Looking for an Impossible Answer

"Maura… Why couldn't it be me instead?"

As Jack's empty words reached her, Maura's eyes started to water. What should she say? What could she say? She had no clue.

"J-Jack…"

Jack's eyes finally met hers instead of staring off into space. She was the first person he acknowledged since Slivia's death. 

Maura took another moment to swallow some of her fear and sighed deeply. "Jack, I don't know. I'm too weak to try and help you guys, let alone save her…"

"Too weak… I'm too weak…" Jack spoke to himself while his gaze stayed on Maura.

"Maybe it was fate, Jack. Everyone has their time and we can't control that," continued Maura, trying her best to find some kind of reason to make them both feel better. "She cared about you and knew that you could do a lot more than any of us in the future. If she did this, I'm sure she knew what she was doing."

"What did you say?" Jack's tone changed. It wasn't sorrowful but slightly hopeful.