Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
They stood in a perfect row starting from Darren, Doug, Ted, Erin, Mia, Rebecca, Joe and Dennis, who too came for his final respects. Erin let her tears fall openly while Mia wiped her face each time a tear fell. The pastor finished as he nodded to Joe to take over. His face was worn out and his eyes were red from the crying “This day is not about grieving, it’s not about remembering a wonderful agent because we already know that. It’s about keeping him here…” he patted his heart “in our hearts. Brad will never be forgotten. Those of us that have the honor of being a close friend or casual acquaintance know what a wonderful guy he really was. I for one feel special to have watched him mature into a careful agent who always looked after his teammates. He was the type that… that never…” he paused when he couldn’t control his feelings “I’m sorry…”
There were a few whispers in the crowd as Dennis quickly patted his friend on the shoulder “I’ll take it from here.” Joe nodded thankfully and rejoined the team in the front line “I think what Joe is trying to say is that he is the type of person that never gave up on anyone. He would fight until the end and he did. I think I speak for everyone when I say he can never be replaced. So if everyone would gather into a line to see him one last time before the burial begins. Please…” he pointed to the open casket where Brad was dressed in his uniform. He looked like a peaceful human doll sleeping.
One by one everyone walked up to give their final respects. Shelly stood on the sidelines with Erin, who was comforting her while her face looked blankly out the window. Rebecca awaited her turn with the team “Where’s Ryan?” she asked Shelly.
The petite girl shook her head “He got called in from the hospital, something about Matt waking up.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?” Mia asked.
Erin smiled at her sister gently “Go. I’ll be fine. I have my girls.” She turned to Mia and Becca.
“Looks like she doesn’t have to.” Becca pointed at the door.
Ryan was pushing Matt in a wheelchair. The girls approached them “Matt…” Erin reached out a hand and he took it shakily.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, I wouldn’t miss this day for anything.” Matt turned to Ryan as he nodded over to the casket. He smiled sadly at his brother and moved him over there.
Rebecca was looking around when she saw a gentleman in a black suit looking over at them “Hey, I may be crazy but why is that guy staring at us?” she patted Erin on the shoulder.
Erin turned and found Michael at the door. Julie was not by his side. He nodded politely and walked over to her “I came as soon as I opened the newspaper this morning. Joe had to pull some strings huh?” he admired the military type ceremony.
She nodded “I guess.”
“If you need anything, call me.” He said with earnest. She smiled as he reached out and hugged her, his arms wrapped around her petite body “I’m so sorry.” He whispered.
“So am I.” Erin gulped back lump in her throat.
“I’m going to say my farewell now.” Michael pulled away as he stood in line with everyone else.
She turned to watch him and suddenly felt an arm on her shoulder “Time for another?” Eric smiled at her warmly. Erin couldn’t hold it as she began crying again as he hugged her and rocked her gently “Doug called me last night. I wouldn’t have ever known.”
Erin nodded while pulling away “Brad would like to see you one last time.” Her voice was hoarse from the crying.
After the viewing was done, there were eight men that carried his casket out to the grounds. Dennis, Joe, Darren, Doug, Ted, Eric, Ryan and Michael took the handles. Four on each side. Erin, Mia and Becca stood at the front leading the group to the site. They came upon the hole and another blessing came from the pastor before the casket was lowered. Hundreds of flowers flooded the marble container. The women sobbed and the men stood straight while the tears continued to fall.
Indeed, Joe did pull some strings as Brad was buried in the cemetery reserved for veterans or fallen policemen. It was overlooking the hillside, where the wind hollered. Erin couldn’t take it as she excused herself and walked couple of feet from the burial. Her back turned as she covered her face and sobbed. Ted saw and he could almost feel his heart tearing. He approached her carefully “He wouldn’t want to see you like this.” His voice was sincere.
Erin nodded “I know. Why do you think I walked away?” she wiped her tears and turned around to him “I’m okay.” She assured.
“It’s okay to mourn, Erin…we all are.” Ted knew she was trying to be strong.
“I know.” She smiled through tears “But I miss him SO much! It’s not fair! It should have been me!” she cried angrily. Hot tears stung her face but she didn’t care, he was gone. No matter how much she prayed that it can only be a dream, waking up on the couch for the past three nights only reminded her it was real.
Ted quickly reached out and took her head into his shoulder “Shhh…don’t…don’t blame yourself. You know he would give up his life to save you. I would have done the same too. Erin, I never told you this…but I think you have the right to know…I—”
She suddenly pushed him away, her hands up in defense mode “No Ted. Don’t…please, not now.” She mistaken that he wanted to tell her that he liked her, its not like she didn’t know. She’s always known, but it was not the right time. He was about to explain when she saw the face of the killer. He was wearing a black suit and coat with sunglasses. He threw a flower into the hole and turned over at her. He looked directly at her “It’s him.” She whispered and began sprinting over but the crowd was too big. By the time she reached the same place where he stood, the guy was gone.
Ted followed her worriedly “What is it, Erin? Who did you see?”
