Death of Dana Fairbanks



The Death of Dana Fairbanks is a pivotal moment in the L Word Universe. It occurred during The L Word 301, Losing the Light in 2006.

Background
In 2006, Dana Fairbanks was still at least semi-active as a pro tennis player and had just won the Mercedes-Benz Challenge the previous month. At the same time, Dana was developing breast cancer which was not caught until it was too late. On February 4, Dana felt ill was rushed to a hospital.

Losing the Light
On Thursday, February 9, 2006 Dana would experience her final hour of life in this realm. At her side for the previous five days was best friend and ex-girlfriend, Alice Pieszecki. Dana's final words would be "I love you" to Alice just before Alice was encouraged by one of the nurses to get some fresh air.

Having gone outside for that air, Alice met Tonya for the first time since she and Dana's breakup in 2005. They talked for a short while with Alice not revealing that Dana was her reason for being at the hospital.

At 2:34pm, Dana's health deteriorated with medical staff swarming in, hoping to save her. At 2:35 and 41 seconds, the doctor called off the attempt, pronouncing her dead. Moments later, Alice would return only to be told the news of Dana's passing while she was away, causing her to break into tears of anguish on the floor.

Impact
The immediate impact was felt on Dana's friends. Her funeral would be that Sunday, on February 12 hosted by her family's church, but seeing it as an illegitimate service in Dana's memory, the friends decided to have their own service. Part of this involved Alice stealing Dana's ashes while no one was watching so they could be scattered over a lake at Camp Imalahkaha.

After scattering Dana's ashes, things were never quite the same between the friends.

Jenny Schecter would grow further apart from the group and becoming at odds with most everyone by the time of her own death two years later.

Lara Perkins would depart West Hollywood for San Francisco, not to be seen or heard from again.

Shane McCutcheon and Carmen de la Pica Morales, a couple who at the time of Dana's death were in the midst of makeup sex after a heated argument would breakup just as they werea bout to marry in Canada.

Bette Porter and Tina Kennard's relationship further spiraled and it would be years before things would finally stabilize between them.

The most affected was Alice, who would bounce from one romance to the next, never being able to let Dana go.

Overall, the aura of Dana's friends began to take a more sinister turn, leading to Jenny's death in 2008.

Danaverse Connection
In Dana's dying moments, her essence would be rescued by Kara Thrace of Battlestar Galactica Timeline 2, introducing her to the concept of the Multiverse and inviting her to become part of the Council of the Multiverse, which Dana would accept after getting over her initial shock.

Since then, Dana has wanted to serve as something of a guardian angel, doing so especially for Alice, edging her to move on and even recommending Tasha Williams as her new life partner. Dana was also there to welcome both Jenny Schecter and Kit Porter, rescuing their essences just before their respective deaths. With Jenny, Kit, and her beloved cat, Mr Piddles, Dana looks to rescue the essences of characters throughout the Multiverse whose deaths could be viewed as needless.

Information
The L Word 310, Losing the Light aired on Showtime on March 12, 2006. The episode was not only memorable for Dana's death, but also being referred to in promotional material as a "special episode." The episode was also rife with product placement as several companies literally sponsored a character's death for marketing purposes. Losing the Light is a significant point in the L Word Universe as the story of the original series is split between Pre-Dana's Death and Post-Dana's Death. Dana's death is to this timeline what the Battle of Yavin is to the Star Wars Universe or the Battle of New York in Marvel Timeline 29. It is the world before this moment occurred and the world after it.