The character Stackhouse doesn't belong to me. He belongs to the AMAZING actor Gabriel Macht. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

As Stackhouse watched Chris walk into the trees, tears began to roll down his cheeks. He knew he shouldn't be crying, but he was terrified. Scared that he would never see his wife and little girl again.

He remembered the first time he'd been with Melissa. He'd taken her to the fanciest restraunt in town, and in the middle of dinner, he'd dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. It was then that she decided she was ready. Her skin so soft against his. Her voluptous body pressed tightly to him. It's been the best night of his life, or so he'd thought at the time, but nine months later his daughter Amy was born. He loved Amy more than life itself and he would do absolutely anything for her.

But as he watched Chris disappear, it was looking less and less like he would see them ever again.

He tried to imagine them right there in front of him, but he couldn't. He couldn't even imagine Amy and Melissa in a place like this. They were too good for it.

Stackhouse's gaze drifted from Chris' disappearing back to the hill behind him. He could hear something coming. He wanted so badly to call out for Chris, but somehow he knew he wasn't going to make it, he didn't want to ruin Chris' chance too. Before they appeared over the hill, he thought of everything he was going to miss. Amy's first day of school, her first basketball game, her graduation, and her wedding. He'd never walk his baby girl down the aisle.

He stared at the man yelling at him. "Are there any others!?!?!?" God he hoped Chris was seeing this. 'I hopes Chris calls Melissa. This is going to kill her.' The cold steel of the gun barrel against his head was unbearable. 'Please pull the trigger. Get it overe with.' But the man didn't pull the trigger. "You're coming with me."

~~~TWO DAYS LATER~~~

Stackhouse lay on the ground, guns laying all around him. He wanted so badly to reach for one. To fire it into his captors, but they'd broken both of his arms, and his legs hurt too badly to move. He prayed for death now. "Stackhouse? You ok?" Stackhouse lifted his head up slowly. "Chris?" The bushes near him started to move and suddenly Chris appeared.

"Hang in there buddy. I'm gonna get you outta here." Stackhouse wanted to scream at him. "Chris look at them! They have more guns than we've ever seen. It's not gonna work." Chris' smile melted away. "I'm not going to leave you here to die." Stackhouse laid his head back on the ground. "Do me a favor, Chris. Shoot me." "That's not funny, Stack." Chris' normally laughing voice turned stern. "I'm serious, Chris. I want you to shoot me in the head, and call Melissa." Tears began welling in Stack's eyes. 'Please, Chris. Please." Chris put the silencer on his gun and put it to Stack's head. "Close your eyes buddy. Everything will be better soon." With that he closed his eyes and pulled the trigger. ~~~BACK IN MISSOURI~~~ Amy opened her eyes, not knowing what had disturbed her sleep. "Daddy?" She whispered. Standing above her was her father. "Go back to sleep baby." Everything's ok now." Amy rolled over and shut her eyes. "Goodnight daddy. I love you." Stackhouse bent forward and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you too baby." Melissa's eyes fluttered open. "Stack? When did you get home?" "I can't stay. I just wanted to say goodbye. I'm going away now, but I will ALWAYS love you." "What do you mean 'go away'? Yu just got here." She asked. "I love you Melissa. I always have." Melissa reached to turn on the lights, but when she looked back, he was gone. It was then she knew what had happened. Just then the phone rang. "Melissa? It's Chris. Stack wanted me to call you." Melissa began to cry. "He's dead isn't he Chris?" There was a moment of silence. "How did you know?" Through her tears, Melissa managed a smile. "He came home."