((Post ia part of the Sublimation, as if he missed the events of Broken Steele))

In the Inn this night, she had heard a great many things. Things that could not be. Things like the dead coming back like they had never gone. People she had loved. People she had never thought she would see again. People that she had buried.

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Dakota was driving home early from work. It was odd for him to get off this early, for a Saturday. It was only a month after their son Shilah had been born. He was so anxious to see his little boy, even if it was to take a glimpse of him sleeping. Just to know that his son was alright when he got home.

He took the short drive home with ease. Hardly any traffic, easy tunes, all thinking about getting back to his wife and baby boy at 1240 Appleberry Lane.
He pulled his little old beat up truck in slowly to the driveway. All the lights were off. That was odd, Jade never went to bed this early. She always waited up on him. She always left the porch light on. There was always a light on for him in the living room. It was all so off. It just didn't seem right.

He stepped out and down the path to the door. He turned the key and opened the door without any trouble. He reached for the light switch and was me by a sight he didn't expect. Things were in boxes here and there. Most of the stuff - couches, tables, etc. were all still there. In Dakota fashion, he started swearing. What he thought and what he noticed were two different things. He thought Jade got a wild hair from being so emotional after giving birth and left while he was at work. But what he failed to notice was the layer of dust that had formed on the exposed tables and pictures.

He snatched a remaining house phone off the hook. He pressed the button and was met with no dial tone. "What the hell is goin' on here? Jade, what the f---?"

Dakota threw the phone on the couch, that landed with a plum of dust. He eyed the dust for a moment before giving a huff.
He fumbled to get his cell out of his pocket. It wasn't nothing fancy, but it was something that could take the beatings. Like Dakota. He punched in her number, and waited for the ringing.

~

Jade was walking back to the Ravenlock compound that was now her home. She had left after feeling an urge. She didn't know what the feeling was, but it was something like flight after hearing about dead people's return. She just couldn't sit still at the inn.

Her cell phone began to ring. She curled up her nose. She pulled it out from her C o' H, but dropped it upon seeing the name on the caller ID.

"Da..kota?!" Her mind raced. No. It was a joke. A sick joke. A mistake. She had cut off his phone years ago.

She kneeled down, picking up the phone. Slowly, with a shaky finger, she pushed the answer button.
"Jade!? Jade can ya hear me? What in the hell is goin' on here? I know ya picked up!" He paused, "Listen, I don't know what happened or what I did. Jus' come home. I love you, baby."

Jade sucked up a breath, fighting a sob. Quickly, she hung up the phone. No, it... couldn't be. She spun on her heel. Their home on Appleberry Lane wasn't too far off from where she was. She was sent sprinting at full speed.

Dakota had opened the children's bedroom doors. Nothing was in the rooms. The beds, the crib, the clothes, the toys - all were gone. He stood there in the doorway of Shilah's bedroom. Mouth gaped open just slightly. How could she do this? To him, of all people. They were happy! They are happy!

That was it. He grabbed his jacket off of the stairwell and dialed her number again. Dakota went down the steps in a tizzy, phone pressed to his ear - listening to the phone ring.

"Come on!" He huffed. His hand trailed the stairwell railing. Soon, dust covered his hand. That made him stop dead in this tracks. Jade ain't that messy, he thought. Ain't no way this much dust should be here.

The front door flew open, and wild and distraught Jade stepped in. Her still ringing cell phone dropped, again, to the floor as her eyes fell on him. She began to shake at her knees. Literally, shaking in her combat boots.

"Da... kota?" She gasped out. Jade was feeling dizzy, very dizzy.

He looked at her like she was out of her mind. What in the world was she doing going out in that already? She had just had a baby for crying out loud! She shouldn't be out looking that damn fine. That black dress with a slit up to her thigh? And combat boots? He thought he might... Nevermind that! What was she doing out in that, or out period, and trying to move on him!?

"Jade, what the hell is the meanin' of all this?" He moved towards her, setting his jacket back down on some boxes. "Babe, I thought we had a good thing goin'. Ain't nothin' wrong that I know of. Whatever it is, we can work things out. Yer jus' a little emotional after havin' the baby is all."

She didn't move as he wrapped his big warm arms around her. Jade did the only thing she could do: cry. She couldn't hold onto him. She couldn't grab hold. Jade was afraid. Not of him, but she couldn't accept this. She couldn't lose him again.

He noticed that she was acting awfully funny. He looked at her in those green eyes, a hand moving to cup her face. Dakota gave her one of his crooked smiled as a thumb wiped away some of her tears, "Now, baby, no need ta cry. I'm 'ere an' everythin' is alright. We can jus' talk about this."

Her hands went up to hold his face between her palms. "You can't be here," she started in a whisper. Her bright green hues took him all in. He was dressed in the clothes he wore to work the Saturday prior to his death. She stroked his cheek, thumb going down to feel his scruff. "You can't be real."

"Jade," He pressed a hand to hers a his face, "I think ya may be having some post part-em. We need to call Rhy, then I'll call the doctor. Have ya been takin' yer medicine?"

She pushed him back a little, "Listen to me! I buried you! I buried you two years ago!"