Chonis child :)

Last Words

12 hours later
Toni's POV
"Is this Toni Topaz?" I hear as I pick up the phone
"Speaking,"
"You're the emergency contact for 2 victims on the 3V567P crash, Tate and Reginald Mantle, you need to come to the hospital quickly,"
She gives me the address.
"Cher I gotta go,"
"Where?"
"Hospital,"
"I'm coming, I'll text Pea,"
She texts Pea.
"Mommy no I don't want you to go," TJ screams
Both him and Owen start screaming.
"You wanna come?" I ask him
He sniffles and nods.
"Alright buddy lets go,"
We seat them in their car seats and I take off.
We get there in record time and I go to the front desk.
"Reggie and Tate Mantle?" I ask
"The doctor's in room 345," She says "we can look after your boys,"
I nod and social workers come to get the boys.
345. I go upstairs and Cheryl's close behind me.
"Are you Toni and Cheryl Topaz?" The doctor asks
"Yes we are," I say "how are the boys?"
"I don't have good news," he starts
A tear runs down my face.
"But first we need you to id both the boys,"
I nod and they show me a picture of Reggie. He's hooked up to machines and looks pale but he looks ok? I guess.
"That's Reggie Mantle," I say "my best friend,"
"And this?"
Tate looks in bad shape. He's bloodied and bruised.
"That's his little boy," I say "Tate Mantle,"
He sighs and nods.
"Do you want me to start with reggie?"
"Sure," Cheryl says
"He's alive, he was talking earlier but not too much. He's in a lot of shock," he says "we're trying and it's looking ok for him,"
"And tate?"
He sighs and gives me a long face.
"Unfortunately, Tate was deceased upon arrival. The good news, he didn't suffer. It was quick and painless, I'm sorry for your loss," he says "a loss like this can be hard on all, it's so tragic he is the youngest casualty thus far in the attack,"
"The attack?" I ask
"Some Terrorist group brought the plane down, just confirmed,"
I nod- numb from the news that Reggie's little boy, a boy our daughters age, a boy they grew up alongside- just died. Victim of a terrorist attack it's unbelievable
Cheryl's crying and so am I now.
"Does Reggie know?"
He shakes his head.
"He does not," he says "we can tell him,"
"I'll do it," I say wiping my tears "can I see him?"
"Of course,"
"Babe you go see the boys," I say, knowing this hurt her a lot
She nods and I make my way to Reggie's room.
"Topaz?"
"Hey buddy," I say sitting in a chair "how are you feeling?"
"What's wrong?" He asks "I'm fine, what's wrong?"
He was always great at reading me.
"Reggie, there was a terrorist attack. On your plane. And, Reggie- obviously you were hurt but,"
"Where's tate? Where's my boy?"
"Reg, Tate didn't make it," I say crying
Silent for a second
"What do you mean?"
"He died on impact,"
Reggie starts bawling.
"No, no you're joking," he says "he can't be dead, he can't be,"
"Reggie, I'm sorry," I say crying "he didn't suffer,"
"No he told me he loved me and that he was okay, he said he was okay,"
"They found him and he had no vitals," I say "they tried, hard,"
"But he didn't survive," Reggie says looking at me
I hug him and he tentatively hugs me back
"I'm sorry Reggie," I say "I really am sorry,"
"He didn't suffer though?"
"No Reg, he didn't, they assured me,"
"Good, that's good,"
I sit there u top Cher comes in.
"Hey," she says sitting beside me
"Hi," Reggie says
"You told him?" She asks
"I did," I sigh
"I'm sorry Reggie,"
"As long as he didn't suffer, he'll be okay,"
"How are you feeling?"
"I have a lot of energy," he says
"You always have," she sighs "TT, a word?"
We go into the hallway.
"The doctors think this is something called a surge,"
"They made that up on greys anatomy," I say
"No T it's a real thing, there is no way reggie should be this energetic and he's declining- isn't he?"
I nod.
"I'm sorry T, but you have to be in there, help him,"
I nod and walk back in.
"Topaz I'm dying aren't I?" He asks
"Why would you think that Reg?"
"The way Cheryl walked in, the way I'm feeling and the way you're looking at me right now,"
"Ya Reg, the doctors say it's not looking good for you,"
"That's ok," he says "I'll get to see my boy,"
"Ya, he's there," I say "don't go too soon though man, I'll miss you,"
"I'm staying as long as I can Topaz," he says giving me a small smile
"I don't know how it came to this," I say
"Everything happens for a reason Topaz," he says "I have to hope something good- anything good will come from this,"
"I guess so,"
"I think the problem is you think you have time," he says
"Did you just quote a country song right now?" I ask
"Always Topaz," he laughs
After a few minutes of silence he starts coughing.
"You promise me one thing," he says
"Anything bro,"
"You never let Andrews or Manson coach the Bulldogs," he says
"Never Reg,"
"Will you do it?" He asks "take over for me?"
"I'll fight my ass off for it,"
He smiles and grabs my hands
"And no tears," he says "especially at my funeral. If there are tears I'm coming back to haunt you,"
I laugh and shake my head
"And they better play the Macarena at my funeral and Uptown Funk at my burial,"
"This is morbid," I laugh
"I'm dying T," he sighs "and if Lodge shows up, shoot her on sight- for me?"
"Gladly,"
"Make sure the girls know I love them, and Cheryl and the boys," he says
"They know Reg, they know,"
"T you're my best friend in the world. 100% hands down, I love you Toni,"
"I love you too bro,"
"I know it's weird, but I'm not even scared,"
"You've always has no fear man, I wouldn't expect you to be,"
"I get to see Alicia, and Tate," he says "and I get to see my mom,"
"Wanna say hi to nana rose for us?" I ask
He nods
"I loved that old gal,"
After a few minutes, the machine starts beeping and he starts coughing again
"Remember me Topaz, I'll be okay," he says "goodbye,"
"Good Bye," I say "I love you,"
"I'll miss you Toni," he says
"Me too man," I say crying
"No tears Topaz," he says "what did Cheryl always say?"
"Being Happy never goes out of style," we say in unison
"I guess it's time I start thinking of my last words," he jokes
"You are something else Mantle," I laugh
"Spaghetti? Lasagna? I don't even know if I'm Italian,"
"I think Cheryl will murder your ghost if she heard those were your last words," I joke
He laughs and nods
"Maybe last words are stupid, I've said all I needed to say,"
I laugh and shake my head.
"Thank you, for the best years of my life," he says "for sticking by me when I'm an idiot. And for giving me something to live for,  without you this would be a lot easier,"
"Thanks for sticking with me, and for giving me a chance," I say
"I regret only one thing Topaz,"
"What's That Mantle?"
"That I didn't befriend you sooner," he says "that I was mean to you,"
"It's okay Reggie," I laugh through my tears
He starts crying too
"You are forgiven Bro, I love you,"
"Toni, never stop being a good person because of the bad people," he says "keep being you, forever, I'll see you again someday. But it better not be soon,"
"One day Mantle," I say squeezing his hands "one day in paradise,"
"In paradise," he sighs closing his eyes
I see the wash of death fall over his once youthful face
See the life drain from his body
And he face finally find peace.
With the constant beep of the machine
I know he's free.