbed the gun from me and shot himself! He put the gun to his head and shot himself! I tried to stop him, but..." AJ was near hysteria. "I tried to stop him, D, I tried, I tried." he repeated.

"It's okay AJ, calm down, take a deep breath, calm down." Howie looked over at Brian. "I'll go call for help. I know it's hard to think straight right now, but guys, don't forget two of those jerks are probably on their way back as we speak. Be careful."

Neither AJ nor Brian paid any attention to him.

"I mean it!" Howie said, a bit more forcefully. "Watch yourselves. I'll be back as quick as I can."

Brian knelt down beside Nick. He moved his hand to Nick's neck and felt for a pulse. When he couldn't detect a heartbeat, his heart sank and hot tears pricked his eyes.

"Why did you do it, Frack? You big jerk, why?"

The tears ran freely down his face. He turned Nick gently onto his back and stared at his friends face, not believing that he'd never see that smile again. Brian rocked back and hugged his knees to his chest.

"Wasn't it enough that I've probably lost Kevin? Why you too? What am I gonna do without you guys?"

Brian slowly stood up and took his jacket off. He placed it carefully over Nick's shoulders. Absent-mindedly, he pushed some hair out of Nick's eyes.

"You can't be gone Frack, this can't be true. Don't die on me." he sobbed.

AJ came over and gave Brian a hug. The two men shared their grief for a moment, then AJ put his hands on Brian's shoulders and looked at him.

"Howie's right, Rok. Those guys could be back any minute. We can't do anything else until help comes. Let's watch our backs."

Brian wiped his face with one hand and nodded. Whatever horrors that had already taken place, they didn't need anything else happening to one of them. Enough had happened here to last ten lifetimes. It was hard for them both to believe that everything had occured in a matter of hours.

"I'm going to check on Kevin and Aileen, okay? You stay here with Nick and wait for Howie. Be aware, Rok."

AJ walked into the bedroom. He went over to Kevin first and carefully felt for a pulse on his neck. He didn't think there was any hope. Kevin's face was grey and his skin was cool to the touch. He had lost a lot of blood. He thought he could feel a faint beat, but he wasn't sure, his hands were shaking so badly it was hard to tell. AJ tried to move him into a more comfortable position and covered him with a blanket from the floor beside the bed.

"Take it easy Kev, stay with us, help's on the way."

Next he moved over to Aileen. Her eyes were closed now, but when he touched her shoulder, she recoiled.

"I can only imagine what you've been through, sweetie." he said softly to her. "Help's coming, we need you to hang on, okay. Kevin needs you."

AJ covered her with another blanket, brushed her forehead with a soft kiss and went out to Brian.

"Okay guys," Howie pronounced, walking back through the door a few minutes later. "The police and ambulances are on the way." As he uttered the words the three men could hear sirens screaming towards the house.

"Thank God!" Brian said. "Maybe, at least, Aileen can be saved and something good can come of all this."

As one, they turned toward the door to await the arrival of the police.