This eerie scenario came to a head during Mindy and Kurt's lavish wedding. At the reception, Lujack proudly screened his video (Bruce Springsteen's "Out in the Street"), complete with the ringed symbol. I.Q. sang on the video and Mindy performed in it. A programmed Billy pulled a gun and aimed it at Kyle, but when H.B. Lewis (Billy's father) called out Billy's name in the ensuing melee, David was shot instead! During Billy's trial, Suzette came forward to confess that she had fired the shot that killed David.

Beth was then kidnapped and held hostage aboard Largo's tanker. Lujack, Kyle and Kurt teamed up to find Beth. She melts in Lujack's comforting embrace, then she pours out everything about her horrible ordeal, including Largo murdering Jackson when they tried to escape and Largo's cruelly manipulative mind games which he inflicted on her. Kurt and Lujack realize Kyle is missing; he had gone after Largo. They also quickly realize the tanker is going to explode, because water coming into the boiler room from the rip in the tanker's side is building up steam to out-of-control levels. They both leave to look for Kyle over Beth's frantic objections, Lujack saying he owed their friend. Kurt comes back without Kyle or Lujack; he makes sure Beth is airlifted to safety. Then the tanker explodes into an inferno, killing Largo and severely injuring Lujack.

Lujack is rushed to Cedars along with Beth. Lillian is overjoyed to see her daughter alive and relatively unhurt. Alex is already there with Calla and Jessie, wondering what happened to Lujack. Beth says she's not sure, she arrived first, and the doctors weren't telling her anything. In the ER, Lujack is examined, and he nearly doubles over in pain when his abdomen is barely touched. Dr. Darnell confronts the anxious women and tells them Lujack is badly hurt and surgery will need to be performed immediately to try and stop massive internal bleeding. Both Beth and Alex plead with Dr. Darnell to see Lujack: "He has to know Beth is alive!" cries Alex. The doctor reluctantly agrees, just for a minute before they take him to the OR. The women are shocked to see how seriously injured Lujack is, even with the doctor's forewarning. Beth takes Lujack's hand; he weakly says her name. "Bracelet" he whispers, making sure the doctor gives Beth the bracelet he gave her, the one that matched his, the one she thought she'd lost. "I'm never taking it off!" Beth says fervently.

The surgery stabilizes Lujack to a degree. Beth has never left his side despite Alex and Lillian's advice for her to get some rest, especially after what she's gone through. But Beth will have none of it. While he's asleep, Beth tenderly strokes Lujack's hair and notes his color is better, that's a good sign isn't it, she asks Lillian wistfully. Lillian doesn't say anything, but her worried expression speaks volumes. Alex shares a tender childhood memory of Lujack with Calla and Jessie; she crumbles, pleading with God to save her son.

Later, Lujack is awake but very weak. Dr. Darnell says it's hard to keep a good man down in front of Lujack and Beth, but he ushers Alex and Lillian into the hall to tell them he doesn't like what he sees, that despite giving him blood, Lujack's blood pressure is still dropping. "What does that mean?" asks a panicked Alex. It means a second surgery, because there must be more internal bleeding, says Dr. Darnell. A horrified Alex asks if Lujack could possibly survive another surgery; Lillian assures Alex it has to be attempted.

Meanwhile, Beth and Lujack share some tender, final moments together, as their song "Almost Paradise" plays softly in the background. With the knowledge only the dying have, Lujack gathers what little strength he has left, fixing his gaze on Beth, wanting to remember her face, her love. Beth is blithely focusing on the future, holding his hand, saying she can't wait until they're married. Lujack replies sadly "Yeah, I think we've waited long enough, don't you? Almost too long." Beth declares firmly "Don't say that!" Then gently, "I don't know what I'd do without you!" Lujack tries to reassure her: "You ain't ever gonna have to find out, babe. I ain't never gonna leave you again." Beth asks "Promise?" Lujack answers "I swear it." But he looks down, already knowing he won't be keeping his promise to his beloved. "No matter what we've been through, no matter what it cost us, it was all worth it," finding Beth's loving gaze again. She replies lightly, "Oh come on, a lot of it was fun." Lujack replies wryly, "Oh yeah, prison was a riot!" Beth laughs gently and says, "I wouldn't change a minute of it though." She sighs, reaches out to stroke Lujack's fevered brow and continues: "Everything we've been through has led us to where we are right now. And right this minute, I know there's no stopping us. We're together now, and that's the way it's going to stay!" Lujack smiles slightly, wishing the strength of her love were enough to stop the pain that was consuming him. "I love you, Beth," he replies solemnly. Very moved, she bends down to kiss him tenderly. "I love you, Lujack." She continues stroking his hair as he quietly says "No matter what happens, nobody can ever take that away from us." Beth's loving expression turns to fear as he continues in the past tense: "You remember that, sweetheart. We had it. We had the real thing." Suddenly a searing pain grips Lujack; he raises his head, grabs her hand hard and cries her name. "Lujack?" she cries in fear, knowing, yet not wanting to believe what's happening. "BETH!" he screams, and he spasms in pain one last time as his heart stops and the breath leaves his body. "NO," Beth screams, over and over, trying to do anything and everything to revive her beloved. Finally she gives up and sobs uncontrollably into Lujack's now-lifeless chest as the flatlined heart monitor blares. Alex rushes into the room and screams in denial at losing her beloved son, so soon, too soon after she'd found him.

Dr. Darnell gives his sincere sympathies to Alex, saying he had no idea it would happen this fast. Alex accepts his condolences, telling him he did everything he could. Jessie sees the machines leave the room, and she knows what's happened. Lillian, then Alex tries to convince Beth to leave Lujack's body behind, but she refuses to budge. "No, I won't leave him. I won't let you take him away from me. We're together now!" she cries. Alex herself doesn't want to go home, telling Lillian she feels as if she's deserting her son.

Jessie finds Beth in Lujack's room, caressing his pillow, saying he'll be back soon, I want to be here when he comes. Jessie gently tries to break through Beth's denial, telling her they're not bringing him back. Beth doesn't hear her, she goes about tidying the room for Lujack's return. Jessie tries again: "He's not coming back. Lujack's gone." Beth snaps "Don't ever, ever say that again!" Jessie keeps trying: "Beth, he died. Lujack died." She hugs her cousin, then leaves at Beth's request. "He's coming back," Beth firmly says out loud to herself. "Lujack wouldn't leave me, he promised," less sure. Then she breaks down: "He promised!" she sobs. Eventually Beth falls asleep on Lujack's bed, holding his pillow, still wearing his leather jacket.