Frank Gallagher had cheated death more times than anyone Luke knew.
But this time, death didn't chase him.
It waited.
The Diagnosis
Alcoholic dementia wasn't dramatic.
No explosions.
No apologies.
Just confusion that crept in quietly and never left.
Frank forgot days first.
Then names.
Then reasons.
Luke read the report once.
Wernicke–Korsakoff.
Irreversible.
Progressive.
He closed the file.
"Bring him home," Luke said.
Dignity Over Chaos
The hospital corridor smelled like disinfectant and indifference.
Frank lay on a gurney, half-conscious, mumbling about beer prices from the '90s.
Luke stood beside him.
"Not here," he said calmly.
Money moved faster than paperwork ever could.
Within hours:
A hospital bed was installed in the house
A nurse rotation scheduled
Medications arranged, measured, monitored
No forms.
No headlines.
Just care.
The Man Beneath the Ruin
Frank had good days.
On one of them, he looked at Luke clearly—really looked.
"You're not mad," Frank said, confused. "Why aren't you mad?"
Luke sat down.
"Being angry doesn't help you now."
Frank squinted. "You always were weird."
Luke smiled faintly. "Learned it early."
Closure Without Forgiveness
Luke didn't forgive Frank.
He didn't need to.
He stayed anyway.
He made sure Frank ate.
That he didn't wake up alone.
That someone answered when he called out names that didn't exist.
Sometimes Frank thought Luke was his brother.
Sometimes he thought he was a bartender.
Luke corrected him when it mattered.
The End
Frank's breathing slowed one night.
No chaos.
No screaming.
Just a quiet room and the hum of the old heater.
Luke held his hand.
Frank's eyes fluttered open once.
"House feels full," he whispered.
Luke nodded. "Yeah. It is."
Frank smiled—small, genuine.
Then he was gone.
After
There was no dramatic funeral.
Just a simple service.
Family. Closure. Silence.
Luke stood last by the grave.
"Rest," he said softly. "You did enough damage."
System Update:
Event:Frank Gallagher — Closure Achieved
Method: Dignified Passing
Karma Awarded: +600
Narrative Chain:Chaos → Containment → End
Luke walked home.
For the first time in his life—
Frank Gallagher didn't leave a mess behind.