Sam Guthrie clutched the steering wheel tightly, trying to see through the pounding rain. But he was determined, he was going to reach his destination. He wasn't going to put it off anymore, not after last night, not after the love they had shared.
He was going to get to Tabitha, and he was going to ask her to marry him, if it was the last thing he did.
He smiled slightly, imagining to the look on her face when he showed up on their doorstep, with a velvet ring box in hand.
He could see her so clearly, her pale blonde hair hanging about her like a halo, her pure blue eyes shining with love. He blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears of joy at bay. Their would be plenty of time later for tears, he told himself.
He had been driving home from seeing her, and been struck by a thought: what if he didn't live long enough to ask Tabitha to marry him? His life was so dangerous. Some super villain or some FOH member could kill him at any time.
That had been the deciding factor. He had turned his car around, and headed straight back to X-Force's new base, and not hell or high water would stop him from reaching Tabitha's side.
Of course, things were never as easy as he planned it, Sam thought, peering through the window shield. He'd driven straight into the heart of the worse storm this year. Only the thought of his sweet love kept him on the road, kept him from pulling off and waiting out the storm. He wanted to ask her now, before he lost his nerve.
God, how he loved her. He was willing to give up every aspect of his life, if she wanted him too. He would gladly slit his own throat, if she but asked. His beautiful angel, his lifemate, his Tabitha.
He still recalled how amazing it had felt, to awaken by her side this morning. The soft noises she had made in her sleep, the way she snuggled against him…it had been the closest he had ever been to Heaven.
Heaven…it was the feel of her arms around him, the way she said his name when he held her so close to him, the way she never let go, until it was absolutely necessary. He wanted to spend the rest of his life safe in her arms.
So caught up in his musings, Sam didn't see the fallen tree before it was far to late. When he finally DID see it, stopping wasn't a possibility. He yanked the wheel hard to the left, trying to avoid a head on collision.
The truck skidded out of his control, and jumped the bank. It crashed down into the ditch, the front end crashing hard. Sam was thrown forward, his head striking the dashboard. The impact was enough to stun him, but not to knock him unconscious. The steering wheel slammed into his ribs, breaking them and forcing them into his lungs.
He struggled to breath, but to no avail. The truck tumbled over, onto its hood. Sam was trapped in the cab, the world rapidly growing dark around him. Blood was running down into his eyes, from an unknown source.
Summoning all his waning strength, Sam tried to force his way out of the window. Second by agonizing second, he squirmed trying to extract himself from the totaled car. Suddenly he felt something snap inside his body, and he could no longer feel his legs. The only thing racing through his pained drenched mind, as he slowly felt himself fading, was that he would never again see his family, his friends, or…his Tabitha. If only Ah could have seen her once more…
"Ah…love you girl." Sam managed to gurgle out, as his eyes slipped shut for the last time.