“Him! It’s the guy that killed Brad!!” she yelled. Some of the people that heard began turning in circles looking for the person but there was no one else. She began running down the hillside and caught sight of a car driving away “He’s getting away!!” it was an old 94 Honda Accord “We have to find him!”
Ted took a hold of her arms to calm her “Erin, calm down. There are hundred of that type of car within a 100 miles radius.”
“So we’re just going to let him go?!!” Erin asked incredulously.
“NO!” Ted cried, “We’ll find him. I promise. But right now, we have to stay here.” His head slowly turned to the scene before them. They were starting the burial. She knew he was right as her head bobbed up and down. He wrapped a protective arm around her and took her back.
After an hour, the crowd had dispersed and only the people that Brad knew personally stayed. Erin knelt in front of his grave which read ‘Wonderful fiancé, friend and agent. Captain of P.R.A.’ She lowered her head sadly but didn’t allow herself to cry, instead she made a vow. I’ll find that man and kill him with my bare hands.
Joe took a step forward and kneeled down next to Erin “Do you want to take a break?”
She looked up slowly and shook her head “I’m fine.” She assured him, but he had his own doubts.
Rebecca nodded in agreement “It might be good for you Erin. Matt will be on a break too, maybe you two can hang out or something?”
Ryan turned away sadly and Shelly was quick to see the pain in his eyes “What’s wrong?” she asked tearfully.
Matt reached up from his wheelchair and patted his brother’s hand “It’s okay, Ryan. I’ll tell them. The doctors say, the shots hit my lower spine. I won’t be able to walk again…”
“Ever?” Mia asked worriedly.
“That’s not what they said.” Matt said with hope “This won’t be the last you’ll see of me.”
Darren felt horrible as he walked over and bent down on his knees “I’m sorry Matt. If it wasn’t for me-”
“Don’t feel guilty.” Matt scolded gently “I would do it for any one of you…just like Brad.” Everyone turned over to Erin who was expressionless “But I’ll be in contact with everyone. If you ever need a idea, you know whose brain to pick.”
“So what’s going to happen to the team?” Rebecca asked curiously “I know it’s not the right time to discuss this but…”
Erin stood up suddenly “It’s okay. Brad would want us to move on.” She turned to Joe “It’s your call.”
The aging gentleman nodded thoughtfully. He turned to Eric “I won’t pressure you if you don’t want to return.”
“Thank you.” Eric was grateful.
“Still can’t get over the corpse, huh?” Darren teased.
“Ted, how about you?” Joe asked.
He was looking at Erin to see her reaction but she made no facial expressions “I guess I could put a hold on the police department.”
“No, this would be permanent, Ted.” Joe advised solemnly “I want you to be Captain.”
“No.” Ted declined flatly “I can’t take his place.”
“No one said you had to.” Joe argued “Out of all the agents, you have the most experience in this kind of work. You’re head at the Investigation Team and you know our operations. I know you cannot just leave your work, but think about it. That’s all I’m asking.” Ted nodded without answer “As for the Lieutenant, I’ll worry about that.”
Darren frowned as he pondered the question "What did happen to the Mayor? And how was it that Erin and Brad could not hear our calls?"
Joe nodded "Good question. I've been doing some research and found out that the Mayor is still held hostage, we don't know where currently. As for our hearing devices, it was tampered by this box of electrical fuse on top of the roof of the school. If you stand at a certain angle, the signals would be altered and communciation would be impossible."
"Smart guy." Becca snickered "Who ever he is, he knows us."
"No, he knows me." Erin spoke up. The team turned to her oddly "He knew my name. He wanted to kill me and Brad underestimated him. He thought if he could cover me, the killer won't harm him."
"We'll do some research." Joe nodded firmly.
“How about the team?” Doug asked.
Joe took a few steps with his hands clasped behind his back “Erin, Darren, Doug and Rebecca. We need two more.”
“One more.” Ted said out of the blue. Everyone turned to him and he smiled “I thought about it.”
Joe laughed “Great! Just one more then.”
“I’m sorry guys…I screwed it up for everyone.” Mia felt remorse “If it wasn’t for me, we wouldn’t be scrambling.”
“It’s not your fault you had amnesia, Mia.” Darren said reasonably “So why don’t you try harder to remember?”
“Darren, it’s not like she forgot to turn off the stove in the apartment. It’s amnesia.” Erin said “You can’t turn it off and on. She has to remember it naturally. The more stress she puts on her brain, the more she will psychologically NOT want to remember.”
Joe smiled proudly at Erin “You have been reading some books, I see.” She nodded while he continued with the thought “That reminds me. I want you all to have a session with Dr. Ethan Chan. Especially Erin.” He pressed and again she nodded blankly “Good, we’ll start tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.” Erin replied without much feeling.
Mia sighed as she hugged her friend “Don’t worry, he’s a great doctor. It’ll really help you, I promise. Look at me, I’ve had some progress.” She smiled brightly.
Erin turned to her “Really? You remember stuff?”
“Just high school stuff, but it’s a start. I remember Doug.” She pointed out with a laugh.
“The Dorks live again.” Doug sighed making some of them crack a smile here and there.