Redhawk Caldera window rattles

Because I now picture our characters as Meredith and Derek, lol, I can't help but think of Atticus as Mark Sloan (Derek's best friend on the show), who was very badly injured, had a "surge," then ended up dying. And, omg... Mark even had an illegitimate daughter that appeared earlier in the show! :P

Fox's own theory took him by surprise. He stood very still, pondering that possibility, then quietly dismissed it with a shake of his head. While he actually could picture Atticus wanting to avenge Bones, his brother certainly hadn't gone after her when she'd first been kidnapped. Furthermore, he wouldn't do something like that without mentioning it to anyone. No, Peregrine felt his own theory was much more likely, if all the more depressing.

"I don't think so," he murmured. "If he'd had something like that on his mind, we'd know. What I think..." He trailed off for a moment. Saying it out loud might make it feel too real. A deep sadness washed over him. "I think Atticus is dead. I think he was never going to fully recover from his head injury. He had a final surge — when he woke up — but ended up succumbing. My theory is that he instinctively sought solitude when he knew what was happening."

As he spoke, Peregrine trembled slightly and, despite himself, a single tear fell from each eye. He blinked and no more came, for the moment. Sighing softly, he pressed his face into his wife's neck.