A/N- Welcome to Sempiternal, chapter two...
... If you are homophobic or not a Ryan/Jane/Neil shipper, you might be slightly irked by a line or two in this.
... Actually, if you're the latter, nevermind. Read this, then go read Ovo's The World Can't Compare. Then you might wanna read the fifth chapter of Letters. Maybe we'll convert you. 3

Dedicated to: Terra, because God knows I'd've dropped out of the TSW scene long ago if she didn't keep me writing. MegMeg, 'Lysia, Cat, Kate, and... ... yep, I think that's about it.

A small shout to Digital Damita, as well, 'cause... she like... thinks I'm this good writer, or something... (Weirdo... ;P lol)

Sempiternal

"Love is a reason for living, a reason for dying,
Love is everything"
-Everything, The Juliana Theory

She exited the bathroom fifteen minutes later, her hair still damp from the shower. She was dressed rather sloppily for a Proudfoot. Her tank top was messily tossed on over unusually baggy pants that were normally tucked away in boots up to her knees, but today her feet were bare as she scuffled on out of the bathroom. As she dragged her feet childishly, she grinned at the idea of shocking Neil, just for the fun of it. But she froze halfway to the bed, the grin fading as she saw Neil there, staring at the ceiling, still as stone. Her heart pounded in her ears.
"Neil?" She asked, worried. He blinked, sitting up.
"Yeah?" The woman shrugged, feeling foolish. What did she think, he'd died in the time it took for her to freshen up?
"... Never mind."
"So, um, you hungry?" Jane shook her head.
"Not really... ... More tired than anything, believe it or not." She said. He nodded.
"Um, well, you can have the bed, I'll, just, uh..." Neil's eyes moved around the room, landing on her. She shrugged in response, and his mind reeled at her sudden nonchalance and innocence.
"We're not kindergarteners, Neil. I think we can handle sleeping in the same bed. Just, stay on your side." She said slowly, contemplating her words before they escaped her mouth. He nodded, and they climbed into opposite sides of the bed, backs to each other and an unfamiliar empty space in between them as they closed their eyes. Just as he was starting to drift off into a sleep, he heard her. " 'Night, Neil." He mumbled goodnight to her, but doubted they formed real words and not inaudible, lapping mumbles. Eventually, they both fell into a peaceful sleep.

When morning came, however, they weren't abiding by Jane's simple rule. Neil had her in his arms, and she'd curled into his embrace sometime between the nine hours they'd spent asleep. The way they were laying, though, would make it seem to anyone that they were still asleep, though both were awake. Whether the other knew that, however, was beyond them. Finally, Jane moved enough to make him realize her consciousness.
"Morning." He offered cheerily.
"Morning." She returned quietly. They studied each other thoroughly, as if trying to verify the other's existence. He moved her hair from her face, and the blissful world they'd locked themselves away in got just a little brighter as unsaid words hung heavily in the air around them.
And the one most important to them seemed to be coming closer and closer to happening, as they lingered there. His head moved towards hers, and she moved to meet him half way.
Their lips barely met for the first time since they'd returned when the phone rang. He mentally cursed his luck, turning his back to the bed as he sat up and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Neil! It's me... Where were you all night?" Aki Ross' voice greeted him.
"Um. Sleeping?" He said, as if she should have known.
"Well, listen - everything's fine, Jane's back!"
"I know." He stated.
"You do? She's there? How is she?" Aki interrogated him.
"Yes, yes, and fine." Neil sighed, getting bored with the caller and the call.
"I hope you're not allowing her to run around."
"She's a grown woman, I'm not gonna stop her, I don't have the right."
"She's also been proclaimed dead. She can't be walking around in public until we fix that." The phone received a glare.
"Then get to work fixing it." He said angrily, but caught himself and sighed. "Please? Doctor?" She laughed.
"Alright, but *please* keep an eye on Jane?" Aki asked.
"Yeah, sure." He promised, hanging up the phone a moment later. He turned to face Jane slowly, finding the bed empty. He jumped to his feet, glancing around the room. 'Great job, Neil, you lost Jane already.' He thought to himself, searching around for her. He found her in the main room, staring out the window. Cautiously, he walked up behind her, moving his arms around her. She leaned into him after a moment.
"It's a nice day out." She said casually, but her tone and the look on her face was one of awe and wonder at the one thing she'd longed to see her whole life, but never imagined she would.
"Beautiful." He agreed. "Speaking of which, you're confined to the apartment until Aki finds a way to change your status." She smirked.
"So technically I'm still dead."
"Technically, I guess? You're breathing…"
"You're the only one that notices."
"So? We'll fix it." He assured her. She sighed, not in defeat, but rather to change the subject. "Let's get breakfast, okay?" He asked quickly. She nodded, following him to the small kitchenette while he searched for food.

A week passed, and their dear Sergeant hadn't returned from the other world. The brighter news was, Jane could walk around again. Which she was taking full advantage of at the moment, as she knelt before Ryan's grave. She kissed her fingertips, touching the tombstone.
"C'mon, Ryan, you can make it back…" She whispered, fully aware that Neil was only about ten feet behind her. "… we need you back." She stood slowly, walking back to Neil. He slipped his arm around her as they walked off.

Ryan Whittaker gasped, opening his eyes. It was dark and musty around him, not to mention extremely hard to breathe. He barely heard Jane's voice, muffled and far away.
"C'mon, Ryan, you can make it back… we need you back." Back? Back where? Memories flashed quickly. Neil dying. Jane dying. Killing the phantom, followed by his own death. He moved his arm, but it was stopped. His hands moved urgently when he found himself trapped, starting to gasp for air as he fought to calm himself, managing to crack the casket open, kicking and digging at the recently disturbed ground.

Neil glanced back, his sad eyes widening when he saw the ground moving. "Holy sh-"
"What?" Jane cut him off, turning. "…Jesus…" She started towards it, running with Neil. Neil slid to a stop next to it, reaching Ryan first as the man broke through the soil. Neil grabbed the older man's hand and helped tug him out. Ryan coughed, sitting next to Neil.
"Glad to see you two." He gasped out.
"Aren't you always?" Neil grinned nervously, unnerved by the whole situation. He listened to Ryan's heavy breathing, and after a moment, decided to ask, "Ya need mouth-at-mouth, 'something, Ry?" Jane ignored the flirtatious comment, embracing the colored man, who hugged her back.
"You two have any idea what's going on?" He managed.
"Not really, we kinda, just… came back to life." Neil replied, dusting off his friend, Jane still clinging to his arm. He was surprised he wasn't jealous, but then, the three had always been close, cared for each other in ways no one could even try to understand, let alone try to rival the feelings they all shared, even if Jane acted as stoical as she did in public. And therefore, they were reunited, a complete heart, and near- complete squadron. The sun peeked from behind a cloud, and once more, there was hope.

*grumbles* … chapter sucked…