Important characters in works of fiction can survive all kinds of physical damage that would kill normal humans many times over. Impalements, shootings, stabbings, moderate immolations—all are fair game for survival if the narrative demands it. But no matter how important the supporting character (and occasionally protagonist) is, few threats are more deadly than hearing the utterance “don’t die on me,” a clear signal that, in order to raise dramatic stakes, it’s time to die.